The USAID Project Management Specialist – COVID-19 (the “Specialist”) serves as a technical leader and resource in strategic planning, program and activity design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of COVID-19-related and other disease outbreak response programs/projects/activities. The Specialist serves as the in-house subject matter leader on COVID-19 and outbreaks/pandemic threats, including transmission pathways, diagnostics, case management, community interventions/prevention measures, and data analytics and research.

 

The Specialist serves as a key resource to the Mission and US Government (USG) representative in policy, strategic, and technical engagements with the cooperating country Ministry of Health (MOH) and other ministries engaged in outbreak response, U.S. Government (USG) interagency, international and bilateral organizations, development partners and donor agencies to address technical issues and coordinate efforts in implementation of COVID-19 prevention, detection and response activities. In addition, the Specialist serves as a Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR), Alternate COR/AOR and/or Activity Manager, providing technical assistance to the appropriate cooperating country Ministry in the development of national policies, and the design and management of in-country programs/projects/activities, reflecting best practices in pandemic threat response. The Specialist works with the cooperating country government officials and other donors and development partners to ensure a well-coordinated approach to COVID-19 response efforts/interventions.

 

 

 

•        Serve as a senior-level technical resource on COVID-19 prevention, detection and response, providing high level technical guidance to the Mission, the cooperating country Government, and other development partners.

•        Provide strategic and technical guidance and input on COVID-19 response activities and ensure that activities are appropriately integrated with Health Office and larger Mission activities.

•        Provide technical assistance and oversight to implementing partners to ensure that the COVID-19 activities are carried out in alignment with approved work plans, Health Office and USAID Mission guidance and priorities.

•      Stay abreast of state-of-the-art knowledge on programming and coordinates exchanges and sharing of best practices among USAID, USG and other stakeholders to track evolving COVID-19 data, case management techniques, and vaccine roll out to strengthen COVID-19 response approaches. Advise accordingly on how these policies and strategies can most effectively be incorporated to enhance USAID’s approaches.

•        In collaboration with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning colleagues participate in the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation approaches and tools to support measuring the impact and outcomes of COVID-19 activities. Promote culture of learning and use of data for improved program performance.

•        Provide technical guidance in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports and other ad hoc requests for information.

•        Provide technical guidance and leadership for all COVID-19-related reporting requirements.

•        Identify short-term technical assistance (STTA) and ensure that objectives and outcomes of the STTA are consistent with and support the furtherance of the Mission COVID-19 and pandemic threat response portfolio.

•        Organize site visits and prepare orientation materials for delegations from USAID Headquarters (HQ), Department of State, other agencies and Congress.

 

•        Serve as a COR/AOR and/or Activity Manager for COVID-19 programs/projects/activities, providing financial and programmatic oversight to ensure contracts and grants achieve anticipated results, and are linked to and enhance attainment of the Health Office, Mission, and USG objectives. 

•        Conduct site visits as required in order to monitor progress, and to provide technical and programmatic recommendations to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and judicious use of U.S. Government (USG) funding. 

•        Participate in the design of project mechanisms and activities to prevent, detect and respond to COVID-19 and other pandemic threats.

 

 

•        Represent USAID at designated national, regional and international meetings that relate to COVID-19, including regular participation in national level technical working groups, emergency operations committees, professional associations, and related committees. Participate in COVAX and other coordination meetings and multi-partner program reviews.

•        As a member of the Health Team, respond flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requirements including responding to requests for information from the Mission Director, the Embassy, USAID/Washington, and Congress.

•        As requested by the Mission Director, Health Office Director and/or Unit Leader, represent USAID at meetings outside of the COVID-19/pandemic threat field when needed.

•        Establish strategic working relationships with senior MOH and other relevant ministry officials at the national and district level, development partners, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, private sector health counterparts, and professional associations to enhance regular and timely sharing of information on issues related to strategic planning and direction, private sector engagement, changes in key policies, and legal and regulatory environments that could affect the implementation of USAID programs. 

 

 

Job Knowledge:  The Specialist must have in-depth professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to managing outbreak response activities and vaccines in the host country, and the problems and policies of the host country from the business, political, civil society, and social perspectives. The Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics of the host country and the region; development problems in the outbreak management sector in the host country and the region; an understanding of the resources, resource constraints, and overall development prospects and priorities of the host country and the region; and, knowledge of USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to health and outbreak response activities, of USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities.  

Skills and Abilities: The jobholder must possess strong technical and analytical skills in infectious disease prevention, detection and outbreaks/pandemic threat response. The jobholder must possess strong skills in communication, 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 to be able to accept and react to evolving planning and implementation contexts. The jobholder must demonstrate excellent computer skills including skills with Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing. S/he exercises individual judgement in his/her roles. S/he takes initiative and offers leadership in reviewing the progress of programs and projects under his/her responsibility, including performance reports, pipeline management, program implementation reviews, as well as fulfilling other USAID and USG reporting requirements. S/he demonstrates timely decision-making ability and extensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, using diplomacy and tact.

Post Entry Training: On-the-job training will be provided relating to USG-specific procedures, regulations, and methods. Formal COR/AOR training is required for successful performance in the position and will be provided. Appropriate training courses will be offered, subject to course offerings and the availability of funds.  

 

Supervision Received: The Specialist will report to the Integrated Services Team Lead in the Health Office in USAID. S/he is expected to work independently in carrying out responsibilities. S/he is expected to develop annual work objectives in consultation with his/her supervisor. 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 cooperating 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 Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment.

 

Supervision Exercised: Continuing supervision of other Health Office and/or Mission staff is not contemplated.

Available Guidelines: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); AID Acquisitions Regulations (AIDAR); AID Automated Directives System (ADS Series); Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs); Office of Procurement Acquisition Memorandum (OPAMS); U.S. Department of State Standardized Regulations; Federal Travel Regulations; Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Circulars and Controller General Decisions, USAID Mission Orders, Project Papers, Mission Strategy, and other documents available, USAID policies and procedures, Technical Documents and Policy Papers.

Exercise of Judgment: The jobholder will exercise a high degree of independent judgment in representing USAID and in providing guidance to Mission staff, government officials and implementing partners. Substantial reliance will be placed on the jobholder to independently plan, prioritize and carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position. The jobholder will be expected to analyze and address problems by applying relevant guidance (for management/administrative issues) and evidence-based strategies (for technical issues) to advance the Mission’s objectives. The use of initiative, discretion, cultural sensitivity, collaboration and teamwork is expected of the jobholder to resolve challenges for which there are no clear or immediate solutions. In the event that no formal guidance exists, the jobholder will use her/his own personal, well-informed judgment, making independent decisions that can be defended as necessary and seeking input when appropriate.

 

Authority to Make Commitments: When fully designated as COR/AOR or Activity Manager, s/he will have full authority and responsibility as delegated by ADS, Mission, and USAID guidelines. However, because of the incumbent’s expertise and professional standing in his/her field, substantial weight will be given to his/her recommendations while commitments are made by those with the authority to do so.

 

Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The jobholder occupies a high profile and important position in the Mission. S/he represents USAID in engagements with high levels of a variety of cooperating-country government officials, including but not limited to Ministry of Health and other Ministry officials at the district, provincial and national levels, donors, private and non-governmental organizations, and provides policy recommendations as well as strategic and programmatic advice to senior USAID and US Government officials, other donors, and implementing partners. S/he is required to establish and maintain professional contacts/relationships with senior officials and leaders of private and nongovernmental sector institutions that partner on COVID-19/outbreak activities and to seek to leverage funding. Internally, the jobholder has routine and frequent contact with senior officials of the other members of the USAID Mission, personnel at the U.S. Embassy, USAID/Washington and other USG agencies such as the CDC, partnering organizations, institutional contractors and consultants.

Time Expected to Reach Full Performance Level: One year.

 

 

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.

 

The following factors, and points for each, will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications. All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation.

1.     Work Experience (30 points) 

2.     Job Knowledge (30 points)

3.     Abilities and Skills (30 points) 

4.     Education (10 points)

The successful candidate will be selected based upon the following:

 

 

USAID/SA’s Human Resources Section will perform the preliminary review (Step 1 above) to eliminate those applications that do not meet the minimum educational and written English language requirements before forwarding the rest to the Technical Office or Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) for further review and assessment.

 

The TEC will review each of the forwarded applications against the established evaluation criteria to develop a shortlist of applicants to be tested and possibly interviewed. Applicants will be contacted for testing (Step 2) and/or possibly interviews. Based on the results of the tests an applicant may be dropped from the interview list.

 

Following the interview (Step 3), during which the applicant will be evaluated against the established criteria, the TEC will make a preliminary determination of candidates to be considered for employment and forward that list to HR. The TEC Chairperson will conduct and document reference checks (Step 4) and advise the TEC members of the results of these checks. Please note that references may be solicited from current as well as former supervisors in addition to the references you provide in your application package. References will only be solicited for those interviewed applicants who are being considered for ranking. 

 

Based on this final input, the TEC will make its final decision on candidate ranking, prepare a selection memo for the review and approval of the Contracting Officer, after which an offer of employment will be made to the successful candidate. Unsuccessful candidates who were interviewed will be contacted and advised of their non-selection. As positive medical and security clearances are a condition of employment, the selected candidate will undergo stringent investigation prior to employment with USAID/SA.

 

All interested and eligible candidates should visit http://usaid.ci.hr to apply. Applicants with P-net 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 of no more than 4 pages. 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.

• To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

• 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 candidates will be contacted. Applicants who do not follow the application instructions may be dropped from further consideration.

·       Heather Franklin, Telephone: (012) 452-2028

·       Lavinia Denation, Telephone: (012) 452-2054

·       Seja Matlakala, Telephone: (012) 452-2358

·       Thabang Mothupi, Telephone: (012) 452-2198

·       Engeline Sebego, Telephone: (012) 452-2188

·       Odessa Sifora, Telephone: (012) 452-2112

·       Carol Masemola, Telephone: (012) 452-2058

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: Master’s degree in Public Health, International Development, Health, Social or Behavioral Sciences, Epidemiology, Biology, Infectious Disease, Medicine, Pharmacy, or Pandemic Threats.

 

Prior Work Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of public health programming in developing or middle-income countries, with a focus on pandemic threats or infectious diseases. Prior experience working with or for bilateral or multilateral donors/stakeholders such as the World Bank, the Global Fund, United Nation agencies, or national-level public sector projects and ensuring compliance with U.S. Government rules and regulations required.

Language Proficiency: English language fluency (Level IV English), in oral, reading and written communications. Fluency in at least one of the other South African official languages is required.