Job Openings at HJF Medical Research International

Job Description

The Program Manager, HIV Case Finding is the senior-most leader providing the strategic direction, oversight, and technical support for all HIV case finding activities in the South Rift Valley. S/he will work collaboratively with his/her counterpart, the Program Manager, HIV Prevention. The Program Manager will ensure efficient and effective implementation, management, and monitoring of HIV case finding programs in community and facility settings.

The HIV Case Finding Program Manager will supervise and mentor one Community-based HIV Case Finding and Linkage Program Officer. He/she will mentor and technically support four County HIV Case finding Technical Leads. He/she will technically support all HTS implementing partners (including community partners) at all PEPFAR-supported facilities.

The HIV Case Finding Program Manager may support the representation of the SRV PEPFAR program at National Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and Government of Kenya (GoK) and Ministry of Health (MoH) meetings.

This position report to the SRV PEPFAR Program Director

Primary Position Responsibilities:

1. Oversee planning, implementation, and monitoring performance of HIV case finding programs. This includes working closely with program staff, partners including local government health officials, health facilities, and community implementing partners in Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, and Narok counties to support HIV testing and linkage to care and treatment.
2. Review and approve Partners’ case finding work plans, budgets, and targets \to ensure alignment with PEPFAR goals and National HIV/AIDS strategic goals and targets.
3. Lead partners’ performance review meetings to ensure achievement of targets and provide technical support, as appropriate.
4. Work with partners and county-based HIV case finding officers to provide oversight on the availability of sufficient and skilled staffing to deliver high-quality HIV testing services, and advocate for changes, when needed.
5. Provide technical program leadership, guidance, and accountability for successful implementation of programs, address gaps in programs, and technical advice to ensure that program activities reflect the most recent relevant and science-based data and that programs translate scientific knowledge into practice.
6. Responsible for the strategic design, implementation oversight, and scale-up of facility-based HIV case finding interventions to ensure results are on a trajectory to meeting agency and partner-level annual PEPFAR Country Operation Plan targets.
7. Implement innovative and effective approaches and strategies for HTS optimization, including but not limited to eligibility screening and index/family testing, HIV self-testing to increase case identification and linkage of HIV positive people to care and treatment, including Linkage Case Management or other evidence-based models.
8. Provide Technical Assistance to partners by organizing and participating in joint support supervision and mentorship activities, tracking partner performance, and providing timely technical guidance to ensure prompt performance remediation.
9. Liaise with site leadership representatives to discuss and address any site-specific challenges that may impede service delivery, including the adequacy of staffing, workflow, and other considerations.

Provide strategic direction to:

1. Attain the first 95 of the 95-95-95 cascade, optimizing HIV case finding services to improve case identification and linkage to care and treatment.
2. Provide HIV testing services for vulnerable and key populations; and ensure appropriate linkage to prevention, care, and treatment services to complete the cascade among the key populations.
3. Support the implementation of HIV testing approaches, including optimized PITC, ICT, SNS, CBS/recency testing, and HIV self-testing.
4. Liaise with the Strategic Information team for real-time data collection and analysis of HIV case finding programs, including MER indicators, EMR, and SIMS, to improve program performance.
5. Use strategic information programmatic data to continuously improve HIV case finding and ensure at least 95% of newly identified HIV-positive clients are linked to care and treatment.
6. Coordinate and oversee the dissemination of HIV testing guidelines and other job aids to implementing partners; ensure that activities are implemented with fidelity and in line with the latest guidelines across all implementing partners and service delivery points.
7. Plan and coordinate HIV testing training to ensure that providers are skilled in providing quality program service in line with NASCOP and PEPFAR requirements and ensure participation in External Quality Assurance (EQA).
8. Prepare program reports on time for all relevant stakeholders.
9. Lead HIV case finding representations in core local government, WRAIR-Kenya, IHPT, and other forums for performance monitoring and quality improvement processes.
10. Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

1. Provide direct technical and administrative supervision to five program staff (one Community-based HIV Case Finding & Linkage Program Officer and four county-level HIV Case finding Program Officers).
2. Assist in recruitments
3. Manage performance and workload distribution of HIV case finding program officers
4. Provide mentorship and supervision for optimal HIV case finding team’s performance

Additional Responsibilities within SRV

1. Participate in Site Improvement through Monitoring System (SIMS) and remediation in line with PEPFAR requirements.
2. Develop and review abstracts for dissemination through national and International conferences presentations and manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
3. Participate in Research Activities as assigned.
4. Document best practices and lessons learned of programmatic approaches for dissemination within PEPFAR and national spaces.

Regional / National Responsibilities:

1. Support as required the National Technical Working Groups (TWGs) to National Committees (MOH) on Health Policies and Guidelines by participating in development and review of National/County level Health strategic plans, policies, guidelines, operational manuals and procedures, teaching modules, informational, educational and communication materials for HIV case finding.
2. Participate in GOK/PEPFAR site support visits for Quality Assurance/Technical Support/Mentorship for Continuous Quality Improvement in HIV case finding programs in line with national guidelines.

Job Requirements:

1. A Bachelor’s Degree in Social/ Biological/ Medical Sciences, and a Master of Public Health (MPH)/health-related master’s degree from a recognized Institution. Education requirements may be replaced with equivalent experience.
2. Professional trainings in HIV testing
3. Possess 5-8 years of experience in supporting PEPFAR HIV/AIDS programs.
4. Experience in program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
5. Experience in Country Operational Planning (COP) and TWG processes will be an added advantage.
6. Excellent organizational, analytical, and report writing skills
7. Experience in the development of abstracts and manuscripts for publications.
8. In-depth understanding of MER indicators
9. Experience with the provision of Technical support to partners through joint support supervision, External Quality Assurance (EQA), and Assessments of partner performance
10. Experience working in multi-sectoral settings
11. Proficiency and strong skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and data analytical skills are required
12. Knowledge of National, WHO, and PEPFAR Policies and Guidelines in HIV testing
13. Excellent team player with good oral/written communication and interpersonal skills
14. Ability to perform under pressure with tight deadlines, and minimal supervision
15. Ability to travel to partners in SRV-supported counties and Nairobi
16. Terms of Employment: One year renewable contract. The first three months will be probation period.

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Job Description

The Program Officer will coordinate case finding activities in the assigned PEPFAR South Rift Valley County. The position involves working with PEPFAR partners, relevant stakeholders, and government departments to ensure quality HIV testing and linkage services under the guidance of the Case Finding Program Manager. S/he will also offer technical assistance to SRV PEPFAR partners on case finding Programs and activity implementation. Technical duties include implementing efforts to ensure HIV testing is based on the most recent, relevant, and science-based approaches. The officer will also ensure that the services meet the required service quality standards. S/he will facilitate integration of case finding interventions into other service delivery platforms in community and facility settings within their assigned county. S/he will participate in review of partner proposed work plans and budget activities to ensure that they align with PEPFAR and MoH guidelines. General responsibilities of the position are to ensure that all activities contribute to the achievement of SRV program HTS objectives and targets for HIV prevention program. The Officer shall generate periodic program reports as required as well as perform any other duties as assigned. This position reports to the HIV Case Finding, Program Manager

Key Responsibilities:

1. Provide county level technical oversight to implementing partners in HTS program implementation and monitoring to deliver quality HTS services.
2. Ensure that HTS strategies are implemented, and performance tracked for high yields; including effective referrals and linkages from HTS delivery sites to care and treatment and other services.
3. Provide capacity building and technical assistance to implementing partners on all aspects of case finding programming.
4. Coordinate implementation, monitoring and evaluation of case finding program activities, to facilitate achievements of high-quality results and timelines of all the program deliverables.
5. Facilitate integration of HTS activities to promote achievement of the 95-95-95 cascade.
6. Assist in the assessment of sub-recipients’ performance, conduct regular site visits to monitor availability and quality of services, and recommend measures to improve performance.
7. Assist the Program Manager in developing and reviewing annual work plans and budgets.
8. Work closely with the case finding Program Officer for community testing to support community related testing in the assigned county.
9. Work in partnership with county and subcounty health officials to ensure that national and PEPFAR case finding guidelines are implemented with fidelity.
10. Support the implementation of case finding trainings for facility and community HTS counsellors, peer educators, and expert clients.
11. Conduct regular supportive supervision and mentoring visits to the HIV testing sites in the assigned county.
12. Closely monitor and report on the availability of commodities needed for case finding.
13. Monitor the adequacy of staffing and site layout and report any noted deficiency to the case finding Program Manager.
14. Conduct annual assessment of sites that offer index testing services in the assigned county to ensure compliance with the safe and ethical index testing standards.
15. Liaise closely with other program team members to prepare analyses and reports as required including those for presentations at county and national levels and at other technical/ scientific forums.
16. Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

1. Degree in Biomedical Sciences or health-related disciplines
2. At least 3 years of successful experience in implementing complex, integrated HIV Testing Services
3. Understanding of Kenyan policies and guidelines in HIV Testing Services

Additional Requirements:

1. Must have strong technical knowledge of HTS technical procedures and all testing modalities, with particular focus on targeted testing (optimized PITC, index testing, social network testing) and ANC
2. Proven experience in providing HTS technical support and/or related technical support to implementing partners
3. Must be able to plan, coordinate, integrate and prioritize complex interventions in HIV testing and linkage to prevention or care and treatment
4. Demonstrate ability to build collaborative relationships and facilitate coordination with diverse partners and stakeholders
5. Understanding of MER indicators
6. Excellent understanding of the functioning of Kenya Health Delivery System, current health sector programs, strategies, and implementation plans
7. Familiarity with national, county and sub-county health systems
8. Must have strong computer skills and able to use spreadsheets and software packages for data analysis, interpretation and use for decision making
9. Knowledge of experience with PEPFAR funded programs in Kenya
10. Basic knowledge and experience in research
11. S/he should be result-oriented, self-driven, and able to work under minimum supervision
12. Must have strong communication skills and cultural competency to address the needs of various subpopulations.
13. Ability to manage tight deadlines
14. Terms of Employment: One-year renewable contract. The first three months will be probation period.

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Job Summary:

Under the guidance of the HIV Case Finding Program Manager, the Program Officer will design and implement evidence-based and innovative community-based HIV Case Finding and Linkage Initiatives in PEPFAR South Rift Valley Region. The position involves working with PEPFAR partners, relevant stakeholders, and Government departments to ensure roll out of high yielding initiatives to identify and link HIV infected individuals to care and treatment. Technical duties include leading efforts to strengthen targeted HIV testing recommended approaches based on the most recent, relevant, and science-based approaches, particularly index case testing, social network testing and other high impact strategies among targeted populations.S/he will also strengthen the implementation of effective linkage strategies, including linkage case management for all persons diagnosed with HIV.

The Program Officer shall generate periodic program reports as required as well as perform any other duties assigned.

This position reports to the HIV Case Finding, Program Manager

Key Responsibilities:

1. Provide technical direction to implementing partners for the planning, implementation, delivery and monitoring of high-quality community based HTS and linkage services.
2. Ensure that community HIV testing optimization strategies are implemented, and performance tracked for high yields.
3. Implement and maintain a system of effective referrals and linkages from all HTS delivery sites to care and treatment and other services.
4. Provide capacity building and technical assistance to implementing partners on community-based case finding and linkage initiatives.
5. Liaise with GoK local health officials and other community-based actors to facilitate efficient case finding and linkage between facilities and communities.
6. Coordinate implementation, monitoring and evaluation of community based HTS and linkage program activities, to facilitate the measurable results and timelines of all program deliverables.
7. Work in close collaboration with the program officers supporting the implementation of OVC, VMMC, and key populations programs to ensure that their HTS component is implemented according to national and PEPFAR standards.
8. Support the implementation of case finding trainings for community HTS counsellors, peer educators, and expert clients.
9. Assist to assess implementing partners’ performance, conduct regular site visits and Site Improvement through Monitoring System (SIMS) visits to monitor availability and quality of services, and recommend measures to improve performance.
10. Assist the Program Manager in developing and reviewing annual work plans and budgets.
11. Ensure compliance with PEPFAR program priorities and guidelines; as well as MOH guidelines and strategies concerning all aspects of community based HTS and linkage programs.
12. Liaise closely with other program team members to prepare analysis and reports as required including those for presentations at County, National and International meetings, and conferences.
13. Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

1. Degree in Biomedical Sciences or health-related disciplines
2. Knowledge and/or training of community HTS optimization approaches including ICT and SNS
3. Strong understanding of current approaches for linkage to care and treatment
4. At least 3 years of successful experience in implementing complex, integrated public health programs; experience in HIV Testing Services is preferred
5. Knowledge of Kenyan policies and guidelines in HIV prevention, particularly on HIV Testing and Linkage Services

Additional Requirements:

1. Proven experience leading and providing HIV testing or related technical support to implementing partners
2. Must be able to plan, coordinate, integrate and prioritize complex interventions in HIV testing and linkage to care and treatment
3. Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships and facilitate coordination with diverse partners and stakeholders
4. Exceptional HTS and linkage technical skills and experiences working with large, multifunctional sectors
5. Excellent understanding of the functioning of Kenya Health Delivery System, current health sector programs, strategies, and implementation plans
6. In-depth understanding of MER indicators
7. Familiarity with National, County and Sub-county health systems
8. Must have strong computer skills and able to use spreadsheets and software packages for data analysis, interpretation and use for decision making
9. Experience with PEPFAR funded programs in Kenya
10. Basic knowledge and experience in research tools, methodology and reporting
11. Result-oriented, self-driven, and able to work under minimum supervision
12. Must have strong communication (both oral and written) and interpersonal skills
13. Ability to perform under pressure with tight deadlines
14. Ability travel to partners in SRV-supported counties, as needed