Global Health Fellows Program seeks Technical Advisor II: Behavior Change Advisor
Global Health Fellows Program
Technical Advisor II: Behavior Change Advisor
Implementation Support Division, Office of HIV/AIDS, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
Location: Arlington, VA
Assignment: Two year fellowship
GHFP II-P4-138
The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. 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 addressing the Agency’s immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual work planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.
Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency’s ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.
BACKGROUND:
USAID has been at the forefront of the US Government response in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Agency has programmed over $7 billion since inception of its international HIV/AIDS program in 1986. USAID is a key partner in the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest and most comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment program in the world.
INTRODUCTION:
The Behavior Change Advisor (Advisor) will serve as a member of the Cross-Sector Team within the Implementation Support (IS) Division of the Office of HIV/AIDS (OHA) in the Bureau for Global Health, and work as an integral part of OHA’s Prevention Team. The Advisor will provide guidance on social and behavior change communication (SBCC) working collaboratively to support HIV prevention, including Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC),with opportunities to assist programs across the HIV/AIDS care continuum. S/he will be devoted to a range of International HIV/AIDS related prevention activities, both at the USAID country level and at headquarters, will serve as an important member of related interagency technical working groups, and will likewise liaise with technical experts in the Bureau of Global Health (GH) and with the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) of the US Department of State. The Advisor will collaborate closely with and receive day to day guidance from the Senior Behavior Change Advisor as his/her onsite manager.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Advisor serves as a focal point for programming and technical guidance related to SBCC for HIV prevention. As an Advisor for SBCC they will be responsible for:
• Serving as the advisor on SBCC who is devoted to a range of activities, both at the USAID country-level and at headquarters, to include, providing guidance on the design, assessment and evaluation of USG sponsored HIV/AIDS programs.
• Providing technical advice with respect to the behavioral, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of HIV programming.
• Maintaining knowledge of the current literature in all areas of AIDS behavioral research, both domestically and internationally, with particular attention to; determinants of risk behaviors; theoretical frameworks for individual behavior change and broader transformation of social norms; effectiveness of diverse behavioral approaches; and the state-of-the-art design and evaluation of SBCC activities.
• Providing USAID and PEPFAR country teams, host country governments and implementing partners with technical input and ongoing support to ensure best practices are incorporated in behavioral interventions and communication campaigns; developing initiatives to build in-country capacity to address management and sustainability of SBCC programs at all levels; and consulting with universities and other training institutions to strengthen SBCC education.
• Advising USAID headquarters technical working groups on health communication strategies for HIV prevention, treatment and care, including incorporation of gender, stigma and discrimination components; and participating in the development of global technical guidance for the design, implementation and evaluation of PEPFAR-supported behavioral interventions.
• Reviewing and analyzing data; disseminating lessons learned; assisting in the development of cross-sectoral communication strategies; providing advice on local capacity building, sustainability and community level involvement in HIV/AIDS communication for prevention, care, treatment and support strategies with partner country governments, civil society and the private sector.
• Responding to information requests from Agency leadership and PEPFAR implementing agencies on USAID programs; participating in inter-agency working groups, such as prevention and VMMC and acting as a liaison within the USG as well as with other donors, multilateral banks, PVOs, universities and professional organizations.
• Participating and presenting at international meetings on HIV/AIDS programming.
International travel approximately 25%.
Training and professional development
• Keeping abreast of literature and latest developments in the fields of social and behavior change communication within HIV/AIDS prevention programming.
• Deepening knowledge of social and behavior change communication.
• Participating in interagency and intra-agency working groups as appropriate to SOW.
• Participating in professional continuing education and skills training within the purview of GHFP-II.
REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:
• Master’s degree in public health, health communication or other relevant field of study.
• Minimum five (5) years’ experience working on global health programs with at least two (2) years’ experience in an international or resource challenged settings.
• Hands on experience designing, planning, implementing and evaluating HIV/AIDS SBCC programs. PEPFAR experience desirable.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and strong collaboration skills with a focus on achieving results.
• Experience collaborating with international HIV/AIDS and global health partners.
• Strong project management skills.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated flexibility and openness to respond to changing work priorities and environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to present to a wide variety of audiences.
• Ability to travel internationally to developing countries.
• US citizenship or US permanent residency is 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.
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 online applications must be submitted by June 19, 2015 5:00 pm Eastern time.
Applicants who applied previously have been given consideration and need not re-apply.
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