22-91 Project Management Specialist (Regional Partnerships)

GENERAL INFORMATION

USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANT’S BANK ACCOUNTS.

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 22-91
2. ISSUANCE DATE: June 24, 2022
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: July 7, 2022 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).
4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa Human Resources, e-mail at [email protected].
5. POSITION TITLE: USAID Project Management Specialist (Regional Partnerships).
6. MARKET VALUE: Equivalent to FSN-11 Step 1 (4,792,523 KSH per annum) to Step 13 (8,147,267 KSH per annum).In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Kenya and East Africa. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature that will be executed by USAID through a series of sequential contracts, subject to the availability of funds, the continued need for services and successful performance. It is anticipated that the selection of the successful candidate will be completed within an estimated six-month period from the closing date of this solicitation. The base period will be for one year with the commencement date based upon successful medical clearance and security certification. Contingent on Agency needs, the Contracting Officer may exercise four additional option periods from the contract commencement date.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya;with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Kenyan Citizens, including current locally hired employees of the US Government in Kenya. Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.
10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.
11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The Health Population and Nutrition (HPN) office is USAID/Kenya and East Africa’s (KEA) largest office, managing a portfolio valued at over $400 million annually. The office receives funding from a number of U.S. Presidential Initiatives, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and Feed the Future (FtF), as well as other USAID health funds for family planning (FP), maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. The position is a high-level specialist position providing technical leadership and maintaining critical partnerships with regional intergovernmental organizations, national and county governments in Kenya and the region.

The Project Management Specialist (Regional Partnerships) is an experienced professional and technical specialist in health program management. The position builds and maintains relationships with the regional, national, and county leaders to ensure USAID’s health activities are aligned and support health priorities in collaboration with stakeholders at regional, national and country level. The position is involved in strategic planning and budgeting activities with regional organizations and relevant national and county stakeholders and works with Contracts/Agreement Officer Representatives (C/AORs) to support coordinated implementation, monitoring and evaluation of cross-border and regional activities. The incumbent serves as an in-house subject matter expert on regional health issues and has an in-depth understanding of the devolved structure in Kenya. The incumbent coordinates implementation of the regional activities funded by USAID, collaborates with cross-sectoral teams at USAID including USAID’s RIGO working groups and keeps the HPN Office updated on developments affecting health in the region. The incumbent also keeps regional partners and stakeholders updated on USAID and USG policy directives, strategic priorities, and technical directions. In collaboration with Health, Population and Nutrition bilateral and USAID Washington teams, the incumbent manages the implementation of key elements of USAID’s health programs to enhance USAID’s program visibility and impact in Kenya and the region. The position reports to the HPN Partnerships Team Leader.

Statement of Duties to be Performed

1. Technical and Strategic Leadership 50%

• Articulate and extend the USAID’s strategic partnership vision, strategies and tactics in the region, required for achieving and actualizing the long-term metrics for sustainability, while maintaining and sustaining partners’ engagement and commitments in following through the implementation of the agreed actions on quality and equitable health care delivery as well as maximized optimization of domestic resources.
• Leads and/or facilitates the delivery of technical assistance for the development and oversight of strategic partnerships on all key regional and national priority result areas in health through appropriate analytics of policies and programs for maximized long term and sustainable impact.
• Provide high level technical guidance to HPN and the Mission on the region including senior-level officials.
• Work in collaboration with USAID Mission staff, in-house technical working groups, including the County Liaison Teams to design, plan, and implement locally led activities funded by USAID and its partners that are aligned to the health priorities of the region.
• Work closely with other teams within the Health, Population and Nutrition (HPN) office and across the Mission to optimize opportunities for cross-sectoral integration and leveraging of resources across the different program components and sectors.
• Provide updated technical information on FP, MNCH, HIV/AIDS, other health program areas and USAID program policies to partners and a wide group of public health collaborators as it becomes available. This information generally involves how to implement, monitor, and evaluate health programs, use M&E data, and report progress to key stakeholders.
• Develop and nurture formal and informal partnerships with civil society, faith-based, the regional academia, and private organizations and provide technical assistance to the regional organizations, national and county governments on key health systems’ barriers and works with broad based partners on the development and implementation of high impact interventions including modalities to sustain and expand partnerships on such systems barriers.
• Expand the impact of the partnerships between academic, public policy analysis institutions and the appropriate health departments to generate/discuss evidence-based programming for Universal Health Coverage. Lead development and growth of broad-based partnerships that promote the attainment of long term and sustainable goals of the national health programs by executing innovative financing models and leveraging capabilities that effectively benefit both the focal counties, the academia, private sector and public policy think tanks.
• Provide technical expertise on health and broader health systems issues in countries in the region and advise HPN on opportunities to collaborate and synergize with other bilateral Missions, donors, multilateral, and private sector organizations working in the region.
• Provide support and explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration between the counties in Kenya and regions/districts in neighboring countries where regional programs exist to address health risks that transcend borders.
• Provide strategic leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents and facilitate regular programmatic reviews with the regional partners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Monitor current public health literature, reports, international guidelines and standards and best practices in health, and provides recommendations in developing innovative approaches to designing, implementing, and evaluating health systems related programs in East Africa.
• Serve as Contracting or Agreement Officer’s Representative (C/AOR), and/or Activity Manager, for the Mission’s health programs.
• Perceive, determine, and arrange for procurement of short-term technical assistance (STTA) when needed, and ensure that objectives and outcomes of the TA are consistent with and support the furtherance of Mission priorities and programs.
• Provide a leadership role in advising other HPN Office colleagues on partnership development and management and methodologies to improve the performance of USAID’s health investments in the region.

2. Coordination and Representation 40%

• Using diplomacy and technical acumen, establish strategic working relationships with senior health officials and committees at regional and national levels, donor agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector health counterparts to enhance coordination and regular and timely sharing of health information, including changes in key policies, and legal and regulatory environments that could affect the implementation of USAID programs.
• Provide guidance to the HPN team on identifying and developing relationships with stakeholders at regional and national and county levels and ensure that results and impact of partnerships are monitored and reported in quarterly and annual reports.
• Represent the USG in key Ministry of Health (MOH) and other stakeholder technical working groups (TWGs) at regional and national levels, including cross-sectoral teams and the private sector.
• Together with the Partnerships Team Leader, represent USAID on USG Technical Teams.
• As requested by the Mission Director, HPN Office Director, Deputy Director-APPS, or the Partnerships Team Leader, represent USAID at meetings within the interagency, as well as at outside meetings.
• As a member of the Analytics, Policy, Partnership and Systems (APPS) Team, respond flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requirements including responding to requests for information from HQ, Congress and OGAC.
• Organize site visits and prepare orientation materials for delegations from USAID, the State Department, and other agencies.
• Participate in publishing the body of knowledge for relevant technical areas in peer-reviewed journals and make presentations at key conferences.
• Represent the HPN Office when requested at official meetings and events as appropriate.

3. Coaching/Mentoring and Staff Support 10%

• Support and provide advanced advice and guidance to USAID colleagues on health partnerships, policies and priorities relating to establish and strengthen relationships, and on how best to collaborate and coordinate programs with regional organization, regional intergovernmental organizations and other regional stakeholders such as civil society and the private sector.

Supervisory Relationship

The Project Management Specialist (Regional Partnerships) will report to the Partnerships Team Leader in the HPN Office of USAID. The Supervisor provides overall work objectives, suggests approaches to consider, reviews completed assignments for adequacy, and evaluates performance primarily in terms of conformance with policy and results achieved. Incumbent functions with a considerable degree of latitude and independence.

Supervisory Controls

None. Direct supervision over others is not anticipated.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Any application that does not meet the minimum requirements stated below will not be evaluated.

1. Education: A Master’s degree in Public Health, Public Policy or Social Sciences is required.
2. Prior Work Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in managing regional development programs that include multiple partnerships. Experience in the design, implementation and management of health-related programs (e.g. family planning and reproductive health, malaria, nutrition) is required. Such programs must involve coordination with a wide variety of stakeholders in government departments, international agencies or implementing partners at regional and national levels.
3. Language Proficiency: Level IV fluency in both oral and written English and Kiswahili is required.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

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.

– Job Knowledge (60 points)

Knowledge of public health programs, strategies, methods, processes, and techniques used to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate the results of health programs is required. Extensive knowledge of the region’s health context including regional priorities and challenges and the stakeholders engaged in health in the region is required. Demonstrated knowledge of regional health priorities and current health issues is also required. The incumbent should have professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to the specific context of the health sector in countries I the region and the roles and responsibilities of regional intergovernmental organizations and other intergovernmental bodies in the region. The incumbent should have an understanding of donor, multilateral and private sector involvement in health in East Africa. The incumbent must have a good knowledge, or the potential to acquire such knowledge, of USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to development assistance, programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities. The incumbent must have knowledge and understanding of the organization and respective roles of the different strategic partners and governments in the RIGOs, their comparative advantage and how partnership between state and non-state actors can enhance achievement of health outcomes for citizens of the region.

– Skills and abilities (40 points)

Due to frequent interaction with external stakeholders in high stakes environments, the jobholder must be able to perceive, use, understand, manage, and handle emotions and communicate effectively to ensure positive working relationships are maintained. The incumbent 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 outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to exercise flexibility in analyzing and reacting to evolving planning and implementation contexts. The incumbent 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 developing strategic partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders, and in reviewing the progress of programs and projects under his/her responsibility, including performance reports, budgets, and program implementation reviews, in the course of fulfilling other USAID and USG activity management requirements. S/he demonstrates timely decision-making ability and extensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, using diplomacy and tact.

Total possible points: 100

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit any required forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award.

BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

Benefits and allowances are offered in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP).

TAXES

The Contractor must observe Kenyan laws including those concerning income and related tax obligations.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing CCN and TCN PSC 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. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award.
3. Acquisition & 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%20Regulations
5. PSC Ombudsman The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman

The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: [email protected].