USAID Project Management Specialist – (Global Health Security) FSN -11

1) General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The Project Management Specialist-Global Health Security (GHS) (the “Specialist”) leads efforts to improve and expand Global Health Security and pandemic preparedness, prevention and response in Pakistan. The GHS Specialist is a technical expert in the area of emerging infectious diseases in the country, with extensive experience working with national stakeholders including government, professional associations, and the private sector. The Specialist facilitates communication and ensures collaborative working relationships with high-level decision makers, as well as technical staff, in multiple government agencies, USAID Missions, USAID/ Washington counterparts, with other United States Government (USG) partners including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of State, and other USG agencies, as well as other key stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

The jobholder provides strategic and technical leadership in the design and implementation of USAID GHS activities. As a senior health advisor for USAID, the Specialist represents USAID and the USG in national and international fora to advise on policies, strategies, and technical issues.

The Specialist will exercise programmatic oversight to manage and coordinate USAID’s GHS activities in support of the Government of Pakistan and their GHS roadmap and to prevent, detect, and respond to existing and emerging pandemic threats. The GHS Specialist will serve as an Agreement/Contracting Officer Representative (AOR/COR) and/or Activity Manager for USAID programs/projects/activities. As an AOR/COR, the Specialist monitors program performance and progress, identifies implementation achievements as well as problems in performance, and initiates appropriate actions in consultation with others, as appropriate.

The Specialist is a key member of the Health Office. The jobholder reports to the Health Office Director or their designee and has no formal supervisory responsibility.

2) Statement of duties to be performed 100%

1. Program/Project/Activity Management

a. Lead the design of strategies, project mechanisms and activities for improved preparedness, prevention, detection and response for GHS and emerging infectious diseases. In addition, in close coordination with other Mission offices, support the design and procurement of bilateral mechanisms to support GHS implementation in the cooperating country.

b. Serve as an AOR/COR and/or Activity Manager for GHS programs for the Mission’s GHS and pandemic preparedness activities including: reviewing and approving implementing partners’ (IPs) work plans, facilitating IP relationships and coordinating with local stakeholders (other IPs, host government counterparts, other development partners/donors, etc.) maintaining a schedule for and conducting regular site visits to review program implementation and meeting with beneficiaries, and based on the information collected during such visits, adjusting or recommending adjustments to programs/projects/activities as appropriate; overseeing IP compliance with all relevant USAID regulations and procedures, communicating regularly with IPs regarding USAID rules and regulations as well as their obligations to USAID and, taking a lead role in the preparation of the strategic and operational planning processes such as the USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy and USAID Operational Plan. Keep his/her supervisor regularly informed of program implementation progress, results, and issues/problems on a timely basis.

c. Ensure that sub-awards and sub-contracts are given appropriate monitoring and oversight.

d. Provide regular updates to GHS/Washington, Mission, and Health Office Leadership to maintain leadership level oversight and engagement on GHS program implementation in the cooperating country.

2. Technical Guidance and Program Planning

a. Provide technical guidance to the Mission, the National Government, and other development partners on infectious disease preparedness, prevention, detection, and response capacities in the cooperating country, including zoonotic diseases, One Health approaches, and GHS.

b. Provide technical guidance and direction on GHS and pandemic preparedness activities and ensure that activities are appropriately integrated with the Health Office and larger Mission activities. Support the integration of emerging disease and other activities that promote the advancement of GHS implementation in-country.

c. Lead high-level advocacy and technical dialogue with host government ministries to ensure effective USAID support to the implementation of GHS activities, including advocacy to promote a One Health approach to addressing pandemic threats.

d. Provide technical support/guidance to the host government during Joint External Evaluations; the outcomes of which will inform an effective roadmap to achieving Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) targets.

e. Keep abreast of new developments and emerging issues that affect USAID and GHS via literature review, conference/meeting attendance, as well as participation and facilitation at workshops, and training events. Advise accordingly on how these policies and strategies can most effectively be incorporated to enhance USAID’s approaches.

f. In collaboration with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning colleagues, contribute to the development of innovative monitoring and evaluation approaches and tools to support measuring the impact and outcomes of GHS and pandemic preparedness activities.

g. Provide leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the Operational Plans, Congressional Budget Justifications, Progress Reports and other ad hoc requests for information.

3. Representation and Coordination

a. Represent USG and USAID to high level USG diplomats, Senior Government Officials, and other external partners in the cooperating country as appropriate on technical matters regarding emerging infectious diseases - this includes both speaking and written communications.

b. Develop and maintain relationships with ministries (Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Wildlife and others) to ensure that assets can be coordinated and work with stakeholder governments to address gaps in National Action plans.

c. Establish and maintain a coordination network among GHS partners in the country. Such partners include: bi-lateral donors, international organizations, national governments and their relevant ministries, private sector, international and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), etc. and use the coordination network to facilitate USAID GHS implementing partners in successful completion of work plan activities.

d. During disease outbreak situations, ensure the Mission’s GHS Team, and GHS implementing partners are closely coordinated with the GHS interagency response in supporting the host government.

The CCN-PSC will be eligible for temporary duty travel to the United States, or to other missions, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

3) Supervisory Relationship

The Specialist position is within the Mission’s Health Office. Working under the supervision of the Health Office Director or their designee, the Specialist collaborates with other members in the cooperating country, spanning technical areas such as health systems strengthening, strategic information, monitoring and evaluation, and quality improvement.

In carrying out work related duties and responsibilities, the jobholder is expected to function effectively with minimal supervision. Completion of tasks and assignments are reviewed regularly through required written documents and oral progress reports.

4) Supervisory Controls

Continuing supervision of other Health Office and/or Mission staff is not contemplated.

10. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a. Education: A Master’s degree is required in public health, infectious disease, epidemiology, ecology, veterinary medicine or a related field.

b. Prior Work Experience: At least five (5) years of public health and/or animal health and/or related experience in developing countries including at least two (2) years of experience working with USG, international public health and/or animal health organizations, such as the WHO, FAO, and OIE is required.

c. Language Proficiency: Level IV (advanced professional proficiency) English and local language proficiency (if appropriate), both oral and written, is required. Only Offerors clearly meeting the above minimum qualifications will be considered for further evaluation.

SECURITY/FACILITIES ACCESS AND MEDICAL CLEARANCES: The ability to obtain the required security/facilities access and medical clearances in a reasonable time required for the position is considered a minimum qualification.

MARKET VALUE: Basic annual rate USD 18,991 - 36,076 equivalent to FSN-11, in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the local salary schedule of the Local Compensation Plan (LCP) of the U.S. Mission Pakistan. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. Although the salary is advertised in U.S. dollars, the CCN-PSC will be paid in Pakistani Rupees. Continued U.S. dollar denomination of Locally Employed Staff compensation and monetized benefits is temporary and subject to change.