U.S._TCN_PSC_Sr._HIV_AIDS_Clinical_Advisor_DR_06042019.pdf

Position Description

Senior HIV/AIDS Clinical Senior Advisor

USAID/Dominican Republic, Office of Health, Population and Nutrition (HPN)

SOLICITATION NUMBER: TBD

ISSUANCE DATE: TBD

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: TBD, 2019

Santo Domingo

POSITION TITLE: Senior HIV/AIDS Clinical Advisor

MARKET VALUE OF POSITION: The position is the equivalent of a GS-14, ranging from $000 to $000 per annum.

Final compensation will be based on the individual’s salary and work history, experience and educational background.

EVALUATION FACTORS: Evaluation of qualifications and experience required of candidates will be conducted on a 100-point Scale and weighted as follows: Education and Relevant

Work Experience (40%); Technical Knowledge and Abilities

(30%); Communications/Interpersonal Skills (30%).

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) years

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

SECURITY ACCESS: TBD

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. PSC or Third Country Nationals (TCN)

I. POSITION DESCRIPTION

Background:

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is at the forefront of the U.S. government (USG) response in the fight against HIV and AIDS. USAID is a key partner in the President’s Emergency Plan for

AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and works closely with other USG agencies on this initiative in more than 90 countries.

The Dominican Republic’s PEPFAR portfolio, implemented by USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC), and the State Department, has recently undergone a significant pivot to focus more effectively for epidemic control among specific vulnerable population groups. In order to position itself to implement a rapid and high quality expansion of PEPFAR clinical services to serve hard to reach populations, USAID is seeking a Senior HIV/AIDS Clinical Senior Advisor to join the USAID Health Office HIV team.

The Senior HIV/AIDS Clinical Advisor position is located in the HIV/AIDS team in the Health Office. In

FY20, the HIV team will manage an annual budget of $13.5 million and oversees programs in behavioral and biomedical prevention, care and treatment, health systems strengthening, and OVC and community care focused on vulnerable and hard to reach populations, specifically Individuals of Haitian descent living in the DR.

The Sr. HIV/AIDS Clinical Advisor (“Senior Advisor”) will provide a management role as a team lead and through technical implementation of USAID’s site and above-site HIV portfolio, including HIV care and treatment, HIV testing and counseling (HTC), care and support, and health systems strengthening within

USAID. He/she will serve as the Agency’s representative in interagency discussions. The Senior Advisor will provide technical expertise grounded in strong medical knowledge, previous clinical experience, and demonstrated public health understanding to lead the design, integration and implementation of HIV and AIDS care and support programs and build strong linkages between HIV treatment and other clinical services supported by USAID.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Senior Advisor, working with the Health Office Chief, will serve as the subject matter expert and technical leader within USAID/DR for the HIV clinical continuum including community and facility-based HIV testing, linkage, and treatment and adherence support services. In addition he/she will oversee the health systems strengthening activities that support serve to remove operational bottlenecks or strengthen clinical care activities. He/she will provide technical and managerial support on programs providing testing, linkage to care, treatment, adherence and retention for those at risk of HIV and those living with HIV/AIDS. He/she will be a subject matter expert on how to best reach and retain vulnerable populations living with stigma and discrimination. He/she will also work with technical representatives of other USG agencies, GoDR counterparts, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), international donors, and other key development partners.

Specific Tasks and Objectives:

A. Technical Leadership (50%)

● Provide on-going leadership, technical assistance, and consultation to direct staff, the broader USAID

HIV team, interagency PEPFAR team, the Government of DR (GoDR), and implementing partners on the development and implementation of the continuum of HIV clinical, support services, and systems strengthening in accordance with global, PEPFAR, and USAID guidance.

● Supervise a clinical team of up to four local staff comprising technical and administrative support specialists.

● Conduct data and trend analysis, and providing technical recommendations to improve the performance of clinical care and treatment programs at the national, provincial, site and community levels. Lead the

HIV clinical team to analyze routinely reported program results across the clinical cascade and use data to redirect implementation as needed. Identify areas of weakness on a regular basis, at least monthly, and devise improvement plans

● Provide USAID expert technical and programmatic advice on the planning, design and implementation of HIV and AIDS programs, particularly those for adult care and treatment.

● Lead clinical inputs to the USAID and PEPFAR business processes- quarterly data review presentations and country operational plan inputs.

● Analyze, synthesize and disseminate findings and best practices to the Mission and its partners.

● Participate in the review and evaluation of existing policies on continuum of HIV clinical services and other relevant policies, providing recommendations and suggesting modifications to existing policies or the creation of new policies to support and/or enhance USAID HIV activities.

● Develop and deliver relevant presentations, reference materials, speeches and prepare reports and other documents as required

B. Project Management (25%)

● Serve as Activity Manager and/or Agreement Officer’s Technical Representative (AOTR)/Contract

Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) for assigned USAID awards.

● Provide support in managing HIV clinical contracts or cooperative agreements, including workplan development, monitoring of budgets allocated to USAID clinical partners; review of budget for appropriateness, monitor the use of funds for adherence to proposed activities, quarterly review of budget status and outlays, and providing advice for realignment of budget, and accruals.

● Provide technical advice and direction to grantees and contractors on management and implementation of grants, contracts and/or cooperative agreements to ensure consistency with

PEPFAR policies and GODR policies and regulations.

● Review the technical quality of projects in the field by conducting site visits, meeting with program planners and managers in the field, providing expert technical assistance, monitoring progress, and reviewing and analyzing results.

● Provide regular status reports on progress for all projects under his/her responsibility and prepare the required reports on clinical care issues. This will include mandated quarterly COP reports on results as well as weekly and monthly partner data reviews.

C. Administrative Management (5%)

● Ensure the maintenance of files, including all site visit reports, progress meeting reports, and other reports. Ensure up to date clinical information, including PowerPoint presentations, success stories, site visit reports, data quality sheets and other documents are kept as required.

● Maintain financial and expenditure spreadsheets and track all treatment, testing and care expenditures to ensure compliance with PEPFAR guidelines.

● Provide leadership and technical oversight on the design and publication of USAID materials related to the continuum of HIV clinical services

D. Partner Relationships and Coordination (15%)

● Develop collaborations with counterparts in USG and international agencies.

● Serve on relevant PEPFAR interagency and/or National Working Groups and participate in other related collaborations within USAID and interagency.

E. Other duties as assigned (5%)

● Respond flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, responding to Congressional inquiries, supporting VIP visits, responding to Washington policy and operational requests, and carrying out ad-hoc assignments as dictated by unforeseen operational requirements at the discretion of the USAID Mission Director, Deputy Mission Director, HPN Director, HIV/AIDS Team Lead, and HIV/AIDS Deputy Team Lead.

● Provide mentoring, including technical and leadership training, to other team members.

11. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education (10%)

● MD/DO/MBBS/MBCHB or equivalent medical degree with experience in international health care and support delivery

● Master’s in Public Health or a related field with an emphasis on infectious diseases preferred

Work Experience (25%)

● Experience in providing clinical care to HIV/AIDS patients

● Minimum eight (8) years of experience in public health programs with emphasis on infectious diseases and HIV, with at least three (3) years of experience working on health care delivery in an international or resource challenged setting. Experience in PEPFAR and/or LAC countries preferred

● Minimum of three years supervisory experience.

Technical Knowledge (30%)

● Ability to develop and monitor clinical components of HIV strategic plans, develop innovative solutions and meet targets

● Knowledge of and familiarity with international treatment initiatives and organizations and the ability to interact successfully with senior level representatives and high level government officials of international and host country governmental and nongovernmental agencies, multilateral and bilateral organizations

● Knowledge of the issues involved working in limited resource environments.

● Preferred knowledge of U.S. Government legislation relating to development assistance and USAID programming policies, regulations procedures, and documentation.

● Preferred general knowledge of public sector health systems and its affiliated agencies, donors, and related private sector programs.

Abilities and Skills (35%)

● Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work cross-culturally with diverse teams

● Ability to work in a fast-pace environment

● Excellent analytical written and oral communication skills

● High degree of judgment, maturity, ingenuity and originality to interpret strategy, to analyze, develop and present work and to monitor and evaluate implementation of programs

● Willingness to travel approximately 30% of the time

● Strong skills in the operation of computers and software program applications authorized for use

(including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word and related logistics software for management, forecasting, etc.) are required

● Excellent communication skills in English and Spanish.

● Excellent interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy, required to establish and maintain a wide range of senior-level and working-level contacts with HIV/AIDS programs in government, non-governmental, and private-sector circles.

● Ability to work effectively within team and interagency environments, and to mentor others.

III. POSITION ELEMENTS:

Supervision Received: The incumbent will report to the Health Office Director or her/his designee at the

USAID/DR Mission. S/He is expected to work independently in carrying out responsibilities. The incumbent is expected to be able to exercise considerable independent judgment in carrying out assigned tasks and to be able to function effectively within a multicultural and interagency environment. As a technical advisor, s/he should work independently on key tasks, and also keep managers and colleagues fully apprised of the status of work assignments. Assignments are often self-generated in response to goals and objectives to be achieved with expected results. S/He functions as a part of USAID/Dominican Republic’s Development Objective team for

Health.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The incumbent is stationed at the USAID office in Santo Domingo.

S/He is expected to conduct site visits in PEPFAR supported sites. This position requires up to 30% travel in-country and to international conferences or trainings.

Available Guidelines: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); AID Acquisitions Regulations (AIDAR; AID

Automated Directives System (ADS Series); U.S. Department of State Standardized Regulations; Federal

Travel Regulations; Circulars and Controller General Decisions, USAID Mission Orders, Project Papers, Mission Strategy, and other documents available, USAID & OGAC policies and procedures, Technical

Documents and Policy Papers.

Exercise of Judgment: A high degree of independent judgment and initiative is expected. The incumbent receives minimal day-to-day supervision, and general technical direction. The incumbent is expected to carry out all duties in an independent manner, calling on the supervisor for policy and decision-making matter.

Post-entry training: The incumbent will be given on-the-job training regarding Agency policies, procedures and regulations, including the Automated Directives Systems (ADS) and Mission Orders. Training in USAID project implementation, auditing and financial management operating procedures and requirements as needed.

Other guiding documents include the Country Strategic Plan, Performance Monitoring Plan, and the Health

Team Charter. Incumbent will receive Agreement Officer’s Representatives (AOR) training and certification on the job.

Authority to Make Commitments: The incumbent has full authority and responsibility as delegated by ADS, other Mission, and USAID guidelines for C/AORs. Commitments are limited to actions within the scope of the position. No commitments are authorized to GoDR officials, international agencies, donor organizations, contractors or grantees.

Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent has routine and frequent contact with senior officials of the Government of DR at the regional and national levels, other members of the Mission Health Office, personnel at the U.S. Embassy, USAID/DR, USAID/Washington and other USG agencies such as the CDC, partnering organizations, institutional contractors and consultants.

Supervision exercised: The incumbent will supervise a team of up to four people. The incumbent will review completed work, provide instructions to supervised staff, and be responsible for the mid-term and annual reviews and any required coaching/mentoring of these staff. Supervision duties as provided in USAID ADS and other agency guidelines and policy.

Time Required to Perform Full Range of Duties After Entry Into Position: Twelve months.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The following factors are listed in descending order of importance and will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications:

Education (10%)

Work Experience (25%)

Technical Knowledge (30%)

Abilities and Skills (35%)

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. The highest ranking applicants may be selected for an interview, but an interview is not always necessary.

APPLYING

Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

http://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/forms

An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume: Your CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing particular selection criteria. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the minimum qualifications and evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation.

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.

Security Clearance: Prior to signing a contract, the selected individual will be required to obtain an

“employment authorization” if a US Citizen or US Green Card Holder and “background checks” if a Third

Country National. A temporary security clearance will be requested while a personal background investigation is conducted. Instructions for obtaining the security clearance will be forwarded to the selected individual once negotiations have been concluded.

Submissions shall be in accordance with the above information at the place and time specified. In order to be considered for the position a candidate must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the solicitation.

Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the applications vis-a-vis the required qualifications. Applicants should note that the salary history for the purposes of the AID309-2 is the base salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc.

Applicants are reminded and required to sign the certification at the end of the AID309-2.

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, item 12.

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

Methods of application submissions:

For applicants to be considered for this position the following guidelines will be adhered to and forms completed, signed and submitted to jobapplications@usaid.gov, to allow the evaluation committee to thoroughly and objectively review your application vis-a-vis the requirements of the position.

Hand Deliver To:

USAID/Dominican Republic

Via U.S. Mail:

USAID/Domincan Republic

If sent via Courier, International or Local Mail use:

USAID/Dominican Republic

4. If sent via email:

12. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the CO 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 following forms.

mailto:jobapplications@usaid.gov

13. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment

(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Annual and Sick Leave

ALLOWANCES:

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians

Foreign Areas)

(a) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)

(b) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)

(c) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(d) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(e) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(f) Education Travel (Section 280)

(g) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(h) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and

TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:

● USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a

U.S.Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause

“General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf .

● Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms .

● 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 .

● [The CO must check http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs to determine which

AAPDs/CIBs apply and insert the relevant text as required.]

● 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 http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf http://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations

END OF SOLICITATION