By Emily Rogers
HIV/AIDS Research Portfolio Advisor with USAID
Technical Advisor I/II
Research Division, Office of HIV/AIDS, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
Location: Arlington, VA | Assignment: Two Year Fellowship | GHFP-II-P5-205
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 US Government (USG) has made the fight against HIV/AIDS a top priority, not only for humanitarian reasons, but because the HIV/AIDS crisis threatens the prosperity, stability and development of nations around the world. The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is a USG global initiative to control the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease. Over the past decade, the USG has committed more than $52 billion to bilateral HIV/AIDS programs, the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and bilateral tuberculosis programs. To achieve an AIDS-free generation, PEPFAR works closely with a variety of stakeholders including partner countries, multilateral organizations, civil society, people living with and affected by HIV, the faith community, and the public and private sectors. USAID has been, and continues to be, at the forefront of the USG response in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic since inception of its international HIV/AIDS program in 1986.
PEPFAR has moved from phase 1 (2003-2007) – the emergency response phase that brought HIV prevention, treatment, and care services to millions, to phase 2 (2008-2012) – the sustainability phase, where PEPFAR worked with partner countries among other partners to address the epidemic. The program is now in phase 3 (2013-present) and is focused on transparency and accountability for impact, as well as accelerating core interventions for epidemic control. PEPFAR is investing resources strategically and geographically to reach populations at greatest risk with evidence-based programs.
PEPFAR’s Impact Action Agenda is driven by the need to do the right thing, in the right place, at the right time to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A key PEPFAR strategy, in this regard, is also to invest in research and innovation to maximize program outcomes and impact.
In the Bureau for Global Health (GH), the Office of HIV/AIDS (OHA) is the locus of HIV and AIDS technical leadership for the Agency and has primary responsibility for the Agency’s HIV and AIDS programs. OHA provides strategic direction, technical leadership and support to field programs in HIV and AIDS. The Office provides input to decisions concerning the strategic allocation of financial and human resources in the sector and assists in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programs. This entails ensuring the technical integrity of Agency and Mission strategies; providing global technical leadership on the full range of issues related to HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment; managing numerous research and field support programs; and monitoring and reporting on the impact of the Agency’s HIV and AIDS programs.
INTRODUCTION
The HIV/AIDS Research Portfolio Advisor (Advisor) will serve as a key member of the Research Division within OHA. The Research Division manages a portfolio of over thirty cooperative agreements and contracts in HIV Vaccine Research and Development (R&D), Microbicides R&D, and HIV/AIDS implementation research. The Advisor will support integrated planning across the research portfolio, help ensure efficient management processes, and facilitate regular communication and close collaboration between the wide variety of partners involved in various research activities.
The Advisor will be responsible for supporting continual improvements to the processes and tools, by which research activities are strategized, prioritized, managed, monitored, and reported supporting the Division to implement these changes and facilitating seamless coordination between the OHA Research Team, implementing partners, and other GH offices and USG agencies. These include helping to improve the planning processes across research activities, supporting collaborations on specific high-yield opportunities, and facilitating information sharing between research projects, GH offices and implementing partners.
The Advisor will work closely with the Research Division Chief, three Branch Chiefs, project management teams and technical advisors for a variety of biomedical and implementation research activities, communicating with a large number of interested parties, and strengthening linkages across OHA research portfolios as well as with other ongoing research activities at USAID/Washington and in the field. The Advisor will receive technical guidance from the Research Division Chief as his/her onsite manager.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The HIV/AIDS Research Portfolio Advisor will be responsible for:
A. Supporting the development and implementation of standardized research portfolio management tools and processes
• Supporting the Research Division Chief, Branch Chiefs and project management teams in efficient coordination of OHA-funded programs covering HIV and AIDS biomedical and implementation research.
• Developing tools and processes for portfolio-level strategic planning, budget analysis, and fiscal monitoring, and ensuring tools and processes are consistently used and followed.
• Maintaining up-to-date programmatic and budget databases.
• Reviewing the accuracy of portfolio-level financial record keeping, accrual reporting, and routine research program reporting (e.g., Health Research Information Tracking).
• Supporting site monitoring and mid-term and end-of-project performance evaluations.
• Assisting in collating data and information for the annual Research Report to Congress.
• Assisting with coordination of new awards.
• Coordinating and tracking funding requests and approvals.
• Supporting harmonized planning and strategic linkages of activities across the research portfolio.
B. Facilitating team and partner communication and collaboration
• Coordinating effective knowledge management (scientific and programmatic) within the Research Division to ensure timely action.
C. Gathering scientific information and expert input to support sound decision-making
• Continuously gathering strategic information from a variety of sources.
• Conducting periodic literature reviews, maintaining relevant data libraries and sharing as needed.
• Assisting in organizing strategic consultations, technical groups, and project advisory committees.
• Providing support to the Research Team Lead in strategic discussions, consultations and fiscal planning.
• Supporting the timely application of scientific developments and expert committee recommendations to inform research program management decisions.
D. Strengthening engagement of other USAID Offices and Missions to support biomedical and implementation science research priorities
• Supporting outreach and education to field Missions for introduction of new products, technologies, and program approaches.
• Supporting and strengthening communication, coordination, and collaboration with GH Offices, the Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA), the Global Development Lab, and USAID Missions.
• Supporting communication of research developments and program priorities to the broader OHA and USAID.
LEVEL II
An Advisor at the level II will be further responsible for:
• Participating in research strategy planning and reviews.
• Participating in developing Standard Operating Procedures across the overall portfolio.
• Facilitating communication between and collaboration across projects, as well as to external stakeholders, donors, and the private sector.
• Serving as the point of contact for broad (beyond project level) strategic communication with collaborators, donors, foundations, and international normative bodies.
International and domestic travel approximately 10%.
TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (7%)
• Keeping abreast of literature and latest developments of standardized research portfolio management tools and processes.
• Deepening knowledge of HIV/AIDS biomedical and implementation science.
• Participating in interagency and intra-agency working groups as appropriate to the scope of work.
• Participating in professional continuing education and skills training within the purview of GHFP-II.
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
• Master’s degree or higher in public health,biological sciences, social sciences, public policy and administration or a related social science field.
• Experience working on research projects or assisting research programs.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of biomedical and implementation research as applied to HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and treatment.
• Experience reviewing and synthesizing scientific literature and maintaining databases.
• Demonstrated experience in task-oriented coordination and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated excellence working in team contexts.
• Experience in assisting with project monitoring and evaluation.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated flexibility and openness to effectively function in the context of evolving science and changing program priorities.
• Ability to travel internationally.
• US citizenship or US permanent residency required.
In addition to the above, the position requires the following at each level:
TECHNICAL ADVISOR I
• 0-7 years’ experience in public health programming, preferably HIV/AIDS, with or without experience in an international or resource challenged setting.
TECHNICAL ADVISOR II
• Minimum five (5) years’ experience in public health programming, preferably HIV/AIDS, with at least two (2) years’ experience in an international or resource-challenged setting.
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 May 27, 2016 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA Employer.
Internship to Support Global Projects with Initiatives, Inc.
Are you interested in Global Health? Fluent in French? A master of social media and website development? Good at research and writing? Able to work 15 hours/week on a short‐term assignment?
If so, Initiatives Inc. is looking for someone like you to support our work.
Our work spans organizational development, human resources for health, quality improvement,
community involvement and operations research. Our current projects are in DRC, Tanzania, Zambia,
Bangladesh and Uganda. In each, we strive to strengthen management systems to make organizations
more sustainable and transparent, advocate for the needs of communities and vulnerable populations,
and develop, test and implement new strategies for improving health systems. Initiatives also supports
community health workers (CHWs) and CHW programs through CHW Central.org.
We seek a motivated intern to support a short‐term assignment for our current work with the Challenge
TB project in DRC. Through this project we are working to strengthen the organizational capabilities for
local NGOs contributing to community‐based TB control initiatives. This assignment will contribute to
improving the communications and reach of these NGOs.
Read the full job description and application requirements here...
U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention Quality Research Institute Graduate Fellowship Program
Overview: The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific nonprofit organization that sets standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed and consumed worldwide. USP’s drug standards are enforceable in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration, and these standards are used in more than 140 countries. Since its founding in 1820, USP has helped secure the quality of the American drug supply. Building on that legacy, USP today works with scientists, practitioners, and regulators of many nations to develop and revise standards that help protect public health worldwide. Building on this legacy, USP seeks to advance evidence-based policy in medicine and food quality by implementing scientifically-rigorous research that can advance the global health communities understanding of and dialogue on the effect of quality medicines and food on public health.
To view the complete job description and application, click here.
ASC Offers Course for Public Health Students
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The class, Swahili With a Health Focus (CAS LE491), emphasizes Swahili language useful in conducting fieldwork and surveys, as well as cultural specific notions of health.
Jennifer Beard, Assistant Professor of Global Health, took the class this semester, and said the African Studies Center provides a link for faculty and students at the Medical Campus to colleagues on the Charles River Campus with similar research areas.
Perspectives from Uganda: Gender-Based Violence in the Developing World
Wednesday, May 11
5:30-7 PM
Conant Lounge, Floor 2,
BUSSW (264 Bay State Road, Boston, MA)
Janestic Mwende Twikirze (pictured above with her book, Professional Social Work in East Africa) is a faculty member at Makerere University in Uganda. Dr. Twikirze also serves as a member of the Global Health Learning Community for at the Boston University School of Social Work Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health. For more information on Dr. Twikirze and this event, click here.
Students Receive African Language Fellowships
“My heart was left in Senegal,” says Faith Umoh. After two years there with the Peace Corps, she returned to the US last spring to pursue an MPH at the School of Public Health—and discovered a way to stay connected to Senegal and Wolof, its main language, at the same time.
Global Development Symposium – April 22
“The World You Are Shaping: Our Role in Sustainable Development Goals” features a global showcase to network, thematic/regional breakout sessions, and a panel to highlight and generate awareness for sustainable development efforts locally and globally. Join us Friday, April 22 at 4:30 PM in the Photonics Colloquium Room (9th Floor) to learn, engage, and take action towards the SDGs! Please RSVP and join the Facebook Event!
RSVP for the April GH Concentrator’s Meeting: De-Stress for Success Study Break!
Joe Anzalone will lead an (optional) 30 minute Chi Kung session to revitalize body, mind and spirit. Chi Kung coordinates simple movements, with breath and mind (imagery).
We will then have lunch and space for relaxation, venting, and socializing. Whatever you want - just leave the laptops at the door!
12:30pm - Chi Kung (optional) with Joe Anzalone
1:00pm - Lunch. Please RSVP by Wednesday 4/27 to secure your spot!
