USAID TANZANIA Senior Public Health Specialist - Health Governance - Health Office

USAID/Tanzania has a vacancy for a Senior Public Health Specialist - Health Governance and invites applications from well-qualified individuals. This is a full-time Personal Services Contract position.

Basic Functions of the Position:

The incumbent is the lead technical advisor on health governance for USAID/Tanzania. Governance challenges in the health sector are consistently cited as the most serious obstacle to achieving national health results, and indeed USAID program results, the health sector accounts for the largest component of the Mission's portfolio and has an annual budget of approximately $240 million, with close to 100 bilateral and field support mechanisms. In line with Global Health Initiative (GHI) principles, USAID is streamlining and strengthening the coordination its health projects in Tanzania across various funding streams (each earmarked for example for HIV/ AIDS, TB, Malaria, or Maternal Child Health). The job holder's responsibilities include day-to-day program and administrative management, coordination and collaboration with other USG agencies for the purpose of aligning projects with internationally recognized systems strengthening standards and best practices, and leadership in determining and prioritizing health systems interventions that will produce the greatest leverage to improving health governance in the country,

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Mission Advisor and Coordinator of a Specialized Activity Area - this includes;  Taking an active role in developing specific agency program goals and objectives for ensuring sustainability of US AID health governance initiatives. Preparing directives, memoranda, policy statements, analytical briefs and proposals to introduce new initiatives and recommending effective systems change interventions consistent with strategic objectives of USAID's health program in Tanzania, including its interagency initiatives such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR), the President's Malaria Initiative, especially as they relate to developing country ownership, strengthening direct government to government (G2G) support for health, and ensuring long-term sustainability, Providing strategic direction and vision for numerous health governance areas. This includes directing USAID's programs in accordance with the Government of Tanzania's (GOT) devolution by decentralization by DJ reform program, engaging on behalf of USAID in the decentralization dialogue and process as it pertains to health, supporting national efforts in health policy formulation and il1lPlementation. Leading the design and negotiation of large high-profile bilateral agreements in health between the GOT and USAID to enforce the Agency's principle of G2G and country ownership.

Administrative Management - this includes; Providing oversight and monitoring the budgets allocated to Health Systems Strengthening projects for which s/he is Contracting Officer Representative (COR); this includes reviewing budget requests for appropriateness and accuracy, examining use of funds for adherence to proposed activities, and monitoring quarterly" pipeline reviews/budget status reports, following up on irregular findings, and providing advice for realignments of budgets. Preparing regular and ad hoc progress reports on USAID partner activities. Readers of these reports include agency and post management, other US government agency officials, U.S, headquarters offices and are ultimately used in reports to the U.s. Congress, Maintaining files and records in the C&S data collection specific to the activities/programs for which incumbent is responsible. Job holder is responsible for data integrity and security of information in the reporting databases. Preparing and presenting briefings for Congressional and Executive delegations, industry leaders and other high-level visitors, participates in making arrangements for visits and serve as spokesperson as required.

Interagency Coordination - this includes; Representing USAID/Tanzania at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with other USG agency collaborators and donor agencies. S/he briefs with senior agency officials, headquarters staff, interagency country team, and interested officials of other USG agencies as appropriate on the results of such meetings and preparing written reports for submission to other interested parties.

Representing the agency in discussing and developing financial commitment targets for presidential initiative (such as PEPFAR. PMI) funded health governance projects at interagency Health Systems Strengthening technical team budget and strategic planning meetings, Serving as rotating chair on inter-agency technical team to ensure effective coordination of work plan development, implementation strategies, and evaluation plans for all USG Health Systems support activities in Tanzania. Serving on special inter-agency coordinating and working groups, frequently taking the lead role. These groups are generally short-term in nature and most often have to do with special requirements for VIP visits, special HQ driven tasks, etc.

Qualifications Required:

Education: Master's degree in health management, public administration or public health is required. Prior Work Experience: Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional level experience in public administration/ health management (including at the senior level) is required. Experience must have provided the opportunity for systems strengthening in health governance in at least three of the following categories: 1  decentralization, 2) policy development and operationalization, 3) organizational development/institutional strengthening of CSOs/government institutions, 4) accountability, 5) strategic planning and coordination involving multiple stakeholders. Language Proficiency: Fluency in spoken and written English and Swahili is required, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Comprehensive knowledge of public sector programs in Tanzania at national and/or regional/district level is required. Specific knowledge .in governance areas such as decentralization, major national Tanzanian policies and processes, policy development and operationalization, organizational development/institutional strengthening of CSOs/government institutions, accountability including establishing internal controls, improving flows of information), GOT financial systems and strategic planning and coordination involving multiple stakeholders is required, Demonstrated ability to apply sophisticated interpersonal skills to achieve goals, High level of independence to negotiate strategic and complex partnerships at national and local level is required. Strong oral and written communications skills are required to develop and maintain effective, sustainable working relationships with national and international working partners. Strong leadership skills are required to lead results-driven project teams and workgroups, Ability to analyze, understand and discuss new program design, management and implementation approaches is required.

Selection Process:Applicants will initially be evaluated based on documentation submitted with application; then competitively ranked applicants will be tested and interviewed. Therefore, it is essential that applicants address the required qualifications stated above in the application,

Application Instructions:

Letter of application plus copies of relevant certificates and testimonials should be addressed to

The Executive Officer,

USAID/Tanzania,

P,O. Box 9130,

Dar es Salaam  (or by hand to 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani Dar es Salaam).

Submittals are due by October 09, 2013 and shall be in accordance with the requirements of the solicitation. Late applications will not be accepted.

The U.s Mission is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates for the above position will be considered without regard to sex, color, religion, race, age, nationality, or handicap.

NOTE:Those applicants who do not receive a response within three weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has not been successful.