USAID Project Management Specialist (Human Resources for Health)

I. 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.: 22-40**

2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 12, 2022**

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 26, 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 (Human Resources for Health).

6. MARKET VALUE: Equivalent to FSN-11 Step 1 (4,792,523.00 KSH per annum) to Step 13 (8,147,267.00 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.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya; with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Kenyan Citizens and current locally hired employees of the US Mission 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 Project Management Specialist – Human Resources for Health (HRH) (the “Specialist”) serves as an advisor and provides strategic, technical, analytical, and management support on health workforce topics and health systems strengthening (HSS). S/he will serve as a Contracting Officer’s Representative/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) and/or Activity Manager on program/project/activities related to improved health systems with a strong focus on human resources for health. The Specialist provides technical guidance to Health Office staff and leaders, the broader USAID Mission, implementing partners (IPs), the host government, and represents USAID with the interagency, in technical working groups, and other fora.

The Specialist is a key member of Health Office, Health Policy and Financing. The jobholder reports to the Health Policy and Financing Team Leader and has no formal supervisory responsibility.

Statement of Duties to be Performed

Technical and Strategic Leadership

· Provide senior/high level technical guidance to the Mission, the PEPFAR interagency team, the host country government, and to other development partners on issues pertaining to HRH and HSS.

· Stay abreast of state-of-the-art knowledge, programming and best practices related to HRH and HSS and utilize this information to improve host country health systems.

· Coordinate exchanges and sharing of best practices among USAID, USG and other stakeholders to strengthen HRH and health systems.

· Provide technical guidance and leadership to the host country government in coordinating HRH and HSS support.

· Guide USAID and host country government on strategic decisions and policy formulation to strengthen HRH and health systems, including transparency and accountability.

· Provide technical guidance and coordination to Health Office colleagues to ensure complimentary and coordinated HRH and HSS investments that benefit the entire health portfolio and relevant linkages to other portfolio work (e.g. education, economic growth). Advances cross-technical collaboration, including with clinical technical teams, to adequately address HRH and HSS barriers impacting health goals.

· Provide guidance to Health Office colleagues to monitor the achievement of milestones of IPs supporting HRH and HSS project implementation.

· Provide strategic and technical leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the Country Operational Plan, Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports.

· Advances the availability and use of HRH and HSS data in programmatic reviews and annual and mid-term planning including the Country Operational Plan and Operational Plan.

· Stay abreast of emerging developments in HRH and HSS approaches and advise accordingly on how these policies and strategies can most effectively be incorporated to enhance USAID programming.

Program/Project/Activity Management

· Serve as COR/AOR or Activity Manager for the Health Office program/project/activities related to improved health systems with a strong focus on human resources, with responsibility for providing financial and programmatic oversight to ensure contracts and grants achieve anticipated results, and are linked to and enhance attainment of the Health Office, Mission and USG objectives.

· Conduct site visits as required in order to monitor progress, and to provide technical and programmatic recommendations to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, and judicious use of USG funding.

· Advances metrics and data systems for monitoring of HRH and HSS activities and use of data by implementing partners in achieving anticipated results.

Representation and Reporting

· Represents the Health Office, Mission, and USG at national and/or international technical and programmatic meetings, within various working groups, and in consultations with other social sector donors, government officials, and IPs.

· Provides technical and strategic leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning reporting documents including the Country Operational Plan, Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports.

· Prepare ad hoc reports as required for the Mission, USAID/Washington, Office of Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), donor coordination groups, and others.

· Drafts talking points and/or speeches for the Office Chief, Mission Director, Ambassador and others, as required, and prepares briefing papers, presentations, and coordinates site preparations for VIP site visits.

· Participate in workshops, special committees, and other fora as a technical advisor on HRH and HSS.

· Organize site visits and prepare orientation materials for delegations from OGAC, USAID Headquarters, State Department, and other agencies.

Supervisory Relationship

The Specialist will report to the Health Policy and Financing Team Leader in the Health Office in USAID. S/he is expected to work independently in carrying out responsibilities. S/he is expected to develop annual work objectives in consultation with his/her supervisor. The supervisor makes assignments in terms of overall objectives and resources available. Completed work is reviewed in terms of achievement of program/project/activity goals, effectiveness in meeting host-country and USAID objectives, and integration with other initiatives in the Office and Mission portfolio. Some technical direction may come from other professionals in the Office; in general, however, the Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment.

Supervisory Controls

Continuing supervision of staff is not anticipated.

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

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

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

1. Education: Master’s degree in a relevant profession: public health, public administration, international development, human resources, accounting, law, business, finance, contracting, economics, industrial management, and/or organization or management.
2. Prior Work Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in developing, implementing, and/or monitoring and evaluating human resources for health and/or health systems strengthening activities (such as human resource planning and management, community health workers, task shifting, in-service training provision, policies and/or another closely related area). Experience collaborating with and/or working for the USG, donor agencies, host country government, private-sector institutions or other related organization.
3. Language Proficiency: Level IV fluency in English, and in the appropriate host-country business language, both written and spoken, is required. Language competence may be tested.

III. 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)

In depth knowledge in one or more HRH and/or HSS specialty areas, such as human resource planning, project management, community health workers, task shifting, in-service training provision, policies and/or another closely related area. Demonstrated knowledge of the overall health sector context, of PEPFAR and its current priorities, as well as the key aspects of US Government foreign assistance to the host country.

• Skills and abilities (40 points)

The jobholder must possess strong skills in communication (verbal 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 to be able to accept and react to evolving planning and implementation contexts. The jobholder must demonstrate excellent computer skills including skills with Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing. Demonstrated previous experience with use of excel for data analysis and familiarity with data visualization software (such as Tableau). S/he takes initiative and offers leadership in reviewing the progress of programs and projects under his/her responsibility, including performance reports, pipeline management, program implementation reviews, as well as fulfilling other USAID and USG reporting 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