Technical Officer

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. 

The following vacant position is available for immediate filling: 

Position: Technical Officer (3 Positions) 

Job Location: Bo, Kenema, Tonkolili 

Reports to: District Team Lead 

Position Overview: 

The Technical Officer will provide 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. S/he  will provide technical assistance and support in the implementation of comprehensive facility-based HIV services  including PrEP, HTS (including index testing), HIV ST, Care and Treatment, and linkage to care. They will also provide  support to specific mobile and outreach services and services targeting populations (e.g. men, KPs). S/he will directly  support health facility staff and volunteers at site 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, 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 counseling and testing services including adherence counseling, TB  screening and prevention, HIVST, PrEP, and other health screening and referrals. 

The position will work with the Senior Technical Officers and Advisor to identify capacity and skills gaps and implement  targeted on-the-job trainings for the provision of comprehensive and high-quality HIV, and KP-friendly services. S/he  will, in collaboration with the health facility and drop-in center staff, provide oversight and mentorship to the volunteers  at the health facility 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 health facility and drop-in center staff in the coordination, supervision and provision of HIV testing  and Services (HTS), HIVST, PrEP, linkages to care and treatment support, TB, STI and other health services at  health facilities 
• Mentors and trains health facility staff and volunteers on comprehensive and quality HIV services including, PrEP,  HIVST (including index testing), clinical management of people living with HIV, TB screening, and counseling  provided at health facilities and outreach sites e Ensures all clinical procedures al health facilities and outreach site 
• Ensure all clinical procedures at health facilities and outreaches follow national guidelines and protocols  developed by NACP and PEPFAR minimum requirements 
• Provides ongoing coaching, mentoring, and hands-on supervision of health facility staff and volunteers.
• Supports health facility and drop-in center staff to implement patient flow. 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 and drop-in center staff  and volunteers 
• Supports health facility staff to conduct weekly data review meetings and determines pivots or adjustments to  implementation. in collaboration with the SI Officers and M&E Officers. 
• Provides technical assistance and participates in supportive supervision of clinical staff to ensure quality health  care delivery: support the DHMTs to do the same in select sites  
• Trains counselors and volunteers in HIV. HIVST, PrEP. community and adherence counseling. patient advocacy,  ease management, and partner tracing 
• Contributes to monthly, quarterly, and annual reports with progress as per donor requirements.
• Participates in various learning activities 
• Performs other duties as required by the project 

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 

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. 

Qualified persons are required to send their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and application letter to: sl-recruitment@jhpiego.org 

Kindly state in the subject area the position and location you are applying for. CVs without proper labeling will not be  considered. 

Deadline for the submission of applications: 13th December 2023. Please note that given the likely high volume of  applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.