Technical Advisor II/III: HIV Clinical Services Advisor

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency’s immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual work planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.

Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency’s ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.

Background

USAID remains at the forefront of the US Government (USG) response in the fight against the HIV and AIDS pandemic, funding over $6 billion since inception of its international HIV and AIDS program in 1986. The Agency, with HIV and AIDS programs in nearly 100 countries worldwide, is a key partner in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative dedicated to a single disease – a multi-year, multi-billion dollar, multifaceted approach to combating the disease around the world.

Introduction

The HIV Clinical Services Advisor (Advisor) will serve as an HIV treatment expert, providing technical input grounded in strong clinical and scientific knowledge and demonstrated public health understanding. The Advisor will assist the Bureau for Global Health (GH) and Missions, regional field offices, regional bureaus, cooperative agencies, private voluntary organizations, host country governments and NGOs in the design, integration and implementation of HIV and AIDS care and support programs. The Advisor will provide technical assistance across populations and age groups. S/he will work closely with the Adult Clinical Branch Chief and the Prevention, Care, and Treatment Division Chief in the Office of HIV/AIDS (OHA), and will receive technical guidance from the Pediatric and Maternal Clinical Branch Chief.

Roles and Responsibilities

The HIV Clinical Services Advisor will be responsible for:

• Providing on-going technical expertise on the development and implementation of HIV clinical services across ages and populations.
• Supporting program design and implementation to strengthen the HIV clinical services continuum, including piloting & evaluating different models of service delivery.
• Reviewing, monitoring and analyzing key PEPFAR indicators and other data;
• Participating in relevant PEPFAR Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and other related forums to ensure programs are technically sound and well-coordinated.
• Developing and disseminating technical updates, research findings, training curricula and other relevant information to PEPFAR program managers and implementing partners.
• Leading inclusively to promote USG collaboration and strengthening coordination among PEPFAR Agencies and other multinational partners, such as WHO, UNICEF, Global Fund and others.

LEVEL III An Advisor at the level III will be further responsible for:

• Serving as a technical point of contact (POC) or country POC for relevant Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) quarterly and annual program reviews.
• Offering expert technical advice on key elements of the HIV treatment cascade, such as: population-specific testing and linkage services; treatment initiation/retention; scale up of viral load monitoring; and appropriate treatment regimen transition.
• Participating in a leadership position in relevant PEPFAR TWGs.
• Leading the development of technical guidance, manuscripts, and technical considerations to help further the available science supporting PEPFAR programs, and to ensure that programmers and implementers have access to relevant best practices and performance data. International and domestic travel approximately 25%.

Training and professional development

• Keeping abreast of literature and latest developments in the fields of HIV clinical services.
• Deepening knowledge of the development and implementation of HIV clinical services.
• Participating in interagency and intra-agency working groups as appropriate to the scope of work.
• Participating in professional continuing education and skills training within the purview of GHFP-II.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in public health or a related social science field.
• Medical degree or PhD preferred.
• Training and/or experience in clinical epidemiology, clinical care, infectious diseases preferred.
• Experience in international health care delivery services.
• Experience working in Sub Saharan Africa, Asia or Latin America preferred.
• Ability to interpret program data to monitor and evaluate program implementation.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work cross-culturally with diverse teams.
• Excellent analytical written and oral communication skills.
• High degree of judgment, ingenuity and originality to interpret strategy, to analyze, develop and present work and to monitor and evaluate implementation of programs.
• Computer literacy in Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Proficiency in a foreign language preferred; French, Portuguese, Swahili are especially relevant.
• Ability to travel internationally.
• US citizenship or US permanent residency required.

Salary and benefits

Salary based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs.