Global Health Fellows Program Technical Advisor I: Program Cycle Advisor

in Fellowships
September 25th, 2015

Global Health Fellows Program

Technical Advisor I: Program Cycle Advisor

Office of Country Support, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development 

Location: Arlington, VA

Assignment: Two year fellowship

GHFP-II-P4-136

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:

The Bureau for Global Health (GH) is the USAID/Washington operating unit charged with providing technical support to improve the health of people in the developing world by expanding health services, including family planning/reproductive health and maternal/child health; strengthening health systems; and addressing HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, avian influenza and other public health threats. GH’s primary role in the health program area is to strengthen field operations, promote research and technical innovation, and provide leadership and training.

Within GH, the Office of Country Support (OCS) supports the vision and implementation of the Agency’s health initiatives (e.g., the Global Health Initiative [GHI], Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Death, and Agency-wide priorities such as USAID Forward). OCS serves as a nexus for informing and coordinating with field programs and strategy development and implementation; As such, it is responsible for direct communication with USAID Mission Health Teams. To undertake this function, OCS manages the USAID/Washington Country Health Team System, working closely with GH staff and across USAID/Washington to provide strong strategic support to the field.

INTRODUCTION:

The Program Cycle Advisor will be based in OCS. As a catalytic office working across GH and Regional Bureaus, OCS is the critical link for ensuring strong support to field mission health programs. OCS plays an essential role as the advocate and a principal coordinator of health technical, strategic and programmatic support through the Country Team System for USAID mission health programs. OCS staff have two primary interrelated responsibilities: 1) developing and strengthening tools and systems; and 2) supporting missions.

The Advisor will ensure coordination and strengthening of the program cycle processes, including:  Country Development and Cooperation Strategies (CDCS) reviews, Health Implementation Plans (HIP) reviews, Program Planning and Reporting (PPR) reviews, and support to mission Project Designs. S/he will work closely with GH’s Office of Policy, Programs and Planning (P3), GH technical offices and Regional Bureaus, and receive day-to-day guidance from the Team Lead as his/her onsite manager.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Program Cycle Advisor will be primarily responsible for:

Project Design/Program Development:

  • Collaborating with OCS staff to develop GH’s engagement in the project design process, including tracking project design process across field Missions.
  • Working with missions to ensure appropriate GH expertise is fielded for project designs and providing resource materials to design teams in preparation for the design process.
  • Coordinating the review/design processes including the communication of the process to key staff across GH Offices.
  • Working within OCS on building capacity of staff to lead the project design process.
  • Strengthening understanding across GH and field missions of OCS’s ability to lead the project design process.

Country Development Coordination Strategy (CDCS):

  • Tracking through recordings, the stages of the CDCS review process.
  • Working with OCS Regional Teams to increase Country Team understanding and engagement in the CDCS process by conducting orientations; encouraging the staffing of the CDCS review process; building awareness of the phases and strategy level; and promoting the advocacy of GH staff engagement in the Country Team CDCS process involvement.
  • Analyzing CDCSs to determine the lessons learned with the various strategies (e.g., how many missions have integrated strategies across the mission portfolio? How successful are integrated development strategies in actually integrating at the implementation level? What are the lessons learned in implementing various types of CDCSs?).
  • Promoting learning across field missions on the development of CDCSs, noting the successes and challenges, by building a database of CDCS strategies.
  • Promoting the recognition and understanding of OCS’s role in the CDCS process.

Program Planning and Reporting (PPR):

  • Working with OCS, P3 and technical offices to coordinate and implement the PPR Review process in GH by establishing the review schedule and orienting Country Teams.
  • Working with OCS Regional Teams to strengthen Country Team engagement in the PPR review process.

Health Implementation Plan (HIP):

  • Working with OCS, P3 and technical offices to coordinate, implement, and strengthen the HIP review process in GH by establishing the review schedule, orienting Country Teams, and working with OCS Regional Teams to strengthen Country Team engagement in the HIP review process.

Other Duties as Assigned

  • Other than the primary responsibilities described above, the Advisor will have the responsibility and opportunity to work on a number of activities that contribute to fulfilling OCS priority goals, particularly as they relate to supporting the  Country Support Systems and Communications Team.

International and domestic travel approximately 10-15%

 

Training and professional development (7%)

  • Keeping abreast of literature and latest developments in the program cycle processes.
  • Deepening knowledge of program cycle processes.
  • 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 or higher in public health, international affairs, or a relevant social science field.
  • 0 to seven (7) years’ experience working in international health programming, with or without experience in an international or resource challenged setting.
  • Strong management, team and facilitation skills.
  • Overseas experience desired, preferably in health or other related development sectors.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work in a team, establish and maintain effective working relationships.
  • Excellent skills in oral and written communication to prepare and present analyses, provide guidance, solicit information.
  • Knowledge of the theories and principles of international relations, political science, economics, geography, history or other related disciplines to analyze and evaluate factors and conditions involved in the administration of US foreign policy programs related to health is preferred.
  • Broad knowledge of international public health issues, including the culture and socio-cultural norms for health programming.
  • US citizenship required and US permanent residents.

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 September 25, 2015 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.

 

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