Senior Program Specialist at U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Senior Program Specialist, HIV Testing Services

Announcement Number: Abuja - 2020 - 053
Location: Abuja
Series/Grade: LE - 0550 11
Work Schedule: Full-time - 40 hours per week
Promotion Potential: LE - 11

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period
• Marketing Statement: We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.
• Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (6 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required: 25% or less
• Job holder routinely travels to CDC project sites and facilities to monitor prevention activities. 25-30% of time will be spent on local and international travel for site visits, workshops, trainings, conferences etc.

Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency: For USEFM - FP is 4.  Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C:

• All Interested Applicants / All Sources

Duties

• The incumbent, under the supervision of the Prevention Branch Chief for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Nigeria Office (Abuja), serves as advisor on HIV Testing Services (HTS) programs strategies and activities, provides project support to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); contributing to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of HIV Testing Services.
• The position is responsible for the design, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of a broad range of agency-funded HTS program activities.
• The job holder’s responsibilities include day-to-day program and administrative management, and coordination and collaboration with other PEPFAR agencies to ensure that project implementation addresses program strategic objectives and internationally recognized public health standards and best practices. 
• The incumbent ensures collaboration among PEPFAR partners involved in the provision of HIV Testing Services and provides leadership in promoting use of internationally recognized best practices in HTS provision among PEPFAR sponsored programs in Nigeria. 

Qualifications and Evaluations
Education Requirements:

• Master's degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, epidemiology or behavioral science is required.

Experience:  

• Minimum of five years’ work experience in HIV Testing Services, Prevention, Care and Treatment programs, including program planning, implementation, and evaluation is required.
• Experience in HIV Testing Services that demonstrates the ability to consult and collaborate effectively with all levels both within and outside the agency is also required.

Job Knowledge:  

• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in HTS strategies, HIV prevention services, HIV/AIDS public health programs, methods, processes, and techniques used to plan, develop, implement and evaluate results of HIV prevention programs are required.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the host government health care system and structures including familiarity with Government of Nigeria (GoN) policies, program priorities and regulations is required.
• Good working knowledge of USG HIV/AIDS public health programs, strategies, methods, processes and techniques used to plan, develop, implement and evaluate results of prevention programs is required.
• Good working knowledge of team management techniques to plan, organize and direct multi-disciplinary project teams and activities and overall administrative requirements, budgeting and fiscal management in support of contracts/cooperative agreements/grants/purchase requisitions is required.  Good working knowledge of epidemiology, statistics and data analysis is required.

Evaluations:

• These may be tested. Please specify your level of proficiency in the language listed.

Language:  

• Advanced level in Speaking/Writing/Reading English is required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong oral and written communications skills are required.  Ability to analyze, understand and discuss new program design, management and implementation approaches is required. This includes the development of evaluation designs, use of reliable and valid instruments, and methods for data collection, analysis and reports. Ability to lead project teams and workgroups and to develop effective working relationships with national and international working partners is required.
• The incumbent must be able to exercise considerable ingenuity and tact in applying guidelines to unique and different settings, as the work is highly complex and can be threatening to stakeholders.  Considerable innovation will be required to influence other collaborative organizations engaged in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs to adopt appropriate strategies for their program activities.
• Intermediate user level of word processing, spreadsheets and databases is required. Good keyboard skills with speed and accuracy is required. In addition, job holder must be familiar with the Nigeria Medical records System (NMRS) and PEPFAR Surge Dashboards.

Qualification:

• All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:

Agency Benefits:

• Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Abuja, Nigeria may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.
• For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.
• The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

Other Information:
Hiring Preference Selection Process:  

• Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application.
• Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

Hiring Preference Order:

• AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
• AEFM / USEFM
• FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

Important

• Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), equivalent documentation, or certification.  
• A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant.
• The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
• This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
• For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.

Equal Employment Opportunity (Eeo):  

• The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Salary

• NGN 15,890,203 annually
• USD $58,186

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Important Notice

• All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Public Trust clearance.
• To apply for this position click the “Submit Application” button.  For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.

Required Documents:

• In order to qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested diploma and / or transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you will not be considered for this position.
• Residency and/or Work Permit (If applicable)
• Degree (not transcript)
• NYSC Certificate

For EFMs, in addition to the above:

• Copy of Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
• Certificate or License
• DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
• SF-50 (if applicable)

Next Steps:

• Applicants who are invited to take a language or skills test, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email.
• For further information - the complete position description listing all of the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office.
• Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Mission in Abuja, Nigeria.
• For More Info: HR Section 09-461-4000 [email protected]

Application Deadline  11th November, 2020.