GENERAL INFORMATION 

USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANT’S BANK ACCOUNTS

1.SOLICITATION NO.: 72061524R10030
2.ISSUANCE DATE: March 28, 2024
3.CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: April 14, 2024 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).
4.POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa Human Resources, e-mail at [email protected]
5.POSITION TITLE: Project Management Specialist (Global Health Security)
6.MARKET VALUE: Equivalent FSN-11 Step 1 (5,435,381.00 KSH per annum) to Step 13 (9,069,687.00 KSH per annum). In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Kenya and East Africa. The salary range provided is inclusive of all allowances and annual bonus. All applicable taxes will be deducted from the stated gross market rate. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
7.PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature that will be executed by USAID through a series of sequential contracts, subject to the availability of funds, the continued need for services and successful performance. It is anticipated that the selection of the successful candidate will be completed within an estimated six-month period from the closing date of this solicitation.
8.PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya; with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.
9.ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Kenyan Citizens, including current locally hired employees of the US Mission in Kenya. Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.
10.SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract
The Project Management Specialist-Global Health Security (GHS) (the “Specialist”) leads efforts to improve and expand Global Health Security and pandemic preparedness, prevention and response in Kenya and East Africa (KEA). The GHS Specialist is a technical expert in the area of emerging infectious diseases in the country, with extensive experience working with national stakeholders including government, professional associations, and the private sector. The Specialist facilitates communication and ensures collaborative working relationships with high-level decision makers, as well as technical staff, in multiple government agencies, USAID Missions, USAID/Washington counterparts, with other United States Government (USG) partners including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of State, and other USG agencies, as well as other key stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). The jobholder provides strategic and technical leadership in the design and implementation of USAID GHS activities. As a senior health advisor for USAID, the Specialist represents USAID and the USG in national and international fora to advise on policies, strategies, and technical issues.

The Specialist will exercise programmatic oversight to manage and coordinate USAID’s GHS activities in support of the Government of Kenya and their GHS roadmap and to prevent, detect, and respond to existing and emerging pandemic threats. The GHS Specialist will serve as an Agreement/Contracting Officer Representative (AOR/COR) and/or Activity Manager for USAID programs/projects/activities. As an AOR/COR, the Specialist monitors program performance and progress, identifies implementation achievements as well as problems in performance, and initiates appropriate actions in consultation with others, as appropriate.

The Specialist is a key member of the Health, Nutrition and Population Office. The jobholder reports to the GHS Lead Advisor or the Health Office Director or their designee and has no formal supervisory responsibility.

Statement of Duties to be Performed

Program/Project/Activity Management

• Lead the design of strategies, project mechanisms and activities for improved preparedness, prevention, detection and response for GHS and emerging infectious diseases. In addition, in close coordination with other Mission offices, support the design and procurement of bilateral mechanisms to support GHS implementation in the cooperating country.
• Serve as an AOR/COR and/or Activity Manager for GHS programs for the Mission’s GHS and pandemic preparedness activities including: reviewing and approving implementing partners’ (IPs) work plans, facilitating IP relationships and coordinating with local stakeholders (other IPs, host government counterparts, other development partners/donors, etc.) maintaining a schedule for and conducting regular site visits to review program implementation and meeting with beneficiaries, and based on the information collected during such visits, adjusting or recommending adjustments to programs/projects/activities as appropriate; overseeing IP compliance with all relevant USAID regulations and procedures, communicating regularly with IPs regarding USAID rules and regulations as well as their obligations to USAID and, taking a lead role in the preparation of the strategic and operational planning processes such as the USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy and USAID Operational Plan. Keep his/her supervisor regularly informed of program implementation progress, results, and issues/problems on a timely basis.
• Ensure that sub-awards and sub-contracts are given appropriate monitoring and oversight.
• Provide regular updates to GHS/Washington, Mission, and Health Office Leadership to maintain leadership level oversight and engagement on GHS program implementation in the cooperating country.

Technical Guidance and Program Planning

• Provide technical guidance to the Mission, the National Government, and other development partners on infectious disease preparedness, prevention, detection, and response capacities in the cooperating country, including zoonotic diseases, One Health approaches, and GHS.
• Provide technical guidance and direction on GHS and pandemic preparedness activities and ensure that activities are appropriately integrated with the health Office and larger Mission activities. Support the integration of emerging disease and other activities that promote the advancement of GHS implementation in-country.
• Lead high-level advocacy and technical dialogue with host government ministries to ensure effective USAID support to the implementation of GHS activities, including advocacy to promote a One Health approach to addressing pandemic threats.
• Provide technical support/guidance to the host government during Joint External Evaluations; the outcomes of which will inform an effective roadmap to achieving Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) targets.
• Keep abreast of new developments and emerging issues that affect USAID and GHS via literature review, conference/meeting attendance, as well as participation and facilitation at workshops, and training events. Advise accordingly on how these policies and strategies can most effectively be incorporated to enhance USAID’s approaches.
• In collaboration with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning colleagues, contribute to the development of innovative monitoring and evaluation approaches and tools to support measuring the impact and outcomes of GHS and pandemic preparedness activities.
• Provide leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the Operational Plans, Congressional Budget Justifications, Progress Reports and other ad hoc requests for information.

Representation and Coordination

• Represent USG and USAID to high level USG diplomats, Senior Government Officials, and other external partners in the cooperating country as appropriate on technical matters regarding emerging infectious diseases - this includes both speaking and written communications.
• Develop and maintain relationships with ministries (Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Wildlife and others) to ensure that assets can be coordinated and work with stakeholder governments to address gaps in National Action plans.
• Establish and maintain a coordination network among GHS partners in the country. Such partners include: bi-lateral donors, international organizations, national governments and their relevant ministries, private sector, international and local Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), etc. and use the coordination network to facilitate USAID GHS implementing partners in successful completion of work plan activities.
• During disease outbreak situations, ensure the Mission’s GHS Team, and GHS implementing partners are closely coordinated with the GHS interagency response in supporting the host government.

Prior Work Experience

At least five (5) years of public health and/or animal health and/or related experience in developing countries including at least two (2) years of experience working with USG, international public health and/or animal health organizations, such as the WHO, FAO, and WOAH is required.

Supervision Received

The Specialist position is within the Mission’s Health Office. Working under the supervision of the GHS Lead Advisor or the Health Office Director or their designee, the Specialist collaborates with other members in the cooperating country, spanning technical areas such as health systems strengthening, strategic information, monitoring and evaluation, and quality improvement. In carrying out work-related duties and responsibilities, the jobholder is expected to function effectively with minimal supervision.

Completion of tasks and assignments are reviewed regularly through required written documents and oral progress reports.

Supervision Exercised

Continuing supervision of other Health Office and/or Mission staff is not anticipated.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

Job Knowledge
Strong technical understanding required of the nature of infectious diseases, including emerging infectious diseases threats. Strong knowledge required of the measures put in place to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to infectious disease threats. Excellent technical knowledge of internationally accepted guidelines, such as WHO International Health Regulations and One Health will be considered an asset. Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements is desirable.

Skills and abilities
The jobholder must have excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills in a diverse, multi-cultural environment involving multiple government agencies, implementing partners and other stakeholders whose productive collaboration is essential for program success. This position requires the demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment and to effectively communicate highly technical information related to human health, animal health, and the environment to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences. The jobholder must demonstrate the ability to understand the strategic purpose and goals of stakeholders involved in epidemic prevention and control; ability to identify and solve problems, and coordinate and support activities that lead to mutual success across the different sectors. S/he should have experience with USAID approved monitoring and evaluation methodologies including frameworks, data quality assurance, analysis reporting and best practices in data dissemination in international/resource poor settings. S/he must also have a high degree of judgment, maturity, ingenuity, and originality to interpret strategy and to analyze, develop, and present work results. S/he must possess strong communication skills both verbal and written and must have good computer skills in use of Microsoft Office software (i.e. Excel, Word, Power Point) for data analysis and reporting.

Total possible points: 100

SUBMITTING AN OFFER

Step 1: Register in MyJobsInKenya at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 2: Complete the job application at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 3: Internal Offerors/Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages), a copy of your most recent Performance Evaluation Report, and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload them to MyJobsInKenya.

OR

External Offerors/Not Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages) and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload them to MyJobsInKenya.

Offerors must provide a list of minimum three (3) professional references who are not family members or relatives, with complete name, title, organization where he/she works, description of relationship, with working/accurate telephone numbers and email addresses. The offeror’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities.

Note to Applicants

1. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted through myjobsinkenya.com. 
2. Submissions will only be accepted through www.myjobsinkenya.com. Late and incomplete applications (those that do not contain the applicant’s most current and up to date detailed CV and relevant education certificates) will not be considered for the position.
3. All Applicants must provide at least three professional references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit any required forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award.

BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

Benefits and allowances are offered in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP).

TAXES
The Contractor must observe Kenyan laws including those concerning income and related tax obligations.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing CCN and TCN PSC awards are available at these sources:

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.
2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award.
3. Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.
4. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations.
5. PSC Ombudsman: The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman. 
   
   

The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: [email protected].