USAID Project Management Specialist - (Infectious Disease) FSN -11 (Salary Hide)

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

Under the supervision of the Deputy Health Office Director, the Project Management Specialist

– Infectious Diseases is a key member of the USAID/Pakistan Health Office. S/He is a recognized professional in infectious disease, including tuberculosis, COVID-19, polio, typhoid fever, etc., and will perform the full range of functions in strategic planning, program and activity design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of infectious diseases, and program/project/activity management. S/He will serve as a key resource to the Mission and USGovernment (USG) in policy, strategic, and technical engagements with the Pakistan’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and other ministries engaged in outbreak response. S/he will also engage with USG interagency, international and bilateral organizations, development partners and donor agencies to address technical issues and coordinate efforts in implementation of infectious disease prevention, detection and response, and laboratory strengthening activities.

In addition, the Specialist will serve as a Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative

(COR/AOR), Alternate COR/AOR and/or Activity Manager, providing technical assistance to the appropriate cooperating country Ministry in the development of national policies, and the design and management of in-country programs/projects/activities, reflecting best practices in pandemic threat response. S/He will work with the cooperating country government officials and other donors and development partners to ensure a well-coordinated approach to infectious disease response efforts/interventions.

2) Statement of duties to be performed 100%

Technical and Strategic Leadership 45%

● Serve as a primary technical resource on infectious disease prevention, detection and response, providing high level technical guidance to the Mission, the cooperating country Government, and other development partners.

● Provide strategic and technical guidance and input on infectious disease response activities and ensure that activities are appropriately integrated with the Health Office and larger Mission activities.

● Provide technical assistance and oversight to implementing partners to ensure that infectious disease activities are carried out in alignment with approved work plans, Health Office and USAID Mission guidance and priorities.

● Stay abreast of state-of-the-art knowledge on programming and coordinate exchanges and sharing of best practices among USAID, USG and other stakeholders to track evolving infectious disease data, case management techniques, and vaccine roll out to strengthen infectious disease response approaches. Advise accordingly on how these policies and strategies can most effectively be incorporated to enhance USAID’s approaches.

● In collaboration with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning colleagues, participate in the implementation of monitoring and evaluation approaches and tools to support measuring the impact and outcomes of infectious disease activities. Promote culture of learning and use of data for improved program performance.

● Identify short-term technical assistance (STTA) and ensure that objectives and outcomes of the STTA are consistent with and support the furtherance of the Mission infectious disease and pandemic threat response portfolio.

● Organize site visits and prepare orientation materials for delegations from USAID

Headquarters (HQ), Department of State, other agencies and Congress.

Program/Project/Activity Management 40%

● Serve as a COR/AOR and/or Activity Manager for infectious disease

programs/projects/activities, providing financial and programmatic oversight to ensure contracts and grants achieve anticipated results, and are linked to and enhance attainment of the Health Office, Mission, and USG objectives.

● Conduct site visits as required in order to monitor progress, and to provide technical and programmatic recommendations to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and judicious use of U.S. Government (USG) funding.

● Participate in the design of project mechanisms and activities to prevent, detect and respond to infectious diseases and other pandemic threats.

● Participate in the preparation of the strategic and operational planning processes such as the USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy and USAID Operational Plan.

● Proactively engage and coordinate with local stakeholders (e.g. implementing partners, cooperating country-government counterparts, non-governmental organizations, other donors, etc.) to improve program implementation and share information. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting 15%

● Provides leadership to monitoring and evaluation activities, program reporting, and learning activities in the health office.

● Prepares key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Portfolio Planning Reviews, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi- Annual and Annual Progress Reports and other ad hoc requests for information on the infectious disease portfolio to document health office accomplishments and challenges, justify resources consumed in that period, and plan for continuation and corrections in the coming year.

● Advises on selection of pertinent and feasible indicators for infectious disease projects, sets ambitious but appropriate targets, and ensures correct and consistent reporting.

● Analyzes complex infectious disease data, policies, practices, systems, procedures, and develops written summaries on findings and recommendations.

● Consults with departments or divisions to improve productivity and delivery of services.

● Prepares and monitors infectious disease annual budget, as well as grant applications for securing project funds from governmental agencies and financial institutions in coordination with the Pakistani government, private firms, and citizens.

The CCN-PSC will be eligible for temporary duty travel to the United States, or to other missions, to participate in the \\\\\\\"Foreign Service National\\\\\\\" Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

3) Supervisory Relationship

The Specialist will report to the Senior Infectious Disease Specialist, or his/her designee.

S/he is expected to work independently in carrying out responsibilities. S/he is expected to develop annual work objectives in consultation with his/her supervisor. The supervisor makes assignments in terms of overall objectives and resources available. Completed work is reviewed in terms of achievement of program/project/ activity goals, effectiveness in meeting cooperating country and USAID objectives, and integration with other initiatives in the Office and Mission portfolio. Some technical direction may come from other professionals in the Office; in general, however, the Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment.

4) Supervisory Controls

Continuing supervision of other Health Office and/or Mission staff is not contemplated.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a. Education: A Master’s degree or local equivalent from an accredited university in Public Health, International Development, Health, Social or Behavioral Sciences, Epidemiology, Biology, Infectious Disease, Medicine, Pharmacy, Pandemic Threats or equivalent is required.

b. Prior Work Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of public health programming in developing or middle-income countries, international organizations with a focus on infectious diseases is required.

c. Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluency) in English, both written and spoken, and Urdu proficiency is required.

Only Offerors clearly meeting the above minimum qualifications will be considered for further evaluation.

SECURITY/FACILITIES ACCESS AND MEDICAL CLEARANCES: The ability to obtain the

required security/facilities access and medical clearances in a reasonable time required for the position is considered a minimum qualification.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The Contracting Officer (CO) reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers.

All offerors meeting the minimum qualification required for this position have to appear in a English Language Proficiency Test in Section II above and if qualify the required Level IV, will be requested to undergo a written test. The test will assess “Knowledge” and “Skills and Abilities” selection factors detailed below.

The CO may establish a competitive range after the test reviews. Offerors in the competitive range (or all offerors who took the written test in case a competitive range is not established) will be invited for an oral interview. Offerors not included in the competitive range will be excluded from further consideration.

USAID will conduct reference checks, including references from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before or after a candidate is interviewed.

Selection Factors

Total points available: 100

a. EDUCATION: 5 points

The extent to which the education qualifications support the successful completion of the position responsibilities outlined in the Statement of Duties. Up to 5 points awarded based on the application review.

b. EXPERIENCE: 15 points

The extent to which the offeror demonstrates the following: relevant and direct progressively responsible work experience related to public health broadly, and specific expertise in infectious diseases and tuberculosis (TB)programming, management and coordination with other stakeholders. Demonstrated experience with USG and nternational public health organizations in managing high-level coordination and relationships across sectors with public sector entities, bilateral and multilateral donors and NGOs is required. Up to 15 points awarded based on the application review.

a. KNOWLEDGE: 40 points

The extent to which the offeror demonstrates expert-level knowledge required of the nature of infectious diseases, including TB and emerging infectious disease threats. The offeror should have knowledge of evidence-based approaches and interventions of infectious disease transmission pathways, diagnostics, case management, community interventions/prevention measures, and data analytics and research, especially for tuberculosis (TB), as well as in-depth knowledge of health care service delivery and management In addition, the incumbent should demonstrate knowledge of the host country context including priorities and challenges as well as the key stakeholders engaged in TB and GHS broadly. Senior-level knowledge required of the measures put in place to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to infectious disease threats. Excellent technical knowledge of internationally accepted guidelines, such as WHO International Health Regulations will be considered an asset. Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements is desirable. The incumbent must have a strong working knowledge of strategies, programs, and working methodologies of other development partners (bilateral and multilateral) in the health sector in Pakistan. The incumbent must have a sound knowledge of the main technical and substantive issues related to infectious diseases, including TB in Pakistan and good understanding of Pakistan’s social, cultural, and political characteristics. Up to 15 points awarded for the written test and up to 25 points awarded for the oral interview.

b. SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 40 points

The extent to which the offeror has and/or demonstrates the following: strong technical skills in public health, especially infectious diseases, tuberculosis and GHS technical areas. Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills in a diverse, multi-cultural environment involving multiple Pakistani government agencies, implementing partners and other stakeholders. This position requires the demonstrated ability to work independently and, in a team, and to effectively communicate highly technical information related to public health to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences. The incumbent should have the ability to handle sensitive issues diplomatically, convene stakeholders around common priorities, represent USAID authoritatively, and use good judgment in speaking on behalf of USAID. The incumbents should also have demonstrated ability to identify and solve problems, provide policy recommendations and coordinate and support activities across the different sectors.

S/he should have experience with monitoring and evaluation methodologies, including analysis reporting and best practices in data dissemination. S/he must also have a high degree of judgment, ingenuity, and originality to interpret strategy and to analyze, develop, and present work results. S/he must possess strong verbal and written communication skills and have advanced computer literacy and complex analytical skills.

Up to 15 points awarded for the written test and up to 25 points awarded for the oral interview.

MARKET VALUE: Basic annual rate USD 18,991 - 36,076 equivalent to FSN-11, in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the local salary schedule of the Local Compensation Plan (LCP) of U.S. Mission Pakistan. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. Although the salary is advertised in U.S. dollars, the CCN-PSC will be paid in Pakistani Rupees. Continued U.S. dollar denomination of Locally Employed Staff compensation and monetized benefits is temporary and subject to change.