Job Description

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT 

Jhpiego is an international, non-profit health organization affiliated with The Johns  Hopkins University. For 40 years and in over 155 countries, Jhpiego Corporation has been  providing technical support to the Ministries of Health in partner countries across the  globe for the past 40 years in a variety of technical areas including cervical cancer  treatment and prevention, community health, HIV and AIDS, maternal and newborn  health, health workforce capacity development (both Pre-service and in-service), family  planning, malaria, and IPC/WASH. 

The Global Reach II project is a five-year global HRSA-funded project, which started in  October 2021. It employs an iterative approach based on a country’s needs, informed by  clients and beneficiaries, targeting high-priority populations and low-coverage and poor performing areas to achieve HIV epidemic control. In Sierra Leone, Global Reach II works  with the government and builds local capacity to identify and implement proven solutions  where they exist and develop innovative solutions to overcome persistent barriers that  affect HIV services. Global Reach II will develop the capacity of the interdisciplinary health  workforce to provide quality, client-centered care, ensuring that individuals will be  informed and empowered to access services, receive high-quality care, adhere to treatment,  and remain in care, ultimately contributing to the achievement of HIV epidemic control in  Sierra Leone. 

Position Overview:  

The Senior (Sr.) Technical Officer in collaboration with the Technical Advisors (Tas), will  provide strategic oversight and technical support in the implementation and expansion of  integrated quality HIV services to both the general and key populations (KPs) at program supported health facilities and drop-in centers (DICs). One (1) Sr Technical Officer position  will be KP-focused closely with the KP Technical Advisor on KP-friendly programming.  

The Sr Technical Officer positions will provide strategic support, oversight, and technical  assistance to the implementation of comprehensive facility-based HIV services including  PrEP, HTS (including index testing and HIVST), Care and Treatment and linkage to care.  They will also provide strategic support to DICs, and health facilities conduct specific mobile  and outreach services and services targeting populations (e.g., KPs, men). S/he will work  closely with the technical officers to directly support health facility staff and volunteers at  the site and DIC level and contribute to the improvement of access and quality of HIV  services including the optimization of HTS, referrals/linkages with HIV/AIDS care and  treatment, other services (including lab) and the implementation of QI approaches. S/he  will provide mentorship and support to health facility staff and volunteers at health facilities  and DICs in the provision of HIV prevention (including PrEP) optimized HTS (including 

HIVST and index testing), adherence counseling, TB screening and prevention, laboratory  services, other health screening and referrals and QI/QA activities.  

The position will work with Technical Officers and Advisors to identify capacity and skills  gaps and implement targeted on-the-job trainings and mentorship for the provision of  comprehensive and high-quality HIV, and KP-friendly services. S/he will, in collaboration  with the health facility and DIC staff, provide oversight and mentorship to the project  Technical Officers alongside the volunteers at the health facility and DIC that are supporting  demand creation for services, linkages to care, partner tracing, loss to follow up and peer  support. S/he will also collaborate with other organizations and the communities to  support HIV services across the continuum of care.  

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Supports Technical Officers and health facility and drop-in center staff in the  coordination, supervision and provision of optimized HTS (HIVST and index testing),  HIV prevention (including PrEP), linkages to/and care and treatment support, TB and  other health services at health facilities.  
• Mentors and trains Technical Officers, health facility staff and volunteers on  comprehensive and quality HIV services across the continuum of care and the clinical  management of people living with HIV, integrated TB screening and prevention, and  counseling provided at health facilities and outreach sites 
• Ensures all clinical procedures at health facilities and outreaches follow national  guidelines and protocols developed by the NACP and meet PEPFAR minimum  requirements. 
• Provides ongoing coaching, mentoring, and hands-on supervision to technical officers,  health facility staff, and volunteers  
• Develops patient flow, and protocols and supports site-level standard operating  procedures for comprehensive HIV services 
• Ensures linkages of newly diagnosed clients to care, in collaboration with health facility  staff and volunteers,  
• Supports health facility and drop-in center staff to conduct weekly data review meetings and determines pivots or adjustments to implementation, in collaboration with the SI  officers and SI assistants,  
• Provide logistic support and oversight of laboratory sample transport and commodities  and supplies for HIV services 
• Provides technical assistance and participates in supportive supervision of clinical staff  to ensure quality health care delivery; supports the DHMTs to do the same in select sites
• Trains counselors and volunteers in HIV, HIVST, PrEP, community, and adherence  counseling, patient advocacy, case management, and partner tracing 
• Contributes to monthly, quarterly, and annual reports with progress as per donor  requirements. 
• Participates in various learning activities 
• Performs other tasks as required by the project 

Knowledge, Skills, and Experiences:

• Robust clinical experience in HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, care and treatment
• Experience in KP-focused clinical services is a plus 
• Excellent written, presentation, communication, and organizational skills in English 
• Demonstrated experience in clinical training and mentoring 
• Ability to liaise with DHMTs and representatives of stakeholders 
• Demonstrated in-depth understanding of Sierra Leone’s healthcare system, particularly  the public health system, experience living and working in Sierra Leone preferred
• Ability to travel nationally up to 50% of the time. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Medical Doctor, Pharmacist, Clinical Officer, or holder of a nursing degree
• Holder of an advanced degree in Public Health or epidemiology will be an added  advantage 
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience working in HIV prevention and treatment 

Qualified persons are required to send their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and application letter to:  SL-Recruitment@jhpiego.org Clearly state in the subject area the position you are applying for, if  not clearly stated your application will not be considered. 

Deadline for the submission of applications: 18th December, 2024 

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will receive responses due to the sheer volume of applications  often received. 

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer