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. PEPFAR 3.0 – Controlling the Epidemic: Delivering on the Promise of an AIDS-free Generation, collects and
uses data in the most granular manner (disaggregated by sex, age, and at the site level) to do the right things, in the right places, and right now within the highest HIV-burdened populations and geographic locations.
As with all USAID programs/projects/activities, those within the PEPFAR Strategy require active and forward-looking Strategic Information in order to assure results make the best use of PEPFAR resources, and are consistent with and meet Mission, PEPFAR, USG, and host-government priorities.

 

 

The position is within the Regional Health Office (RHO) based in Pretoria and will travel on a regular basis to USAID Health Offices in Southern Africa to offer Technical Assistance (TA) in knowledge management, collaborating and organizational learning. The USAID/Southern Africa (USAID/SA) Regional Health Office (RHO) is responsible for the oversight of HIV/AIDS and other health programs in Lesotho and Eswatini, and provides Technical Assistance (TA) to Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, and to other USAID Health Offices across Southern Africa.
This position plays a lead role in the development of effective PEPFAR strategic information and monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems in support of the full range of Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative (C/AOR) managing Mission PEPFAR programs/projects/activities.

The Senior Specialist applies evaluation research to the monitoring of program/project/activity implementation in order to document results, and to translate SI and MEL and other data into meaningful policy and program improvements. The Senior Specialist serves as a subject matter expert and key contributor to strengthening the capacity of information systems, providing senior-level technical guidance to Health Office leaders, the broader USAID Mission, implementing partners (IPs) involved in PEPFAR program monitoring and evaluation, and within the host government. The Senior Specialist serves as a C/AOR or Activity Manager, responsible for providing technical and programmatic guidance to assigned activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supervision Received: The USAID Development Assistance Senior Specialist (Strategic Information / Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning [SI/MEL]) works under the very general supervision of the Regional Health Office Director, and the closer but general supervision of the Program Analytics Team Lead. 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 Office and Mission portfolio. Some technical direction may come from other professionals in the Office; in general, however, the Senior Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment.

 

Supervision Exercised: Continuing supervision of other Division and Office staff is not anticipated. The Senior Specialist may be assigned as a group/Team Leader but will not serve as a full supervisor. The Senior Specialist is expected to serve as mentor to C/AORs, Assistant-level staff, and others in SI and MEL systems and processes, and to provide other work guidance as assigned.

 

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 PEPFAR operational plans, Country Operational Plans, host-government Five-Year Strategic Plans (or equivalent), and other published and unpublished guidelines. Guidelines are often general in nature and not specific to the situation at hand, requiring considerable interpretation.

 

Exercise of Judgment: The Senior Specialist applies independent judgment in working with health-systems professionals throughout the Mission, the host government, IPs, and stakeholders; in providing on-site SI and MEL studies of USAID program/project/activity implementation: and, in devising approaches to resolving technical, administrative, managerial, and/or policy deficiencies and problems. Judgment must be exercised in setting priorities, in determining when intervention in programs/projects/activities is necessary, and in reaching consensus on conclusions and recommendations.

Authority to Make Commitments: The Senior Specialist exercises the authority given to activity managers and C/AORs and may make administrative arrangements consistent with ADS guidance and Mission and Office policy. The Senior 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 Senior Specialist may indicate to ranking counterparts and IPs that they will make a recommendation to USAID on a specific activity, issue, or problem. The Senior Specialist has no independent authority to commit the USG to the expenditure of funds but may negotiate ad referendum for the supervisor.

 

Nature, Level and Purpose of Contacts: The Senior 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. Frequent and substantive personal contacts with officials of the host government, and with the private sector, are for the purpose of explaining and defending Health Office and 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 Senior Specialist provides technical assistance and guidance on best practices to USG staff, and host-government and partners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

●    All interested and eligible candidates should visit http://usaid.ci.hr to apply. Applicants with PNet accounts can log-in from the above website to apply and first-time users will be required to register on the site before they can apply.
●    Kindly note that when you apply via cellphone you are not able to complete the required questionnaire.  And if you do not complete the required questionnaire for the position, you will automatically be eliminated from further review.
●    For an application to be considered complete, please include a high-quality cover letter, explaining why you are qualified for the position and a CV. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in your application being considered “non-responsive” and eliminated from further consideration.
●    Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I.
●    The U.S. Mission in South Africa provides opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status or sexual orientation.  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also strives to ensure equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations.
●    Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Applicants who DO NOT follow the application instructions may be dropped from further consideration.

 

Caitlyn Uys, cuys@usaid.gov Telephone: (012) 452-2288

 

This position is open to South African citizens and South African permanent resident permit holders. USAID Southern Africa management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, need for continuity, and residency status in determining successful applications. Current USG employees on probationary status (i.e., within their first year of employment) are not eligible to apply.

 

The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.

 

Three (3) 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.

 

This position will be compensated in accordance with the U.S. Mission for South Africa’s Local Compensation Plan (LCP). The successful candidate’s salary level will be based on prior job-related experience and salary history.

 

Once the Contracting Officer informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the forms.

 

The plan includes basic salary, miscellaneous allowance, pension fund and medical aid subsidy.

 

Every CCNPSC staff member in the Mission regardless of agency affiliation is required as a condition of employment, to pay their taxes to the South African Government.

 

USAID regulations and policies governing CCNPSC 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 will be used for this contract.

3.     Acquisition and 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 Regulations .

Education: Completion of a US-style University master’s degree in a field related to social science, statistics, mathematics, economics, computer science, epidemiology, health informatics, public health, infectious disease, zoonotic disease, biology or other quantitative discipline, or the local equivalent, is required.