Mozambique: Senior Viral Load/Lab Specialist

The Senior Viral Load/Lab Specialist will provide technical and program oversight and direction in the area of viral load/lab to an anticipated USAID-funded HIV program in Mozambique. This large project estimated between $350-400 million aims to support the Government of Mozambique’s (GRM) achievement of HIV/AIDS epidemic control by 2020 in provinces where USAID is the primary clinical support partner. It will focus on two priority outcomes to measure this geographically focused support: (1) to reach and sustain a level of 80% (or better) treatment coverage, and (2) to reach and sustain 90% (or better) viral suppression among people receiving antiretroviral therapy. The project will operate over a 5-9 year period. . This position is contingent upon award from USAID. Mozambican nationals are strongly encouraged to apply. The position is based in Maputo, Mozambique.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and technical guidance to implement high quality interventions to scale up viral load for persons living with HIV within the project
• Assist MOH with their specialty policy needs as well as related standard operating procedures (SOP)
• Have frequent routine communications with other project team members based in the project headquarters in Beira and in the provinces
• Stay in routine contact with counterparts at USAID/Mozambique and MOH
• Assess laboratory systems in place, capacity, needs and services
• Strengthen laboratory biosafety and biosecurity at all levels
• Assist in the implementation of national laboratory strategic and operational plans, guidelines, manuals, training materials, and standard operational protocols
• Assist and coordinate correct registration, collection, recording, reporting and flow of information of laboratory results among units and relevant facilities to ensure appropriate follow up of HIV patients on the HIV cascade of care according to Mozambique national guidelines
• Provide technical support for strengthening equipment and supplies management, expanding sustainable laboratory information systems, and improving specimen referral networks at all levels
• Establish systems for tracking progress, indicators, and deliverables according to agreed work-plans
• Prepare program reports to ensure that state, donor and headquarter reporting needs are met
• Provide mentoring and capacity building at the individual and organizational levels in the area of viral load/lab
• Coordinate assessments, site strengthening, follow-up and supervision, advocacy, demand creation, policy support, capacity-building and M&E across program sites as required by program activities
• Actively participate in national technical working groups, and represent Jhpiego in professional forums by participating and presenting in pertinent meetings and conferences
• Analyze potential viral load/lab strategies within the context of the project and explain these, as necessary, to policymakers, funding agencies, and/or program staff
• Identify appropriate facility- and community-based strategies to address viral load/lab service delivery gaps
• Identify training and service delivery gaps, and formulate and test sustainable solutions, utilizing cross-cutting approaches such as performance and quality improvement and training
• Collaborate with all local stakeholders and implementing partners, especially the Ministry of Health and other US and international implementing partners, in order to ensure that all activities conform to requirements and regulations
• Conduct regular reporting to project leadership and staff of successes, challenges and lessons learned in implementation related to areas of technical expertise
• Document and maintain an inventory of successful tools and approaches for viral load/lab interventions
• Maintain excellent relationships with USAID and in-country stakeholders and develop rapid responses to USAID/DC and Mission requests
• Work closely with the project leadership on setting program priorities and directions, and responding to requests for support from local counterparts
• Work with monitoring, evaluation, and reporting staff to design and implement a plan to track data/results related to viral load/lab interventions
• Provide technical leadership to the development the project strategic plan, work plan, and program monitoring, in close collaboration with the MOH, USAID, and other stakeholders
• Ensure timely implementation of all program inputs related to viral load/lab, including planning and implementing assessments, site strengthening, follow-up and supervision, advocacy, demand creation, policy support, capacity-building and M&E across program sites, in close collaboration with USAID, the MOH, and relevant stakeholders
• Assist in the preparation of donor reports and project reports
• Coordinate and monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the work of short-term consultants as required

Required Qualifications:

• A clinical degree required; specialty training in medicine, infectious diseases, or other relevant advanced clinical degree preferred
• Advanced degree in public health preferred
• At least 10 years of experience in clinical service delivery of HIV related interventions, including HIV treatment, PMTCT and TB/HIV and prevention
• Demonstrated ability to develop technical capacity in regional and national programs in the areas of HIV care and treatment and eMTCT
• Ability to work on a variety of projects concurrently in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities
• Ability to coach and mentor technical staff and strong skills in facilitation, team building and coordination
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills
• Strong skills in data use and interpretation
• Ability to perform at a senior policy level
• Demonstrated experience at a senior level participating or advising in high level MOH meetings/discussions/boards
• Demonstrated ability in monitoring similar programs and interpreting and utilizing national level data
• Strong oral and written skills in Portuguese and English
• Demonstrated in-depth understanding of the Mozambican healthcare system, particularly the public health system, experience living and working in Mozambique preferred
• Familiarity with USAID or other USG administrative, management and reporting procedures and systems preferred
• Experience liaising with NGOs, FBOs, CBOs, the for-profit business community, and senior members of the donor community
• Ability to travel up to 50% time to Beira and other project provinces

Please apply at www.jobs-jhpiego.icims.com

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include: cover letter, resume, references, and salary history.

For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer