Public Health Specialist at U.S. Embassy to Kenya

Program management (50%)                                                                                                  

• As an expert and senior advisor in public health, health education, and health service research issues incumbent takes an active role in developing specific agency program goals and objectives for public health initiatives. Incumbent prepares directives, memoranda, policy statements and proposals to introduce new initiatives and to recommend effective operations consistent with strategic objectives of the agency’s public health programs in (country),
• The annual agency budget for the public health program the job holder supports in (Kenya) in fiscal year 2021 is $15 million.
• Job holder works closely with senior and mid-level host government ministry officials, and other multilateral partners, international and non-governmental organizations, o: a) coordinate outreach that raises awareness among civic and social organizations of public health issues and programs available; and b) influence other collaborative organizations engaged in similar programs to adopt appropriate strategies for their program activities.
• Job holder provides expert technical direction for proposals that result in a grant, contract and/or cooperative agreement for public health programs within his/her area of responsibility.
• Technical Assistance (20%)
• Incumbent provides direct technical assistance to the Government of Kenya and Ministry of Health on the implementation and establishment of high-quality programs at the national, county and sub-county level, and ensure that all services are based on the latest standards of practice. Acts as a recognized national, regional, and international resource in all matters within the job holder’s portfolio and develops global, national, and sub-national level policy, technical guidance, and training materials.
• Administrative Management (15%)
• Incumbent is responsible for providing oversight and monitoring the budgets allocated to implementing/cooperative agreement partners within the job holder's portfolio. This includes reviewing budget requests for appropriateness, monitoring use of funds for adherence to proposed activities, quarterly pipeline reviews/budget status reports, following up on irregular findings, providing advice for realignments of budgets, accruals.
• Job holder prepares regular and ad hoc progress reports on public health partner activities. Readers of these reports include agency and post management, other agency officials, U.S. headquarters offices and are ultimately used in reports to the U.S. Congress. Reporting responsibilities are monthly, quarterly, and annually. 
• Job holder maintains files and records in public health data collection specific to the activities/programs for which incumbent is responsible. Job holder is responsible for data integrity and security of information in the reporting databases that does or may relate to public health information (particularly as related to named individuals).
• Other program files include reports, meeting summaries and minutes, copies of all grants/cooperative agreements/contracts, research determinations, panels, and awards. Whenever possible these records will be filed electronically and entered into the reference system.
• Interagency Coordination (15%)
• As a regional and international expert on matters pertaining to public health programs, job holder represents CDC/Kenya at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with collaborators and donor agencies. Briefs senior agency officials, country team and interested officials of other USG agencies as appropriate on the results of such meetings and prepares written reports for submission to other interested parties. Job holder represents the agency in discussing and developing financial commitment targets for programs within his/her area of responsibility at administrative and strategic planning meetings implementing agencies (Departments of State, Defense, Labor, Commerce, and Health (including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Food and Drug Administration)and  Peace Corps). Job holder serves as chair or rotating chair on inter-agency technical working groups to ensure effective coordination of work plan development, implementation strategies, and evaluation plans for all USG agency public health activities in (country).
• Job holder serves on intra- and inter-branch and agency working groups and projects, frequently taking the project lead role. These projects are generally short-term in nature and most often have to do with special requirements for VIP visits, special projects, etc. This would include 3-4 ad hoc projects per year where position would have a lead role.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements:

• All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a:
• security certificate; or 
• public trust security clearance. 
• All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam. 
• Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Education Requirements:

• Doctoral level degree: Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in medicine, public health, health policy, epidemiology, or very closely related is required.

Evaluations:

• You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement. 
• You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
• You must complete the application form and provide the required documents.  Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed.  If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position. 

Qualifications:

Experience:

• Five years of mid-to-senior level public health experience in developing, implementing and evaluating, public health, global health security or other relevant public health programs that involve coordination with an international agency or implementing partner is required. One additional year of experience at the managerial level with multiple staff is required.