Job opportunity: Deputy Chief of Party/Senior Technical Advisor (DCOP/STA) – CHAK USAID Jamii Tekelezi Program

The Deputy Chief of Party/Senior Technical Advisor (DCOP/STA) will work closely with and report to the Chief of Party (COP) to provide technical oversight for the Activity – USAID/Jamii Tekelezi Program (UJTP). The DCOP/STA will directly oversee the four technical components (Sub-purposes) of the Activity Sub-Purpose 1 (HIV Prevention), Sub-purpose 2 (HIV Treatment services), Sub-purpose 3 (Health & social services for OVC), and Sub-Purpose 5 (Health systems & local partners’ Strengthening).

The DCOP will also lead the development of the Activity’s annual work plans, annual and quarterly reports, and other requests that may come from either USAID. The DCOP will work closely with, and provide complementary experience and skills to the Chief of Party, and will work closely with program implementation teams to ensure that resources are applied appropriately (e.g. human, financial and material). This includes supervising program management staff, overseeing annual work planning, leading the design, implementation, and reporting of project activities.

As requested by the COP, the DCOP/STA will also represent the activity before a range of audiences and in a variety of platforms, at the County level. In the absence of the Chief of Party, the DCOP may be required to undertake the responsibilities of that position on a temporary basis. The DCOP is responsible for managing short- and long-term technical assistance (STTA), including the development of their scopes of work (SOWs) and ensuring the final reports are accurate, well-written, and meet expectations.

The DCOP will ensure all actions and interventions adhere to USAID technical guidance and align with global best practices, including the training of staff as required. Finally, the DCOP will also keep the COP regularly informed on all activity matters, and assist the COP in meeting various technical, governmental, Organizational, and USAID deliverables as requested.

Activity description

The USAID/Jamii Tekelezi Program (UJTP) aims to strengthen the enabling environment for a comprehensive, integrated HIV prevention/treatment services in Embu, Meru, Nyandarua & Tharaka-Nithi counties through capacity building and health systems strengthening. The Activity seeks to viably and sustainably build county capacity to run HIV/OVC program through co-creation, co-implementation, co-funding and co-monitoring, essentially walking the journey to self-reliance (J2SR) with the Counties.

To achieve this goal, the Activity focuses on four interrelated components: (i) Increased Access and Demand to Quality HIV Prevention Services; (ii) Increased Access and Demand for Quality HIV Treatment Services; (iii) Increased Access to Quality Health and Social Services for OVC and their Families; and (iv) Strengthened Capacity of County Health Systems and Local Partners to Deliver Quality Services. In line with the USG, Kenya and county governments’ commitment to bring an end to HIV epidemic and increase household resilience, these efforts will increase the depth, breadth, dynamism, and innovativeness of the public health sector and align the counties to global public health standards.

Beginning in March 2021 and closing in 2025, this $25,642,599 project aims to contribute to the transformation of the broader HIV program in the four counties setting them on a journey to self-reliance and HIV epidemic control.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Chief of Party to provide technical and managerial oversight for the Activity, including the development and implementation of the Activity’s annual work plans, quarterly and annual reports, and other requests that may come in from USAID or CHAK.
• Working closely with other senior managers to ensure that the Activity consistently employs the values of CHAK, ensures the highest ethical standards, emphasizes the importance of communication and team work, promotes collaboration with other donor-funded projects and activities, adheres to USAID and CHAK technical guidance, and directly contributes to the attainment of the Activity’s contractual deliverables;
• Managing the development, design, and implementation of all sub-purpose-led interventions, taking place in the four counties. This includes taking responsibility for STTA SoWs, scheduling and mobilization, field implementation, and final acceptance of the work completed;
• Drafting, editing, and making material contributions to Activity documents, including but not limited to weekly snapshot reports, quarterly and PowerPoint presentations, annual reports, studies, papers, survey instruments, and other operational and MEL-related documentation;
• Maintaining rigorous focus on the achievement of the Activity’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs);
• Managing the implementation and coordination of all events, technical forums, conferences, and roundtables;

In collaboration with COP, manage and maintain good working relationships with subs / implementing partners

• Representing the Activity and CHAK in meetings with the private and public sector stakeholders as requested by the COP;
• Represent CHAK and the program in public and professional circles through meetings, conferences, and presentations
• In close collaboration with the COP, coordinate and monitor all human, financial and material resources of the program to ensure successful implementation
• Develop and modify as necessary the technical work-plans and budget; review work-plans and spending against budget monthly with the Chief of Party
• Guide the analysis, synthesis and reporting of program outputs and results in close collaboration with the Director of Research and Evaluation
• Mentor, support, supervise and manage a team of highly qualified staff and align their efforts in concert with program goals to ensure rapid and sustainable results.
• Provide guidance and capacity building activities in collaboration with key staff specialists to sub-grantees; coordinate activities with other agencies
• Write and/or review technical components of reports, materials and publications related to the program and its development
• Ensure resources for program implementation are available
• Work with finance and project staff to develop and track project budgets
• Work closely with CHAK home office staff to ensure effective, timely and coordinated project implementation
• Ensure compliance with USAID policies

• Other duties as assigned on an ad hoc basis by the COP.

Qualifications:

• A medical doctor (MBChB) with a master’s degree in public health, Health economics, MBA/health administration, international health, or a related field
• Previous experience serving as COP/project director or DCOP or senior level management
• At least seven (7) years’ experience successfully managing large, multi-partner, multi-year international health sector development projects that have implemented successful activities in health systems strengthening and HIV prevention/treatment programs
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in establishing project systems and overseeing project start-up and close-out
• Previous experience working in Kenya with strong understanding of local health system
• Experience hiring and supervising personnel and ensuring they acquire the necessary training and skills to meet evolving project needs
• Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with USAID, County governments and representatives from other key stakeholders such as NGOs, CSOs, and the private sector
• In-depth knowledge of USAID projects, regulations, compliance and reporting requirements
• Demonstrated outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, organizational, team-building, and representational skills
• Expertise in research to practice—identifying and adapting best practices to specific project contexts
• Excellent skills in facilitation, team building, and coordination
• Excellent verbal, written interpersonal and presentation skills in English
• Ability to coach, mentor and develop technical capacity in regional and national projects and technical staff
• Ability to travel to the field up to 40% of time