Program Manager, HIV Testing Services Strengthening

Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries, while strengthening the capabilities of governments and the private sector in those countries to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance. For more information, please visit: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

In 2006, CHAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Malawi (GoM) to strengthen health systems in the most challenged districts, provide national support to HIV/AIDS drug pricing and programmatic work, support the pilot and scale-up of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) initiatives, expand access to ART for children, strengthen Malawi's lab system, and scale-up an integrated nutrition program for children. CHAI's support to Malawi has expanded to include Human Resources for Health (HRH), Vaccines (pneumococcal and rotavirus), Health Financing, and Pediatric HIV and TB among other areas.

Program Overview:

With Support from the Bill and Melinda Gate foundation (BMGF), CHAI is implementing a three year grant to strengthen national HIV testing service (HTS) programs to increase the number of PLHIV diagnosed and linked to care, and increase access to treatment for HIV positive patients and prevention for high risk groups, to ultimately reduce incidences. To reach this outcome, CHAI is working to achieve two intermediate outcomes: (1) implement optimized and iteratively revised HTS strategies and (2) accelerate and sustainably optimize uptake of HIVST, as part of the HTS program.

CHAI is working closely with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and key partners to strengthen planning and implementation of HTS programs, to ensure efforts are focused on proven strategies that effectively reach high-priority population groups and geographies. CHAI is supporting MoHP to adopt evidence based targets, develop national plans aligned with these targets and within the resources available, strengthen resource mobilization efforts to enable targeted testing, improve management and coordination of testing and linkage efforts, and continuously monitor and update these plans based on program data and emerging evidence.

In addition, CHAI is working with MoHP and partners to support the introduction and strategic deployment of HIVST so that HIVST can be incorporated into national policy. To this end, CHAI is developing optimal distribution models for HIVST to inform incorporation of HIVST into national HTS strategies and procurement processes. CHAI is supporting this work across four countries, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The Program Manager will report to the Associate Director, Universal Health Coverage and Sexual Reproductive Maternal and Child Health. The Program Manager will be responsible to provide technical assistance to the MoHP on optimization of HIV testing efforts, including HIVST. He/she will support the MoHP across a range of activities required for this project, including updating and utilizing the HTS optimization model for target setting and national planning, forecasting and quantification, costing analysis, implementation plan development, revision HTS indicators, development of data dashboards, HTS operational assessments, HIVST landscaping, and donor reporting and budget management. The Program Manager will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi with a 30% travel local and international.

Responsibilities

Working in close collaboration with the MoHP, the Program Manager will:

• Serve as a trusted technical assistant to the MoHP on a range of HTS strengthening issues, enabling MoHP to mobilize more resources into the HIV response and ensure effective implementation.
• Work with MoHP and partners to develop effective, evidence based national annual HIVST targets through creation of testing/linkage models that will evaluate the optimal mix of testing modalities.
• Strengthen national planning through supporting the MoHP develop an optimized national scale up for HIVST to select high risk populations; the national scale up plan should translate identified targets into national strategy, taking into consideration, implementation, monitoring, and financial resource requirements.
• Liaise with implementing partners and the MoHP to evaluate existing M&E systems and support design of M&E tools necessary to improve the use of data for decision making. This work may include the development of indicators and methodologies to track the uptake of HIVST and linkage to confirmatory testing and treatment or prevention services.
• Work with MoHP to identify resource needs and subsequently strengthen resource allocation, mobilization, and coordination efforts to enable program scale-up and sustainability.
• Strengthen the capacity of program management and coordination of efforts for effective implementation and of an optimized HTS program by working with MoHP and partners.
• Drive internal strategic planning and coordinating activities, communication, and deliverables within the Malawi country office, global team, and across several country teams.
• Manage the program budget, and oversee communication and reporting requirements internally and for program donors.

• Other responsibilities as needed**Qualifications**

• Master's degree in relevant field (e.g. Public Health, Economics, Business etc.) strongly preferred; Bachelor's degree with excellent relevant experience will also be considered.

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience (e.g. in a research institution, government, bilateral or multilateral development agency, consulting firm, NGO or think tank), with increasing levels of responsibility.

• Strong analytical skills and advanced technical proficiency with MS Excel and PowerPoint.

• Program management experience including managing, developing, and executing budgets, people management, creating and implementing work plans, and monitoring program performance.

• Ability to build strategic relationships and interact with individuals of different backgrounds and at senior levels;

• Demonstrated experience building and analysing quantitative models to inform decision-making, including experience developing or evaluating financial models.

• Structured thinker with experience analyzing complex datasets to identify key trends and to translate them into actionable options for decision makers.

• Ability to manage ambiguity and navigate political environments.

• Strategically minded, able to think creatively around long-term programme objectives and the detailed steps necessary to achieve these goals.

• Demonstrated ability to thrive in high-pressure and changing environments.

• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills without need for extensive structural or operational support.

• Excellent verbal, visual and written communication skills.

• English language fluency, both written and verbal.

Advantages:

• Experience working with government ministries and partners within the HIV sector.
• Detailed understanding of HIV testing services.
• Professional experience in public sector policy/planning, health policy.
• Experience working in developing countries, particularly in the health sector and in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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PI118513473

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