VACANCY AT THE US EMBASSY IN PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA: PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST (BIO-MEDICAL PREVENTION)

Introduction

NOTE: ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT (OR) APPLICANTS (See Appendix A for definition) MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Public Health Specialist (Biomedical Prevention in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Description

Basic Function of Position:

The Biomedical Prevention Specialist works under the direction of the Biomedical Prevention Team Led as a key public health advisor to the Biomedical Prevention Team Lead, Prevention Branch management and CDC management.  The major focus of the position is the development and implementation of biomedical strategies for the prevention of HIV.  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.  This management role requires public health technical leadership, results-oriented analysis, advocacy, and constant and clear communication with implementing partners.

The incumbent serves as the primary CDC contact for assigned implementing partners for issues related to CDC-supported prevention program activities and a leading expert within the U.S. Government interagency technical team.  Serves as the Activity Manager for prevention components of 4-5 CDC supported cooperative agreements in South Africa.  Serves as a primary contributor to the planning, development, and review of prevention components of the annual Country Operational Plan (COP) for South Africa and identifies linkages for prevention activities within other PEPFAR program areas.  Monitors and evaluates progress of projects, identifying technical, personnel, logistical, and financial problems and makes or recommends revisions as necessary to overcome obstacles and constraints to progress.  The job holder represents CDC South Africa on HIV prevention issues at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with collaborators and donor agencies.  Identifies training needs and participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of training courses for partner organizations.

Closing date:  December 1, 2015.

For more details on the Application and Selection process, please go to:

Please note that this link will take you to the p-net site.

http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/job_opportunities.html

Register and apply via:  http://americanembassy.pnet.co.za

Profile

Qualifications Required:

APPLICANTS MUST ADDRESS EACH REQUIRED QUALFICATION LISTED BELOW WITH SPECIFIC AND COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION SUPPORTING EACH ITEM.  FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN A DETERMINATION THAT THE APPLICANT IS NOT QUALIFIED.

1.      Education: 

-          The position requires graduation from an accredited university with a master’s level degree or equivalent in public health, medical sciences, social science, or nursing is required.

2.      Experience: 

-          A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in HIV or public health program activities with some exposure to populations at high risk for HIV is required.

3.      Language: 

-          English level IV (fluent) reading/writing/speaking is required.  (This will be tested).

4.      Knowledge: 

-          Comprehensive knowledge and experience in HIV/AIDS biomedical prevention strategies including counseling and testing, medical male circumcision, microbicides, vaccine development, and other biomedical approaches to HIV prevention is required.

-          A detailed knowledge of the range of prevention programs, policies, regulations and precedents applicable to development and administration of national/international public health prevention program 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 grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and purchase requisitions is required.

5.      Skills and Abilities:

-          Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills for establishing and maintaining effective working relationship with a wide variety of collaborating partners in program manager level positions is required.

-          Sound judgment and excellent analytical skills is required.

-          Accomplished writing skills including office software applications like MS Word and Excel are required.  (Familiarity with MS Word and Excel will be tested).

-          Budget oversight requires a standard level of numerical skills.

We offer

R443,542 - R620,961 per annum