Senior Malaria Technical Advisor - PSC

1. Position Title: Senior Malaria Technical Advisor. 2. Market Value: GS-15 Equivalent ($95,390- 124,010). Final compensation will be based upon the candidate past salary history and work experience. 3. Place of Performance: USAID Uganda, Kampala 4. Period of Performance: An initial two year contract with an option for three-one year contract extensions depending on continuance of need, demonstrated performance and availability of funds. 5. Education: Minimum: A Masters Degree in public health, international health, or social sciences from a recognized institution and or clinical qualifications. Specialized training or education in malaria is required in areas including but not limited to vector control, entomology, clinical case management of malaria, and epidemic surveillance and forecasting. 6. Experience and Skills: At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing and managing malaria and other health programs in developing countries, with a preference given to candidates with African experience. At least three years experience in clinical application, and or implementation in the areas of vector control, malaria-related entomology, clinical case management of malaria, diagnosis, and/or epidemic surveillance are also required. Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment are required. Preference will be given to those candidates with experience with international USG programs, procedures and systems for program design, procurement, implementation, management and monitoring, or that of other international donors. Skills: Analytical ability to interpret public policies and assist in the development of revised policies as required improving the policy environment related to malaria in Uganda. Management and administrative skills required to develop and oversee implementation of effective malaria prevention and treatment program activities involving financial and human resources by cooperating partners and contractors. Skill in conceptualizing programs, policies, and plans and developing strategies for their management and implementation. The candidate must be able to integrate short and long range objectives of the USAID Health Team and the PMI with the cultural/organizational needs of the government in order to fill gaps, improved quality and implement best practices. Knowledge and skills in quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods; experience in designing and evaluating malaria activities in Africa. The incumbent must have proven skills in capacity building and mentoring local staff in a developing country. 7. Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent leadership, communications and interpersonal skills are critical to this position. The incumbent must have the following: Must be able to work effectively with a broad range of USG personnel and partners, and have demonstrated skills in donor coordination and collaboration a well as the ability to work the government. Ability to work both independently and in a multi-cultural team environment to achieve consensus on policy, program and administrative matters is a must. Ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate highly technical health information to both health and non-health audiences, and achieve consensus on policy, project, research, and administrative matters. Demonstrated ability to navigate and manage politically and culturally sensitive issues around malaria in a diplomatic manner and bring divergent viewpoints to compromises and agreement. 8. Language, Communication and Computer Skills: The incumbent must have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely - both orally and in writing in English. S/he should have: Demonstrated experience in oral communication to large or political audiences related to malaria - including donors and government. Demonstrated experience in communicating ideas concisely and persuasively in writing through research, technical papers, reports, strategic program designs or other written documents. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to be articulate, concise and precise in use of English language both orally and in writing. Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Access, web-based databases and other relevant software) are required for effectively operating in this position. Good computer skills are required to implement, analyze, and monitor, and manage activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements, both program and impact. Notice to Applicants: The USAID reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant's past performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. Introduction: USAID Uganda seeks to hire a U. S. citizen or Third Country National to provide leadership, guidance and overall direction on the planning, implementation and monitoring of the PMI. This will require coordination with Ministry of Health, development partners and other implementing partners. The incumbent works closely with the CDC Malaria Technical Advisor, two Foreign Service National Malaria Advisors, the backstops for PMI in USAID Washington, counterparts in CDC Atlanta, and other USAID personnel working within and overseeing the Mission's activities. These responsibilities include regular contact and collaboration with the counterparts in Uganda's National Malaria Control Program and other government ministries and agencies, as well as in a wide range of civil society and private organizations, other donor and international organizations, and other United States Government entities working in malaria prevention and control. The Senior Malarial Technical Advisor shall: 1. Provide technical and strategic oversight to USAID/Uganda's PMI program, coordinating the design and implementation of activities. Ensure that malaria activities are integrated into overall USAID-supported health activities and establish effective collaboration with the PEPFAR program. This includes preparing and reviewing program design and results framework. Provide managerial oversight to ensure full accountability and value for money of funds provided by the President's Initiative on Malaria; 2. Be responsible for reporting on Uganda-specific information related to the PMI program as part of the Mission's annual strategic planning and reporting processes, preparation of Congressional presentations, drafting technical and congressional notifications, and preparing MAARDS and other implementing documents. Review and analyze results reports by implementing partners, prepare summary reports with analyses and recommendations, and ensure that financial and technical reports on PMI are prepared and submitted as required. 3. Ensure that all activities under the PMI are technically excellent and consistent with internationally accepted best practices and relevant to the specific malaria epidemiology of Uganda. Provide scientific and technical support to PMI implementing partners and managerial support as needed during the designing and implementation phases of the project to ensure the quality of interventions supported and that programmatic targets are met. 4. Work with suppliers and partners to ensure that programmatic commodities are purchased in a timely and cost effective manner. Work with implementing partners and national supply chain organizations such as the National Medical Stores and the National Drug Authority to strengthen the logistical commodity systems for malaria drugs and supplies. Also, ensure that the absorptive capacity exists in implementation sites to receive, manage and distribute these items effectively. 5. Represent PMI to very senior levels of Government of Uganda, including the Minister of Health and senior U.S. Government officials such as the U.S. Ambassador, congressional delegates, etc. 6. Collaborate with senior staff of the National Malaria Control Program and other partners, such as the Global Fund, DANIDA, DfID, WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, NGOs and FBOs to design, plan and implement malaria prevention and control activities consistent with the malaria control coverage needs identified by the strategy and plans of the NMCP and PMI. Help build the technical and managerial capacity within the NMCP at the national, district and lower levels. 7. Provide technical assistance to the NMCP to develop and execute a monitoring and evaluation plan to better communicate and coordinate with the Roll Back Malaria and Global Fund partners, including donor agencies and other stakeholders working on malaria control in Uganda (including specific strategies for the Northern part of Uganda), and help develop a financial sustainability plan for the NMCP, in preparation for the end of the PMI funding. In collaboration with the MOH, carry out monitoring and evaluation visits to implementation sites to ascertain all quantitative and qualitative data is collected properly and ensure programmatic quality and value for money are maintained. 8. The Senior Malaria Technical Advisor shall have the primary responsibility of overseeing the planning, implementing, and monitoring of the PMI Initiative. The incumbent shall work with the CDC Malaria Technical Advisor and two FSN Malaria Advisors as a team. The team will liaise with backstops for the PMI in USAID Washington, CDC Atlanta, USAID Cognizant Technical Officers and other personnel working on or overseeing the Mission's activities related to malaria. S/he will collaborate closely with and provide technical, strategic or managerial assistance as needed to National Malaria Control Program Director and the staff and helping to build capacity within the NMCP. In addition, the Senior Malaria Technical Advisor shall represent USAID and the USG on various national and international technical and policy forums. The responsibilities of the Senior Malaria Advisor are prioritized as follows: Technical and management, collaboration and communication, monitoring and evaluation, as well as other assigned responsibilities. 9. The Senior Malaria Technical Advisor shall be supervised by the Improved Human Capacity - Health Team Leader. The supervisor shall provide guidance and specific assignments when required. For detailed scope of work and evaluation criteria, please send email to gnakaddu@usaid.gov, copy, rheller@usaid.gov