The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) represents the US government response to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and is the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history. Thanks to American leadership and generosity, alongside the work of many partners, PEPFAR has saved millions of lives, averted millions of infections, and changed the course of the epidemic. As countries progress towards HIV/AIDS epidemic control, the point at which new HIV infections have decreased and fall below the total number of deaths among HIV-infected individuals, PEPFAR is now undertaking the challenge of controlling the pandemic.

The Project Management Specialist (Prevention) is a senior professional and expert in strategic planning, program and activity design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the full spectrum of HIV/AIDS prevention, detection, care, and treatment activities. The incumbent serves as the team’s senior advisor on HIV/AIDS issues and provides leadership in identifying opportunities for U.S. Government (USG) engagement in HIV/AIDS programming. This senior position ensures that the Mission has the necessary strategic, technical, and management expertise to handle and successfully implement HIV/AIDS programs and activities in the Health Office portfolio. The incumbent serves as the in-house subject matter expert on HIV/AIDS and the Mission’s senior representative in policy, strategic and technical engagements with the interagency, host country government, international and bilateral organizations, and donor agencies to address technical issues and coordinate efforts in implementation of HIV/AIDS activities.

The position is located in the USAID Office of Health and HIV/AIDS. The incumbent reports to the HIV Center or Excellence Director or his/her designee and supervises a team of up to five professional staff.

Technical and Strategic Leadership (30%)

1. Serves as a high-level advisor to USAID/KEA's HPN Office and Mission leadership on infectious disease prevention and social services issues including key technical areas such as case finding in HIV testing and counseling and linkage, condom promotion and distribution, biomedical HIV prevention interventions such as Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV/family planning integration, and community platforms for delivering HIV prevention services including innovations such as root cause analysis to enhance social and behavior change communication; programming targeting youth (young boys and men, adolescent girls, and young women), and multiple levels of influence on HIV risk and tuberculosis, orphans and vulnerable children, social protection, value chain and social determinants and risk factors for HIV acquisition and transmission in priority and key populations. These priority populations require special focus in order to bring Kenya closer to epidemic control. 

2. The Jobholder keeps abreast of current and new prevention and social services issues, interprets and advises the Office and Mission on implications and implementation options to maximize programmatic opportunities (as strategic and cost-effective) within KEA's integrated programming environment. 

3. Carries out a full range of consultative, advisory, strategic, coordinating, planning and evaluation responsibilities related to the assigned portfolio. Guides and crafts USG/USAID policy and programs in KEA in the area of infectious disease prevention, behavioral change, and social services. 

4. Articulates USAID prevention and social services strengthening vision and strategic priorities to GOK and other development partners including donor agencies and private sector providers, leads in the alignment and harmonization with national and global best practices for the achievement of sustainable strategies to facilitate medium to long-term impact of activities, providing technical direction and capacity strengthening, monitoring progress toward key milestones and recommending program course corrections as needed for interventions at national and county levels. 

5. Develops and sustains high level relationships with senior GOK, respective development partners and private sector organizations leaders to advocate, introduce and expand policies and programming that promote health and prevent HIV transmission through evidence based interventions, promote the development of sustainable improvements, and to incorporate new prevention technologies into the national and USG integrated health social services program. 

6. Provides vision, strategic direction, and leadership to the Prevention and Social Services Team and takes prime responsibility for identifying new potential in the design and implementation of all projects/activities in the portfolio ensuring they meet PEPFAR, MOP, OP and USAID objectives, and respond to Government of Kenya priorities and strategies. 

7. Provides strategic and technical leadership to build systems and capacity of Kenyan entities to ensure effective and efficient delivery of critical prevention interventions and social services at national and county levels. 

8. Incumbent provides leadership and direction on scientific policy and practices associated with prevention and social services programs at the government and county levels to ensure sustainability of all USAID-supported interventions, including MOP, OP, PEPFAR and post-PEPFAR activities. 

9. The incumbent serves as a high-level public health advisor on prevention and social services to USAID/KEA, keeping abreast of current and new health systems issues affecting the portfolio emerging from USAID/Washington, and provides recommendations on options for shaping USAID/KEA’s prevention and social services programs in support of USAID Global Health Strategic Priorities of Creating an AIDS-Free Generation, Protecting Communities from Infectious Diseases, and Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths. The incumbent represents USAID at the highest government and donor levels. 

10. The Jobholder carries out a full range of consultative, advisory, strategic planning, and evaluation activities for HPN, and ultimately is responsible for overseeing development and management of all Prevention and Social Services Team acquisition and assistance mechanisms. The incumbent directly supervises the Prevention and Social Services Team technical staff. 

Project Planning, Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (20%)

1. Provide strategic and technical leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the Country Operational Plan, Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports. 

2. Support country-level PEPFAR annual budget preparation process, providing technical assistance to USG financial teams and technical working groups in completing the PEPFAR Funding Allocation to Strategy Tool (FAST) and any other new tools that may be provided for use in the planning processes. 

3. Provide oversight to the annual HIV/AIDS budget and ensure costs remain within budget planning levels and that efficiency is maximized. 

4. Analytically assess the HIV/AIDS portfolio, the performance of partners, the available budget, the need for additional activities or ending activities, and facilitate design of new projects or activities necessary to achieve strategic objectives. 

5. Participate or take the lead on each stage of project design for new activities, including drafting and getting approval for concept papers, writing scopes of work, evaluating applications/proposals, and starting up new projects. 

6. Ensure that implementing partners abide by their reporting requirements, including quarterly reports, trip reports, accruals, PMPs, annual reports, and other requirements such as PEPFAR reporting or other requests. This includes supportive supervision and guidance to other technical and support staff in the HIV/AIDS office as necessary. 

7. Lead routine meetings with implementing partners to discuss technical and programmatic direction of the HIV/AIDS program. Conduct field visits to USAID-supported HIV/AIDS activities to meet with implementing partners and government health officials as appropriate to provide technical, programmatic, and administrative guidance as necessary. 

8. Maintain a technical portfolio as Contracting Officer’s Representative/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) and/or Activity Manager, which includes review and approval of workplans, budgets, quarterly and annual reports, performance monitoring plans, monitoring activities through field visits and ensuring that financial reporting (accruals/vouchers) are submitted to the Financial Management Office as required. 

9. Identify opportunities and strengthen existing opportunities for integration of HIV/AIDS with health, economic growth and governance activities, and other areas of the Mission as appropriate. 

10. Technically advise and makes recommendations on the need for short-term technical assistance (STTA) from USAID/Washington central projects and write the technical components of the scope of work for the consultants. 

11. In collaboration with other members of the Health Office, manage the HIV/AIDS analytical agenda for national HIV/AIDS surveys such as the UHIA and other studies. 

12. In collaboration with other Health Office staff, initiate and coordinate targeted analyses of HIV/AIDS data to generate trends and patterns to inform planning and programming. 

13. Participate in and ensure the effectiveness of Site Improvement Monitoring System (SIMS) and other field visits to improve quality of service delivery. 

Representation and Reporting (30%)

1. Represent USAID and PEPFAR at designated national, regional and international meetings that relate to HIV/AIDS including regular participation in national level HIV/AIDS technical working groups and related committees. 

2. Represent USAID on the inter-agency USG PEPFAR Inter-Agency Technical Team. 

3. As requested by the Mission Director, Health Office Director or Deputy Director, represent USAID at meetings outside of the HIV/AIDS field when needed. 

4. Organize site visits and prepare orientation materials for delegations from Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), USAID Headquarters, State Department, and other agencies. 

5. As a member of the PEPFAR Team, respond flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requirements including responding to requests for information from USAID/Washington, Congress and OGAC. 

6. Establish strategic working relationships with senior government officials at the national and district level, donor agencies, civil society organizations, private sector health counterparts and medical associations to enhance regular and timely sharing of information on HIV interventions in the country, including changes in key policies, and legal and regulatory environments that could affect the implementation of USAID programs. 

7. Serve as the Mission’s representative on all inter-agency forums related to HIV. 

8. Prepares reports and responses to USAID/Washington requests for information. 

Supervision, Coaching/Mentoring and Staff Support (20%)

1. Supervise Co-operating Country Nationals, which includes developing annual work objectives, identifying appropriate training opportunities, mentoring and coaching them in facilitation of professional development. Conduct regular performance reviews and address any performance challenges that may arise. 

2. Works with direct reports to determine training needs, helps identify appropriate training opportunities and ensures fair participation in training. 

3. Provide expert advice and guidance to direct reports on matters relating to HIV/AIDS and how best the other program components could contribute to ensure an effective service cascade.

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in public health programming in developing or middle-income countries, with experience spent on HIV/AIDS-related work in Africa are required. Experience working with or for bilateral or multilateral donors/stakeholders such as USAID, the World Bank, the Global Fund, the UN agencies, or national-level public sector projects. At least one year of supervisory experience is required.

The incumbent must possess strong skills in communication (oral and written), advocacy, and networking. S/he must have strong conceptual and analytical skills to be able to quickly grasp and translate new concepts into operational plans and results. This position requires an outstanding ability to exercise flexibility and prioritization skills to be able to accept and react to evolving planning and implementation contexts. Ability to exercise sound judgement, take initiative and offer leadership. S/he demonstrates timely decision-making and extensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks. The incumbent must have the ability to identify significant economic, political and social trends in the host country and assess their importance and impact on USAID development assistance objectives and programs. The incumbent must demonstrate excellent computer skills including skills with Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1.  The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c).  In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers.  The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far. 

• Job Knowledge (60 points) 

Extensive knowledge of multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS approaches and interventions, as well as the host country context including priorities and challenges, funding of the epidemic and the key stakeholders engaged in the response is required. Thorough knowledge of the host-country’s economic, political, social and cultural characteristics and the history of development assistance, in particular the response to HIV/AIDS, including current trends and directions. The incumbent is expected to have an in-depth understanding of US Government foreign assistance to the host-country government and familiarity with central aspects of U.S. Government policy in the host-country. Working knowledge of USG and USAID’s strategic direction, its chief accomplishments and its challenges. 

• Skills and abilities (40 points) 

The incumbent must possess strong skills in communication (oral and written), advocacy, and networking. S/he must have strong conceptual and analytical skills to be able to quickly grasp and translate new concepts into operational plans and results. This position requires an outstanding ability to exercise flexibility and prioritization skills to be able to accept and react to evolving planning and implementation contexts. Ability to exercise sound judgement, take initiative and offer leadership. S/he demonstrates timely decision-making and extensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks.

The incumbent must have the ability to identify significant economic, political and social trends in the host country and assess their importance and impact on USAID development assistance objectives and programs.

The incumbent must demonstrate excellent computer skills including skills with Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing. 

Total possible points:  100

SUBMITTING AN OFFER 

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

Step 2: Complete the job application at www.myjobsinkenya.com 

Step 3: Internal Offerors/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 them to MyJobsInKenya.

                        OR

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

Offerors must provide a list of minimum three (3) professional references who are not family members or relatives, with complete name, title, organization where he/she works, description of relationship, with working/accurate telephone numbers and email addresses. The offeror’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities.

Note to Applicants:

1. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted through myjobsinkenya.com.
2. Submissions will only be accepted through www.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.
3. All Applicants must provide at least three professional references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD 

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit any required forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award. 

BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES 

Benefits and allowances are offered in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP). 

1. TAXES

The Contractor must observe Kenyan laws including those concerning income and related tax obligations. 

1. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs 

USAID regulations and policies governing CCN and TCN PSC awards are available at these sources: 

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.
2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award. 

3. Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs. 

4. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635.  See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations.
   
   
5. PSC Ombudsman
   The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman. 

The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: [email protected].