The Supervisory USAID Project Management Specialist (HIV/AIDS) 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.

 

 

       

  

 

Job Knowledge: 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: 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.

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 Supervisory USAID Project Management Specialist (HIV/AIDS) will report to the Health Office Director, Deputy Director, or his/her designee. Most assignments are self-generated and occur in the normal course of work and the incumbent exercises independents in most phases of his/her job responsibilities but determines those situations that must be coordinated with the supervisor or other team members. Completed work is accepted as technically correct and the overall work is reviewed in terms of results achieved.

Supervision Exercised: The Supervisory USAID Project Management Specialist (HIV/AIDS) will supervise up to five professional staff.

 

Available Guidelines: PEPFAR Guidance and Directives, 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 incumbent will exercise a high degree of independent judgment and initiative to plan, prioritize and conduct the activities entailed in fulfilling major duties and responsibilities. The incumbent 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. In the event that no formal guidance exists, the incumbent 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 s/he will have full authority and responsibility as delegated by ADS, other 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 incumbent occupies a high profile and important position in the Mission. S/he represents USAID in engagements with high levels of a variety of host government officials at national and sub-national levels, donors, private and non-governmental organizations. S/he provides policy recommendations as well as strategic and programmatic advice to senior USAID and US Government officials, other donors, and implementing partners. S/he must also have an extensive range of contacts with the HIV/AIDS, health and social development sectors including senior government technical and managerial staff, Heads of Agencies, development partners, senior officials from the civil society and the private sector. The purpose of the contacts is related to project implementation and to obtain and interpret information relevant to program activities, to develop and/or clarify strategy or activity designs and to identify problems requiring resolution among USAID, technical assistance and training providers, counterparts, and other donors.

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 (40 points) 

2.     Job Knowledge (30 points)

3.     Abilities and Skills (30 points) 

How the Selection will be made:

The successful candidate will be selected based upon the following:

• A preliminary review of the applicant's submitted package (which includes the cover letter and CV) to establish that minimum educational, work experience and English writing fluency requirements are met

• Assessments to include English writing skills, and Microsoft Office proficiency that might include any of the following: Word, Excel, PowerPoint; and any technical skill test that might be deemed appropriate

• A personal face to face interview 

• Reference checks

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 and submit a selection memo to the Contracting Officer for final determination on whether 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 a positive medical clearance and security certification are a condition of employment, the selected candidate will undergo a stringent investigation prior to employment with USAID/SA.

Submitting an Offer:

• 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.

Points of Contact:  

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

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

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

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

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

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

● Alicia Veldman, Telephone: (012) 452-2088

● Kim Sias, Telephone: (012) 452-2206

● Mary-Jane Molema, Telephone: (012) 452-2358

Applicability: 

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.

References: 

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.

VI. COMPENSATION 

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.

VII.  REQUIRED FORMS FOR CCNPSC HIRES 

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.

VIII. BENEFITS

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

IX.  TAXES 

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.

X. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO CCNPSCs

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: A master’s degree in Public Health, International Development, Health, Social or Behavioral Sciences, Organizational Development, Epidemiology, Biology, Infectious Disease, Political Science, or Business Administration required.

 

Prior Work Experience: 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 is required. At least one year of supervisory experience is required.

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