GHFP II Technical Advisor II: Knowledge Management and Communication Advisor 2-year fellowship position. Apply by June 29th
Global Health Fellows Program II
Technical Advisor II: Knowledge Management and Communication Advisor
Office of Health Systems, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
Location: Washington, DC
Assignment: Two-year fellowship
GHFP II-P1-047
The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with CDC Development Solutions and Management Systems International. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by developing and increasing the capacity of health professionals with tailored development opportunities. This is accomplished through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels, and performance management and professional development activities aimed to enhance the technical and leadership skills of fellows.
BACKGROUND:
The Health Systems Office (HSO) leads a network of Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) colleagues throughout the Bureau for Global Health (GH) in the development and implementation of USAID’s agenda and strategy to promote effective, sustainable, country-owned health systems capable of promoting health, preventing disease, advancing reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition; combating infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases; and addressing emerging public health priorities. The HSO leads the Agency’s health systems research efforts, including development of a research portfolio and of metrics and tools for measuring health systems improvements. It tracks and aligns USAID resources, funds, and programs for HSS to this agenda. The HSO also works to build partnerships and synergies to support this agenda and strategy, including with other US government agencies, host country governments, donors, the private sector, and civil society.
The HSO is USAID’s hub for generating, capturing and sharing state-of-the-art knowledge on the factors that contribute to strengthening health systems, including experiential knowledge, and complex systems thinking, service delivery, community engagement and outreach; governance, finance, human resources, medical products, vaccines, and related technologies; information systems including application of information and communications technology; and public-private partnerships. The HSO works with other offices in GH and with USAID missions, regional bureaus and partners to advance HSS knowledge and innovations and to promote country uptake.
The HSO serves as the hub of USAID’s talent management in HSS. It works to grow and nurture technical expertise and intellectual capital in HSS within the Agency to build a cadre of USAID HSS specialists. The HSO ensures basic HSS knowledge among all health officers and among health systems practitioners and health-related institutions in developing countries. The HSO develops and facilitates recruitment, training, professional development, staff rotations and exchanges, and networking opportunities.
INTRODUCTION:
Within the HSO, the role of the Knowledge Management and Communication Advisor (the Advisor) is critical to the success of the HSO. The Advisor has the unique and exciting challenge of leading Agency HSS stakeholders to develop and coordinate the knowledge management and communications strategy around USAID’s health systems strengthening work, create efficient and cost-effective approaches to promote a learning environment in USAID on HSS, manage knowledge across health systems strengthening programming, and ensure that information feeds back into Agency HSS implementation and builds knowledge.
The Advisor leads the development, implementation and monitoring of the HSO knowledge management and communications strategy to ensure the ability to collect information and capture knowledge. In coordination with other HSO and GH staff, the Advisor contributes to the development of the HSO research agenda.
The Advisor provides these efforts in a participatory and inclusive manner. In carrying out these responsibilities, s/he establishes, nurtures, and maintains strong working relationships with a wide range of players with varied perspectives. These players include, but are not limited to, other members of the HSO and the broader network of USAID HSS colleagues in GH, regional bureaus, and missions; Knowledge Management (KM) and communications staff within GH, regional bureaus, missions; Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning (PPL); staff of other USG agencies and other donor organizations; and thought leaders in the global health and development communities.
The HSO knowledge exchange objective is to leverage our knowledge assets to strengthen developing country health systems by capturing, synthesizing, sharing and applying best practices on health systems strengthening throughout HSO, the GH Bureau and the Agency’s health sector.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The primary responsibilities of the Advisor include:
- Establish a health systems network in USAID that connects health systems strengthening colleagues throughout the Agency to share knowledge
- Set up a web-based health systems intelligence function that provides USAID staff and other stakeholders with accurate, timely, comprehensive information on developing country health systems and on USAID health systems strengthening programming
- Develop and disseminate communications materials that convey the scope and breadth of USAID’s HSS work and its impact in terms appropriate for a variety of audiences, from Congress to disease program advocates to the general public. Leverage media channels efficiently and effectively
- Support HSO and HSS colleagues in communicating information about HSS work through scientific and other channels
- In collaboration with PDMS, develop and implement professional development activities
- Review and constantly improve HSO’s processes for content development, monitoring, marketing, delivery and support, and share lessons learned both internally in USAID and externally with the wider community and through the media
- Establish and promote information standards, capture and share best practices, approaches, and lessons learned, and promote the adoption and use of working communities of practice within HSO, partner projects and the broader community
- In coordination with the HSO M&E Advisor, develop tracking and reporting methods to improve HSO efforts, share lessons learned, and determine strategic outcomes of HSO programming
- Provide advisory services to projects and missions, facilitate cross-country learning, including but not limited to south-south technical assistance, study and oversight visits, video and conference calls
- Expand strategic engagement with HSS issue advocates, science and technical community, academia and policy experts
Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming need and/or (b) the Technical Advisor’s own interests.
REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master’s degree in knowledge management, library science, communications or related field
- Minimum five years’ experience in organizational learning and creating a culture of knowledge management and communication, with at least 2 years’ experience in an international or resource challenged setting
- Proven experience developing programs in organizational learning, development curriculum and for diverse cross functional groups and multi-lingual/global projects in low technology countries
- Proven experience implementing strong strategic communications, with significant experience working in the health sector
- Proven experience in using social learning and Web 2.0 approaches
- Proven experience with press outreach and media relations experience – preferably mainstream media
- The ability to work with and influence senior colleagues
- Strong management skills
- Excellent analytical and written and oral communication skills, extensive experience working in organizational communication as well as public relations
- Fundamental understanding of information content and associated issues
- An in-depth appreciation of IT and its utilization
- Demonstrated knowledge of information and communications technology and its application
- Demonstrated familiarity with key concepts in health systems strengthening and global health.
- Demonstrated flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environment
- Ability to work with diverse teams and cross-culturally
- Ability to travel internationally (up to 25% time)
- Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements highly desired
- Proficiency in a second language highly desirable
- US Citizenship or US permanent residency required
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Salary based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs http://www.ghfp.net/docs/2012_Benefits_Booklet_GHFP.pdf
TO APPLY:
All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP-II’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on June 29, 2012
