The Ugandan Jobline

Job Title:   Supervisory Project Management Specialist (Family Health)

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: USAID Uganda Office, Kampala, Uganda

Salary: UGX 224,256,357 to 331,145,253 per per annum

Solicitation Number: 72061724R10012

 

About Organisation:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.

 

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:

• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Peace Corps

 

Job Summary:  The Office of Health & HIV/AIDS (OHH) Team is responsible for one of USAID’s largest and most complex bilateral assistance health programs. Currently, there are five technical units: 1: Health System Strengthening Unit (HSS), 2: President’s Malaria Initiative Unit (PMI), 3. Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), 4: the HIV & TB Unit (HIV/TB) and its PEPFAR sponsored activities, 5: Family Health Unit (FHT), and 6: Strategic Information Unit (SI) which provides support to the Office and other technical teams. The OHH Team is headed by a U.S. Foreign Service Officer who reports directly to the Mission Director. The FHT Unit is headed by the Supervisory Project Management Specialist (FHT Unit Leader) who is responsible for providing leadership and direction of the unit and in turn reports to the OHH Director or designee. The FHT Unit focuses on: (1) improved health for children under the age of 5 and women of reproductive age activities to address barriers that prevent women from accessing health services through the promotion of gender equity. (2) improving nutrition outcomes using evidence-based interventions at facility and community levels (3) challenges that come with Uganda’s rapidly growing population by working with stakeholders in the public and private sectors to support voluntary family planning and reproductive health. (4) increasing the availability, affordability, and quality of voluntary family planning services within the public health and private system. The FHT Unit leads the nutrition mission portfolio and closely works with the Feed the Future Initiative under the Economic Growth Office and USAID integrated nutrition programs to prevent under-nutrition with economic growth and agriculture programs.

The Specialist is responsible for providing technical leadership to the entire USAID/Uganda Mission and to the USG Mission to Uganda as a whole in the areas of family planning, nutrition, as well as maternal, perinatal and child health (MCH) including facility Water, Sanitation and Hygiene related issues. The Specialist is recognized by the USG and the GoU as an expert in family health, and serves as a key Advisor to Mission Management, the USG Mission in Uganda, to the GoU, and to implementing partners (IPs). The Specialist provides supervision and managerial oversight, and is involved in the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of all USAID/Uganda family health activities. The Specialist provides day-to-day technical management and oversight of the family health portfolio.

The Specialist facilitates communication and ensures collaborative working relationships with high -level decision makers, as well as technical staff, in the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, USAID/Washington counterparts, with other government entities, and with other donors and non-governmental organizations working in the health sector. The Specialist represents USAID and the USG on various high-level governing bodies key to family health; serves on GoU technical working groups and donor working groups to advance the policy objectives of the USG and to support coordination and harmonization of health activities in Uganda; and, provides essential communication and liaison within USAID offices and with other USG agencies. The work includes supervision of eight professional and support members of the FHT Unit.

 

The Specialist provides strategic and technical leadership in the design and implementation of USAID/Uganda family health activities in Uganda. As a senior health advisor for USAID, the Specialist represents USAID and the USG in national and international fora to advise on policies, strategies, and technical issues. The Specialist has an understanding of global health issues, as well as the entire USAID/USG health portfolio, and serves as an Agreement Officer’s Representative/Contracting Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR) or Activity Manager for selected programs/projects/activities. As an AOR/COR, the Specialist monitors program performance and progress, identifies implementation achievements as well as problems in performance, and initiates appropriate actions in consultation with other FHT Unit staff, and/or the Deputy and Office Chief, as appropriate. The Specialist overseas the FHT Unit of eight members, including AORs/CORs, and provides mentoring and coaching to the entire OHH in the areas of family planning, nutrition, MCH/ WASH, maternal, perinatal child health issues. The Specialist may be assigned to act for the Office Director and/or Deputy Office Director in their absence or preoccupation.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic and Technical Advisor for Family Health and Ending Preventable Maternal and Child Deaths (EPCMD) – 55%

• Provides policy and strategic leadership, in support of the EPCMD and the overall USAID/USG Family Health program, with a focus on maternal, perinatal and child health, family planning, nutrition, and MCH/WASH including: developing and leading the design of new family health activities; participating in inter-sectoral designs and program management; assuring activity monitoring and evaluation standards are met; providing expert technical and programmatic information and assistance as requested by the Ambassador, the USAID/Uganda Mission Director or Deputy Mission Director, and the OHH Office Director relating to the FHT Unit, including content for reporting documents, speeches, cables, analyses, and briefing papers; working with various offices in the Mission to design and commission studies and research relating to family health issues; and, ensuring lessons-learned are compiled and results are dissemination to all health partners.
• Represents USAID/Uganda and the broader USG health community at national and international meetings and technical working groups, including: leading internal and external meetings on issues related to USAID/USG health programs/projects/activities, with emphasis on all elements related to family health; represents USAID/USG at relevant technical and steering committee meetings, such as the Ugandan National Advisory Committee for Health, the Immunization Coordination Committee , and the MoH Task Force, and serves on OHH Senior Leadership Uganda ( SLUGS) team; maintaining an extensive range of senior and mid-level GoU official contacts, such as the Minister of Health, senior representatives from other donor agencies and NGOs, and senior USAID and USG staff; and, serving as the lead USG FHT Unit member to the GoU and IPs, ensuring strategic coordination among USG health teams, the GoU, IPs, other partners, and regional programs.
• Provides senior policy, strategic, and technical advice and guidance to the Ministry of Health (MoH) including: working with senior MoH officials to plan, draft and evaluate the GoU health development plan, and other strategic documents and policies; and, providing advice and guidance to the Commissioner of Reproductive Health and Infant and other relevant MOH departments in the strategic planning, coordination of Family Health related annual priority activities at both national and subnational levels.
• Works closely with USAID/Washington counterparts, ensuring compliance and constant communication with headquarters including: participation in key headquarter working groups, calls, and trainings; overseeing the development of site visit schedules and effective monitoring plans for the family health program; ensuring schedules are carried out routinely and that end -use checks occur; and, preparing for VIP visits, including preparing briefers, scene setters, arranging for site visits and accompanying delegations on visits to USAID programs, and briefing VIPs on Uganda, the country’s health challenges and programs, and on USAID and USG support.

Program/Project/Activity Management and Monitoring – 25%

• Serves as AOR/COR or Activity Manager for a variety of programs/projects/activities in the Family Health portfolio, and supervises and provides guidance to subordinate staff who serve as AORs/CORs for additional projects, including: maintaining a schedule for and conducting regular site visits to review program implementation and meeting with beneficiaries, and based on the information collected during such visits, adjusting or recommending adjustments to programs/projects/activities as appropriate; reviewing annual work plans and performance reports to ensure IPs are in compliance with bilateral government agreements, and with performance expectations; ensuring IPs are in compliance with all relevant USAID regulations and procedures, communicating regularly with IPs regarding USAID rules and regulations as well as their obligations to USAID; and, taking a lead role in the preparation of the strategic and operational planning processes such as the Country Development Cooperation Strategy and USAID Operational Plan, as well as participating in the annual PEPFAR Country Operational Plan and Malaria Operational Plan.

FHT Unit Financial Management – 10%

• Responsible for the financial management of programs/projects/activities assigned to the FHT Unit including: regular budgeting for the Family Health program; ensuring that obligations, expenditures, and budget pipelines conform to action plans; ensuring appropriate and timely incremental funding of activities; ensuring program activities are in compliance with USAID financial regulations, and reporting any financial discrepancies to the OHH Office Director and Financial Analyst, the Mission Controller, a nd the Office of Acquisition and Assistance; keeping the Controller and Financial Analyst informed on the liquidation of advances; reviewing and providing administrative approval for assigned activities; and, ensuring compliance with Non-Federal Audits (NFAS) and the closure of open recommendations, and maintaining monthly project financial management tracking systems.

Supervision of FHT Unit Staff – 10%

• Provides oversight of work and supervision of up to eight staff (CCNs and/or expatriate staff) and other short-term staff (including AORs/CORs) as required, and mentors the entire office in the various elements that make up the FHT Unit.
• Serves as a full supervisor, providing supervision, leadership, mentorship, and guidance to the professional and assistant-level FHT Unit staff, and provides guidance on family health matters to all members of the OHH, including advising the Office Director /Deputy Office Directors (s) as well as the Mission Director and Deputy Mission Director.
• Participates with considerable weight in selection decisions within the FHT Unit and performs the full range of training, evaluation, and other supervisory responsibilities expected at the full professional level.
• CCN PSCs may participate in temporary duty (TDY) travel to USAID/Washington and other Missions in order to participate in the Foreign Service National Fellowship Program described in ADS 495maa.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.

• The applicants for the United States USAID Uganda Supervisory Project Management Specialist (Family Health) job should hold a Master’s degree, or the local equivalent, in economics, social science, public health, management, social science, or anthropology is required.
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in health-sector program management, with at least four years of that time in strategy and policy development, is required. Experience must have provided the opportunity f or project design, program planning, and/or implementation.
• At least two years of experience in development-related work or related fields for USG, other donor agencies, GoU organizations, or private-sector institutions which included project design, performance monitoring, and/or the analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data is required.
• In-depth professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to family health in Uganda and the region, is required.
• Mastery of a variety of health development areas, including Health System Strengthening, health care reform, health care financing, health information systems, human resources development, logistics systems and commodity supply, maternal, perinatal and child health, and family planning is expected.
• Knowledge and understanding of the economic political, social, and cultural characteristics of Uganda; and, the economic developments, resources, and resource constraints, and development prospects and priorities of Uganda and the region.
• Good knowledge of, or the potential to acquire such knowledge of, USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to development assistance; USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation; and, of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities.
• Knowledge and understanding of the organization and respective roles of the different branches in the GoU, in order to enhance effective communication, and to develop consensus on program/project/activity strategy and implementation plans.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to plan, organize, manage, and evaluate family health program activities is required.
• Verbal communication skills, tact, and diplomacy are required to establish and develop sustainable working relations and a high level of trust with senior and middle -level GoU officials, and with public and private organizations, such as primary USAID technical contacts in the development area. Verbal communication skills are also used to explain and interpret GoU attitudes, priorities, and concerns to USAID/USG officials, and to negotiate program/project/activity plans and resolve implementation issues with appropriate host-country organizations, technical advisors, IPs, counterparts, and peers.
• Excellent writing skills are required in order to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, project documentation, and briefing papers.
• Analytical ability is required in order to interpret public policies, and to assist in the development of revised policies, as required; and, to develop and monitor the performance of budgets, and the development of periodic work plans
• Skill in program/project/activity programming, policies, and plans, and in developing strategies for implementation, is required.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment, and to achieve consensus on policy, project, and administrative matters.
• Good computer skills are required to manage activity goals and achievements, both technical and financial.
• Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) English. The ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of one or more Ugandan languages will be highly useful.

 

How to Apply:

Eligible Offerors are required to complete and submit (Requirements (i) – (v) below are critical for compliance of the offer. Therefore, candidates MUST pay due attention to these):

• A complete DS-174 Employment Application for Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds174.pdf; [click at this link for latest version]. Offerors are required to complete sections 1 through 6 (use additional pages, if needed).
• Cover letter (addressed to the USAID Supervisory Executive Officer) clearly indicating the position for which you are applying and describing how you meet the minimum requirements.
• Complete curriculum vitae/resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, the resume must include:
• Paid and non-paid experience, job title, dates held (month/year). Please specify unpaid or part time work. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year) will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements. (NOTE: Resume and DS-174 work experience should match.)
• Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
• Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards, or accomplishments.
• Name and contact information (phone and email) of three (3) professional references. At least one of the references must be a prior or current direct supervisor.
• Supplemental [separate] document specifically addressing each QRF as outlined in the solicitation
• Copies of Academic Transcripts
• Offers should be in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). No other file types will be accepted.

All documents should be scanned into one (1) document (one (1) ATTACHMENT) which should not exceed 10MB.

 

Documents should be arranged and scanned in this order:

• DS-174
• Cover Letter
• Complete Curriculum vitae/resume
• Supplemental documents
• Academic Transcripts
• Submitted offers and documents become the property of USAID and will not be returned.

 

Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I at kampalausaidjobs@usaid.gov Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

All qualified Offerors will be considered regardless of age, race, color, sex, creed, national or tribal origin, lawful political affiliation, non-disqualifying handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, affiliation with an employee organization or other non-merit factor.

Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.

 

For this position, the subject line of the email MUST read:

SOL NUMBER TITLE OF POSITION, LAST, FIRST CANDIDATE NAME – Ex: 72061724R10012 Supervisory Project Management Specialist (Family Health), Smith, Jose

 

Deadline: 9th July 2024

 

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