HIV Service Director

Career Level: Senior Managerial Level (Director)

 Employment Type: Full-time

 Salary: based on the project’s salary scale and negotiation with a benefit package

Duration of employment: 9 months with possibility of extension

Organizational and Program highlights 

Mekdim Ethiopia National Association (MENA) is a registered non-governmental organization. The U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Assistance Section has funded MENA under the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD) to implement the Family-Focused HIV Prevention, Care, and Treatment services in the Addis Ababa project. The Project has been implemented in partnership with seven local implementing partners, including the Inter Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE), for the national Faith-based ART Adherence and Retention Intervention.

The activity aims to deliver family-focused and comprehensive HIV prevention, counseling, and testing, care services for people living with HIV (PLHIV), HIV adherence and retention services, and orphans and vulnerable children and their caregivers. The purpose of this Activity is to strengthen local HIV epidemic control to achieve 95 percent of individuals living with HIV know their status (PLHIV), 95 percent of persons living with HIV initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of antiretroviral therapy clients achieve viral load suppression by 2026.

Job summary

The HIV Service Director will be the technical expert for activities related to strengthening the comprehensive community-based HIV testing, treatment, care, and support services, ensuring standards and quality of care, and liaising with relevant advisers on health-related strategic information. S/he guides scientific, policy, and practices associated with community-based HIV testing, treatment, care, and support services. Together with the M&E and other relevant staff members, s/he provides technical guidance and support to the sub-awards in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of effective HIV services.

Job responsibilities

• Collaborates in implementing the overall project objectives, strategies, budget priorities, and operational plans of the project
• Lead activities that will improve engagement and retention in care for PLHIV
• Support collaboration with healthcare providers, public health entities, and relevant community-based organizations as appropriate to achieve the project goals
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Promotes teamwork and cooperation needed for the success of the project
• Represent system HIV services to external agencies, community, public health, and HIV/AIDS service agencies,
• Assure compliance with project HIV service standard and procedures other regulatory standards
• Ensure adequate availability and client access to services across the continuum of care
• Contribute to annual plan and budget preparation, which aligns with the goals and objectives of the project
• Oversee development and utilization of grants to ensure effective use of project resources
• Prepare and submit regular and timely performance reports to the COP, adhering to USG reporting requirements

Job Requirements

     Required educational qualifications and experiences

• A minimum of MPH/MSc is required, and must combined with a degree in Medicine (MD), Nursing, or Health Officer, and at least ten years of experience in HIV testing, Care and Treatment Service delivery, of which five years of proven experience in a similar /equivalent senior leadership position.
• Experience in expanding access to essential comprehensive HIV services is desirable.
• Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in comprehensive HIV services, which are necessary for strengthening service delivery, are required.
• Previous work program/project management experience, directly or indirectly, with USG-funded HIV programs is mandatory.
• Experience and good understanding of the Ethiopian health care delivery system, including networking of the facility and community health system/the Urban Health Extension Program, local NGOs, and other Civil Society Organizations providing services to PLHIV in the community, is required.
• Experience in managing a project team composed of several technical experts and fostering teamwork is required.
• Updated knowledge on approaches of the Family-Focused HIV Prevention, Care, and Treatment services in the Addis Ababa project

Personal skills

• Ability to coordinate multiple assignments
• Skills in determining priorities, problem-solving, and decision-making
• Strong interpersonal skills and positive professional attitude
• Ability to represent the project professionally at all times
• Excellent written and communication skills in the English language
• Skills in MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, and information management systems.