HJF is seeking a Technical Advisor for Clinical Services (Maternal & Child Health concentration) to support the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) located in Bethesda, Maryland. HJF provides scientific, technical and programmatic support services to MHRP.
The incumbent is responsible for assisting the Technical Director for Clinical Services, Medical Affairs Team, Department for International HIV Prevention and Treatment (IHPT) of MHRP in planning, implementation and monitoring of clinical activities in seven Africa-region programs under the prevention, care and treatment initiatives supported overseas (OCONUS) by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). The incumbent will primarily be responsible for directing international care and treatment programs to ensure quality clinical services, including up to 50% time on pediatric services and prevention of mother to child transmission, These services are provided as part of MHRP participation in the implementation of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The incumbent will work closely with international site PEPFAR clinical leads to provide mentorship and direct technical support for program management and implementation. The incumbent will guide and ensure that MHRP PEPFAR clinical activities are planned and executed with quality, accountability and measurable impact. The incumbent may represent the MHRP PEPFAR program with USG agencies, donors and partners. Other responsibilities may include acting as an investigator or otherwise participating in research studies and program evaluations.
Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership and technical assistance to country programs on development, implementation and enhancement of HIV care and treatment clinical monitoring and evaluation systems including activities, analyses and use of data with a focus on the clinical cascade, with an emphasis on pediatric care and treatment, pediatric ART optimization, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and Early infant Diagnosis (EID) (50% time).
- Incumbent will support the Technical Director for Clinical Services in other areas as assigned, including adult care and treatment, retention, medication adherence, ARV regimen optimization, viral load suppression and cervical cancer prevention and other duties as assigned (50%).
- Develop and/or review performance monitoring plans that reflect work plans and their relevant indicators including, QA/QI programs, data analysis and data use.
- Routinely review routine country-specific data, provide feedback to country teams, and support country teams to use findings to improve program performance.
- Strengthen the use of real time data for program improvement including analysis of progress to target and trends for monthly and quarterly reporting.
- Provide technical guidance for use and dissemination of routinely collected HIV, care and treatment data.
- Dissemination approaches including standardized slide decks, meetings, abstracts, and manuscripts.
- Support development or adaptation of tools to monitor rollout of relevant key care and treatment initiatives (e.g multi-month scripting of ARV), and the use of optimal ART regimens as mandated by respective country guidelines.
- Provide ongoing guidance to teams on PEPFAR technical priorities and benchmarks disseminated in PEPFAR COP and MER guidance.
- Support high-frequency reporting efforts required by OGAC, including template preparation, review of results and feedback to teams on strengths and gaps; working with teams to course correct when gaps are identified.
- Support country teams to develop tools and processes for visualization, and use of multiple data sources to monitor care and treatment program trends by quarter.
- Support the development of technical assistance and capacity building proposals relating to core care and treatment program areas.
- Provide technical guidance for use and dissemination of routinely collected HIV care and treatment data to monitor and evaluate country programs; dissemination approaches include slide-sets, meetings, abstracts, and manuscripts.
- Contribute to building M&E capacity in HIV care and treatment at the field level.
- Participate in technical working groups within and outside of the Organization to share expertise and lessons learned.
- Program evaluation and implementation science:
- Based on understanding of the country program and expertise in Care and Treatment focus areas, develop or contribute to the development and implementation of program evaluation and other operational research proposals, protocols, data collection tools, databases, SOPs and IRB submissions. Ensure compliance with HJF/WRAIR IRB policy.
- Lead, collaborate with or assist US-based and in-country staff to develop and prepare abstracts, posters, presentations, and manuscripts resulting from program evaluation and operations research.
- Other:
- Provide technical and programmatic inputs to new proposals as needed.
- Write and review Care and Treatment sections of proposals to ensure technical quality and inclusion of appropriate activities, budgets, and staff.
- Develop and maintain excellent professional relationships with colleagues, country teams and counterparts in the interagency space.
- Maintain knowledge management/knowledge sharing practices for HIV care and treatment, including timely and relevant knowledge-sharing through available mechanisms.
- Stay up to date on PEPFAR MER indicators, technical priorities, interventions and benchmarks.
- Identify programmatic successes, challenges and lessons learned, and ensure appropriate flow of information across the organization.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge and experience in HIV care and treatment, in particular PMTCT, EID and pediatric care and treatment.
- Public health experience in international settings.
- Ability to communicate effectively to include excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to troubleshoot technical procedures.
- Strong technical skills, including ability to process and analyze data using statistical software packages, including at least one of the following: SPSS, Epi Info, STATA.
- Ability to work independently and supervise others.
- Awareness of, sensitivity to, and experience in working in multiple socio-economic settings and with multi-cultural staff and groups.
- Ability to travel, including internationally, up to 30% of time, as needed.
