Purpose of the position
The Technical Advisor will provide overall technical leadership and expertise on the design and implementation of a large-scale USAID-funded program focused on reducing HIV risk and transmission and improving HIV care and treatment among key populations (KP) in Lesotho. As part of the project’s senior leadership team, he/she will be responsible for ensuring that the technical direction of the project is evidence-driven, integrates the latest technical and scientific developments, and advances the achievement of the project’s goals and objectives. The Technical Advisor will develop implementation strategies and tools in line with national and global standards and good practices, building the capacity of team members and partners to implement them, and promote continuous learning and quality improvement in HIV prevention and service delivery for KP. Reporting to the Chief of Party (COP), he/she will foster close coordination and technical alignment among program teams, partners, and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) efforts to maximize impact and program efficiency.
The position is contingent upon funding.
Key Accountabilities
- Provide technical leadership for national, district and community level efforts to expand access to HIV prevention, care and treatment among KP; address socio-cultural and policy-level issues impacting KP; improve strategic oversight and the use of KP-related strategic information by the Ministry of Health (MOH). This includes supervising other technical staff and local partners working on those program components.
- Support the development and contribute to the implementation of key strategies, standards, tools and best practices that effectively engage KP and KP organizations, communities, other implementing partners, government and other stakeholders to ensure integrated HIV services for KP and to address structural barriers to access to care.
- Support the development of evidence-driven project strategies and workplans as well as monitoring of the project in collaboration with government and donor stakeholders and other implementing partners.
- Work with the COP in identifying capacity strengthening needs of staff and partners and provide quality assurance, technical training, coaching and mentoring.
- Ensure that project is technically sound, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of the target population, and ensure a comprehensive and contextualized approach integrating gender, inclusion and protection mainstreaming.
- Support collection and analysis of project data, capture and share lessons learned and best practices, and contribute to the project learning agenda and adaptive management.
- Contribute to maintaining relationships with KP organizations, PEPFAR clinical partners, other NGOs/CSOs, donors, social service providers, legal and human rights actors, media, the private sector, and research institutions and participate in forums in related to HIV broadly and KP specifically to collect and share best practices and promote the project’s work.
- Represent the project at national and regional technical work groups.
- Deliver recommendations on technical assistance and systems strengthening to enhance program effectiveness and sustainability.
Qualifications
Essential qualifications
- Advanced degree in medicine, public health, nursing, or other relevant field, preferably with a specialization in HIV.
Desirable qualifications
- Medical degree in a clinical discipline or PhD in public health or related field, with significant project management experience preferred.
Experience & Skills
- A minimum of 7 years’ experience in the design and implementation of HIV programs focused on KP and in technical leadership positions.
- Demonstrated strong technical knowledge and experience in at least three the following areas: biomedical HIV prevention services for KP, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services for KP; person centered HIV care and treatment; demand creation for HIV services; violence prevention, screening and care; mental health; community mobilization and social norms change; HIV policy and guidelines development; and management and use of strategic information.
- Experience with inclusive, rights-based and person-centered approaches and track record of engagement with KP-led and KP-serving organizations.
- Experience in capacity building and providing technical assistance.
- Experience supporting complex USAID-funded projects preferred.
- Experience managing and supervising technical staff.
- Experience in a role requiring collaboration with complex internal and external organizations, as well as a demonstrated ability to coordinate with the MOH, USG Implementing Partners, and other relevant partners across all levels of health care system.
- Previous experience working in Lesotho, with an understanding of the local health system and solid relationships at relevant government agencies. Lesotho nationals strongly preferred.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills as well as strong public presentation skills, including the ability to represent the project to key stakeholders.
- Ability to travel locally and internationally.
- Ability to produce results and meet all deliverables and targets in a timely manner.
Personal Qualities & Behavioural Competencies
- Committed to high standards and continuous improvement
- Good influencing and interpersonal skills with people at all levels
- Confident and comfortable to challenge senior stakeholder thinking
- Ability to operate in a high-pressure environment with conflicting priorities and tight timelines
- Ability to speak and present proposals with conviction
- Resourceful, creative and innovative approach to work
- Collaborative nature of working across different teams
- Ability to effectively prioritize and plan work
- Good negotiation skills with the ability to navigate and relate at all levels
- Be solution focused
- Ability to build rapport and credibility with stakeholders
Capabilities
Winning, Enabling and Delivery of Projects
- Opportunity Development, Capture Management, Proposal Development, Organized, Disciplined, Analytical
People Leadership/Self Leadership
- Selections, Development, Delegation, Example, Self-Confidence, Independently responsible, Curiosity, Change Management
Strategic and Holistic Decision Making
- Governance and legal awareness, Financial acumen, Risk management, Strategic perspective
Relationship Management
- Institutional Representations, Taking the long view, Building common ground, Mutual respect, Responsiveness, Standing for the other, Engagement