Associate Director (Laboratory and Health Systems Strengthening) at Embassy of The United States

Duties

Under the direction of the CDC Country Director, the jobholder serves as the Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT) Lab and Health Systems Strengthening Associate Director, a senior scientific and technical advisor for direct implementation of activities to agency officials, host country Kenya, and implementing partners. The position will provide laboratory, health systems strengthening and technical leadership and management oversight to this multi-million-dollar project with HHS/CDC, the Kenya Ministry of Health (MOH) partners, as well as those funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Kenya, with particular emphasis on systems for delivery of HIV/AIDS and TB care, treatment, and prevention program activities as well as program evaluation and surveillance. Specially, the incumbent plans, initiates, coordinates, and provides programmatic and technical leadership for HIV/TB Laboratory and Health systems strengthening activities in 30 - 40 counties, including seven or more national referral and University Hospital laboratories. The incumbent leads a team of 14 senior and mid-level public health specialists and indirectly influences the work of additional technical staff across two CDC offices in the country for DGHT and the PEPFAR programs.

The position serves as a key senior advisor in developing and formulating short- and long-range sustainable public health program objectives and policies to advance priority HIV and TB programmatic goals and improve the delivery of public health laboratory services. The position leads in designing public health programs and interventions, conducting evaluations or rapid scans, and providing technical advice on implementation of sustainable, country owned laboratory and health systems strengthening initiatives addressing allocation of resources for human capital, infrastructure, information management, HIV/TB supply chain, as well as for leadership and governance at national, county and implementing partner levels. Incumbent forges and maintains strategic relationships for optimal sustainable program implementation.

Job holder is a Locally Employed Staff (LES) appointed to perform inherently governmental duties, such as provide work guidance to USDH and has Project Officer responsibilities. Incumbent reports directly to the CDC Country Director (GP 15 - 96CD0073).      

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements:

EXPERIENCE:   

At least 5 years of work experience with the Government of Kenya, public health institutions, or international NGOs/donor agencies in public health practices such as program design, implementation and evaluation, community intervention, public health management, delivery, or operational research. Minimum of four years’ experience above must be in HIV/AIDS, STI, TB, Malaria, or related infectious disease field.  Additionally, 4 years of management experience is also required.

JOB KNOWLEDGE:  

The job holder must have knowledge of the principles of public health planning, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/STI/TB prevention programs; knowledge of the methods, process, and techniques used to develop and deliver public health programs; knowledge of key players in HIV/AIDS program implementation in Kenya, knowledge of principles of quality management systems for medical laboratories, health programs economic evaluation design concepts, knowledge of key principles for private public partnerships, knowledge of management concepts and practices used by organizations engaged in international health or health related endeavors. As a senior LE Staff in the office, must be thoroughly familiar with the USG/FSN employment system and with PEPFAR guidelines, practices, and the current Country Operational Plan process.

Education Requirements:

A medical doctor with additional master’s qualifications or PHD, Master’s degree in Medicine, or Laboratory Sciences, or Public Health, or Health Systems Management or another related medical field is required.

Evaluations:

LANGUAGE: 

Level IV (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing of English is required

Level IV (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing of Swahili is required.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

Must be able to:

• establish effective diplomatic working relationships with multiple public health and related industry organizations/institutions including other USG agencies, international organizations, Kenya MOH and other governmental bodies, universities, research facilities, professional and related regulatory bodies, at both individual and official levels;
• organize and manage subordinate staff;
• communicate effectively orally and in writing;
• plan, develop, manage and evaluate important and complex programs independently;
• provide laboratory, strategic and public health information and advice in assigned area objectively;
• follow oral and written instructions, and organize, prioritize and follow through expeditiously on all assignments with minimal oversight;
• focus on details as appropriate; and 8) demonstrate proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, databases and other computer applications for program implementation, systems strengthening and evaluations;
• translate and interpret complex policy, medical and technical technology to appropriate audiences and prepare oral and written reports in English for senior-level international scientific audiences.
• Comprehend communications in official local language/s and culture.
• Keyboarding skills that include both speed and accuracy are required.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO):  The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Qualifications:

All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits:

Agency Benefits:

Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Nairobi, Kenya may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.

For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.

The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

Other Information:

For the current COVID-19 Requirements please visit the following link.

HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:  Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:

1. AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
2. AEFM / USEFM
3. FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

IMPORTANT:  Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability dated within the past six months, equivalent documentation, or certification.  A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given. 

** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.