GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 21-10.

2. ISSUANCE DATE: February 3, 2021.

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: February 26,          2021 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).

4. POSITION TITLE: Project Management Specialist (Pediatrics)          

5. MARKET VALUE: Equivalent to FSN-PSC 11: (Step 1: 4,597,211.00        KSH to Step 13: 7,815,239.00 KSH per annum).  In accordance with        AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/              Kenya and East Africa. Final compensation will be negotiated within          the listed market value.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Initial 1-year probationary period with      4 additional option years contingent on performance, position need,        and funds availability.

7.  PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya; with possible travel as         stated in the Statement of Work.

8.  SECURITY CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: Prior to joining USAID,           the selected candidate will be required to:

• Undergo a comprehensive background investigation
• Undergo a health check to obtain medical clearance and;
• Obtain and Retain an embassy issued Security Certification.

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES: (See Below).

10.  AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to qualified Kenyan Citizens.      USAID provides equal opportunity and equitable treatment for employment of all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status or sexual orientation.

11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The position requirements do not involve rigorous physical demands.

BACKGROUND

USAID/Kenya and East Africa invests in population and health programs at national and county levels that aim to improve the survival, well-being and productivity of the Kenyan population by reducing the burden of major infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, and addressing the main causes of maternal and child illness and deaths. This includes cross-cutting work to strengthen healthcare systems and build capacity, and to support the national government to formulate key policies and guidelines while assisting counties to better plan, manage and finance quality health services to meet local needs. The Health Population and Nutrition (HPN) office is USAID/Kenya and East Africa’s (KEA) largest office, managing a portfolio valued at over $400 million annually. The office receives funding from a number of U.S. Presidential Initiatives, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), Feed the Future (FtF) as well as other USAID health funds for family planning, maternal newborn and child health, nutrition, emerging pandemic threats, and water, sanitation and hygiene.

The Project Management Specialist (Pediatrics) works under the overall direction of the Director, Center of Excellence Family Health and reports to the MCH/RH Team Leader. The Specialist will provide technical expertise and serve as the pediatric and newborn subject matter expert for USAID/KEA’s Maternal and Child Health / Reproductive Health portfolio; support the team Leader to set the strategic direction for new born health service delivery and primary health care.. The Specialist under the supervision of the Team Leader contributes technical leadership and resource in strategic planning, program and activity design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of pediatric and newborn health programs/projects/ activities. The Specialist serves as the Mission and USG representative in policy, strategic, and technical engagements with the host-country Ministry of Health (MOH), USG interagency, international and bilateral organizations, and donor agencies to address technical issues and coordinate efforts in implementation of pediatric research and innovation and newborn health activities. The work includes serving as a Program/Project Manager and COR/AOR for significant and targeted interventions, providing technical assistance to the appropriate host-country Ministry in the development of host country policies, and the design and management of in-country programs/projects/activities, reflecting best practices in pediatric and newborn health.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

1.  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND LEADERSHIP                        50%

• The USAID Project Management Specialist (Pediatrics) provides a high level technical guidance and recommendations in pediatrics and newborn health initiatives, to the Mission and the Ministry of Health, including counterparts and senior level officials; contributes to the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of pediatrics and newborn health programs/projects/activities and interventions.                                                                                 
• The Specialist serves as a technical subject matter expert through active engagement with technical counterparts in the Ministry of Health, and other subnational and national stakeholders, to advance USAID and USG strategic objectives related to key pediatric and newborn health interventions.                                              
• The Specialist participates in Technical Advisory committees - with MOH, academia, private sector, professional associations which have an oversight for newborn health and the Kenya Pediatric Association. The Specialist represents USAID/KEA at designated national, regional, and international meetings, those relating to pediatrics and newborn health, including regular participation in national-level pediatric technical working groups and related committees.                                                                                                  
• The Specialist develops and maintains relationships with relevant government officials and provides technical assistance to MOH in the development of policies, strategies, and guidelines related to newborn care and treatment. The Specialist works closely with national and sub-national/County and local government officials in order to enhance success of pediatrics service delivery and newborn interventions and advance USAID and USG strategic objectives.                     
• The Specialist collaborates with the Health policy and Financing Team on advocacy and technical input as it relates to maternal and newborn health as part of USAID’s technical assistance activities related to national and county budgets. S/he contributes to the Family Health Center of Excellence activities related to oversight of the portfolio budget, ensuring costs remain within budget planning levels, and that efficiency is maximized.                                                               
• The Specialist works closely with other units within the Health Population and Nutrition Office, and across the USAID Mission, to optimize opportunities for cross-sectoral integration, and the leveraging of resources across the different program components.

 2.  PROGRAM/PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING   30%

• The Specialist serves as an Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR)/COR for a bilateral mechanism under the new Integrated Family Health and HIV Program.  As AOR/COR or activity manager, oversee the development and implementation of annual work plans, schedules for budget allocation, obligation, and expenditure, portfolio reviews, evaluation planning and implementation, audits, development and outreach communications, and closeouts.                                
• The Specialist serves as an Activity Manager for contracts or cooperative agreements, bilateral or centrally procured research and innovation activities, as part of the collaboration, learning and adjusting (CLA) component of the health program; provides overall management, technical guidance and leadership to implementing partners carrying out newborn health activities within the HPN’s portfolio. As such, the incumbent is responsible for technical, programmatic, and financial management of these activities, including developing, monitoring, and analyzing budget planning, obligations, and pipelines.                                                                        
• The Specialist is responsible for management of pediatric and newborn health programming activities including planning, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation. The Specialist fully participates in designing new activities, takes the prime responsibility for identifying new potential USAID-supported activities for pediatric and newborn health approaches/models, designing strategies in conjunction with partners, obtaining approval by all concerned parties, and coordinating targeted efforts.                                                                                                   
• The Specialist reviews and approves annual work plans, monitoring and evaluation plans, quarterly reports and other key documents of designated USAID-supported projects. Monitors program resources allocated for pediatric and newborn health activities to ensure that they are being used rationally and that there are no cost overruns.                   
• The Specialist serves as an AMT member of various activities within HPN. In this team the incumbent contributes to the oversight the newborn health activities in the integrated portfolio, reviewing workplans and quarterly reports, conducting site visits contributing to reports and program assessments.                                                                                           
• The Specialistworks closely with other staff in the HPN Office and across the Mission to optimize opportunities for cross-sectoral integration and leveraging of resources across the different program components, extending these efforts to the USG interagency and other development partners whenever possible. The incumbent serves as a member of PEPFAR Inter-agency Technical Team (ITT) - fostering integration for PMTCT and Pediatric HIV program components. The Specialist also coordinated newborn health activities with the President’s Malaria Initiative Team (PMI).         
• The Specialist conducts site visits to USAID supported programs to assess the quality of services, provide expert advice on implementation and other relevant areas, and guide implementing partners on newly emerging and highly efficacious approaches to pediatric and newborn health program implementation. 

• Participates in HPN data quality assessments to ensure the quality and reliability of program data. 

• The Specialist monitors and makes recommendations to resolve implementation obstacles to ensure judicious use of USG funds and effective implementation of pediatric and newborn health interventions. 

• The Specialist contributes to and participates in newborn health-related program evaluations to document and scale up proven best practices, identify and address challenges, improve program performance, and ensure continuous learning.

 3.  PROGRAM PLANNING AND REPORTING                         20%

• The Specialist fully participates and actively engages in planning processes within HPN and in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents, including the Country Operational Plan (COP), Operational Plan, Malaria Operational Plan (MOP), Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, and Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports, and providing input for the design and development of newborn health activities. 

• The Specialist supports the annual budget preparation process, providing technical assistance to USG financial teams and technical working groups in completing the required reports and tools that may be provided for use in the planning processes. Participates actively in inter-agency processes for determining targets, unit costs and budgets for use in the annual planning for USG pediatric and newborn health interventions. 

• The Specialist prepares technical analyses, evaluates sectoral issues, and provides input to Mission activities with respect to pediatric and newborn health initiatives. Prepares written reports that reflect a sound understanding of the assigned area of responsibility and document a wide variety of sources and points of view that have been consulted in undertaking analyses and in drawing conclusions. 

• Responds to a wide range of work-related requirements as a member of the HPN Team, including responding to program and strategy requests for information from USAID Washington. The incumbent will ensure that all program documentation meets both USG requirements and audit inspection standards. Ensures that documentation of USAID activities is prepared with input from other USG Team members and implementing partners; and is submitted in a timely fashion to USAID/W. 

POSITION ELEMENTS

A.  SUPERVISION RECEIVED: The USAID Project Management Specialist (Pediatrics) works under the very general supervision of the Family Health COE Director, and the closer but general supervision of the MCH/RH Team Leader. The supervisor makes assignments in terms of overall objectives and resources available. Completed work is reviewed in terms of achievement of program/project/activity goals, effectiveness in meeting host-country and USAID objectives, and integration with other initiatives in the HPN Office and Mission portfolio. The Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment.

B.  SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Continuing supervision of other Health Office and/or Mission staff is not contemplated.

C.  AVAILABLE GUIDELINES: Available guidelines include USG program/ project/ activity guidance, rules, and requirements; USAID Mission Orders, Mission strategy, and other relevant reports; the Automated Directives System (ADS); USAID Mandatory and Standard Provisions, and the FAR and AIDAR; and, Emergency Plan guidelines, Country Operational Plans, the Mission and Host Government Five-Year Strategic Plans, and other published and unpublished guidelines. Guidance and Directives are also provided by the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), which directs the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), its Interagency Care and Treatment Technical Working Groups, and from relevant MOH documents relating to pediatric care and newborn health. The incumbent is required to understand Mission and Agency-specific policies and procedures that govern project activity management in addition to administrative operating procedures, policies and formats established by the Department of State. Guidelines are often general in nature and not specific to the situation at hand, requiring considerable interpretation.

D. EXERCISE OF JUDGMENT: Substantial judgment (discretion) is used daily in providing technical opinion and guidance to USG, USAID, and host-government colleagues, to IPs, and in representing USAID in stakeholder forums. Management decisions over certain IPs are at the discretion of the Specialist. Independent judgment is required for developing, implementing, and managing assigned programs/ projects/ activities, for reporting, and for other assignments. Substantial judgment is required in analyzing and determining whether or not to recommend approval of proposed programs/projects/activities, in choosing among alternative proposals, and in evaluating data for reliability.

E.  AUTHORITY TO MAKE COMMITMENTS: The Specialist exercises the authority given to CORs/AORs and activity managers, and may make administrative arrangements consistent with ADS guidance and Mission and Health Office policy. The Specialist takes action and establishes priorities based on available guidelines and professional judgment. Guidance is sought when needed, and superiors informed of activity and project status. Within the scope of the authority delegated, the Specialist may indicate to ranking counterpart and IP officials that they will make a recommendation to USAID on a specific activity, issue, or problem. The Specialist has no independent authority to commit the USG to the expenditure of funds, but may negotiate ad referendum for the supervisor.

F. NATURE, LEVEL, AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS: The Specialist has a full range of contacts within the Mission, at all levels, and maintains contact with IPs implementing USAID-funded Programs/ projects/ activities in the sector. Within the Embassy, contacts are with counterpart staffs, and with senior staff as needed. Host-government, local, and other, contacts vary widely with the type of activity being implemented, and may be at any level – including Ministerial, Deputy Minister, etc. Frequent and substantive personal contacts with senior-level officials of the host government, and with the private sector, are for the purpose of explaining and defending USAID policies, objectives, and procedures, and to transmit and interpret host-government and private-sector attitudes and concerns to senior USAID officials. In addition, the Specialist provides technical assistance and guidance on pediatric care and newborn health best practices to USG staff, and host government and NGO partners.

G. TIME EXPECTED TO REACH FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL: One year.

PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE: At least five (5) years of professional-level directly responsible experience in managing large-scale public health programs/activities with focus in pediatrics and newborn health, with multi-lateral or bilateral organizations, and/or NGOs. Increasingly responsible experience in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of pediatric and newborn health initiatives in developing countries. Demonstrated experience developing, implementing and assessing institutional processes and systems, particularly in local organizations.   

JOB KNOWLEDGE: The Specialist must have a comprehensive knowledge and demonstrated experience in the programming of public health programs/projects/activities with focus on pediatrics and newborn health; and, the role of newborn health activities with other health areas such as HIV/AIDS, etc. Demonstrated knowledge of country’s development and newborn health program dynamics, particularly the social, economic and cultural determinants and implications of the infectious disease epidemics in the country and in the region, and understanding of the resources, resource constraints, and overall development prospects and priorities of the host country and the region. Demonstrated understanding of state-of-the-art pediatric care and newborn health global guidelines, PEPFAR and Global Health initiatives and the current priorities at national and global level. Demonstrated knowledge of USG processes through which newborn health programs are planned, reviewed, approved, implemented and evaluated. Demonstrated experience in local organization capacity development focusing on governance, accountability and service delivery in public, faith-based, non-governmental, civil society and community institutions. The Specialist must have the knowledge of, or the potential to quickly acquire knowledge of, USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to pediatric care and newborn health activities, of programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities. The Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the organization and respective roles of the different levels of the host government, the Ministry of Health in particular, in order to enhance effective communication, and to develop consensus on program/project/activity strategy and implementation. The incumbent should have knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to the devolution of the health sector and the increasing roles and responsibilities of the Counties within this new formulation.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Ability to communicate information in objective, transparent, accurate, and concise oral and written forms, and to represent USAID programs and priorities to a wide range of outside parties, including Host Country Government officials at all levels, USAID senior management, interagency colleagues, and other stakeholders as relevant. Ability to present information, analysis, and recommendations in clear written and oral formats. Ability to independently conceive, plan, organize, manage, and evaluate important, diverse and complex work projects. Demonstrated ability to apply policy directives to activity design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. Excellent analytical, technical and project management skills to review and provide substantive feedback on concept papers, proposals, program descriptions/scopes of work, performance reports, and other technical and programmatic documents. Ability to respond professionally and adjust in fluid situations in order to meet deadlines in the face of competing priorities and time pressures. Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and tact, to work effectively with people at all levels, from senior officials to support staff, in a culturally diverse environment, accepting divergent points of view and helping to find consensus to achieve team goals. Ability to exercise diplomacy, judgment and sensitivity in challenging situations that may arise when working with interagency teams, government ministries, local government officials, civil society officials, implementing partners and other development partners. Ability to develop positive working relationships within the USG including but not limited to USAID, CDC, State Department, and other agencies. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with implementing partners, private sector partners, other development partners, and both central and sub-national/County-level host country government counterparts. Excellent computer skills including in Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing, including the ability to help others and to learn new programs quickly.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

Applicants must submit a resume/cv which describes how their relevant professional experience and education has prepared them to meet the specific challenges of the duties and responsibilities described above.  As part of the interview process, those applicants ranked highest may be required to submit a timed writing sample on a topic provided.  The selection committee may conduct reference checks at any time during the selection process.

Applications that do not meet the required minimum qualifications will not be scored. 

• Prior work experience (30 points)
• Job Knowledge (40 points)
• Skills and abilities (30 points)

Total possible points:  100

Candidates meeting the above required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and reference checks.   References will be asked to assess the applicant’s technical knowledge, work performance, communication skills, and group dynamics, using the above criteria.  USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the top ranked short-listed applicants.  The interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

How to Apply

Step 1:  Register in MyJobsInKenya at www.myjobsinkenya.com    

Step 2:  Complete the job application questionnaire at www.myjobsinkenya.com  The applicant must answer all the questions in the Questionnaire.

Step 3:  Internal Applicants/Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages), a copy of your most recent Performance Evaluation Report, and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload to MyJobsInKenya.

                                                     OR

External Applicants/Not Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages) and copies of all relevant certificates. Upload all the documents to MyJobsInKenya.

Note to Applicants:

1. Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted through myjobsinkenya.com as stated in Section IV.

2. Submissions will only be accepted through myjobsinkenya.com Late and Incomplete applications (those that do not contain the applicant’s most current and up to date detailed CV and relevant education certificates) will not be considered for the position. The closing date for receipt of applications is indicated above.

3.  USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.