Vacant Position Re-advertisement : USAID/Mali Project Management Specialist (Maternal and Child Health and Infectious Disease [PMS MCH-ID]) 

Note: Due to a mailbox system glitch, USAID/Mali is re-advertising subject position vacancy and previous applicants are encouraged to reapply by COB September 07, 2018. 

REF No.:  HR-HEALTH-003-2018-PMS (must inserted in the subject line of emails)

GRADE LEVEL: FSN PSC-11 (If an applicant does not meet all required qualifications for the position and is selected for the position, s/he may be hired at a lower grade than the position classification grade).

BASIC FUNCTION: The USAID Project Management Specialist (Maternal and Child Health and Infectious Disease [MCH-ID]) serves in the USAID/Mali Health Office and reports to the Health Services Team Leader.  The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support for design, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of program activities related to the USAID/Mali MCH-ID portfolios.  The Specialist contributes to policy decisions to advance USAID strategic objectives related to MCH-ID.  The Specialist will also provide cross-cutting support and/or backstop other technical areas within the Health Office as needed.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:    

MCH and Infectious Disease Program/Project/Activity Management – 70%

The Specialist supports the Health Office in achieving vital objectives related to maternal and child health and infectious diseases, including reducing maternal, neonatal, and child mortality; combating HIV, neglected tropical diseases, and other infectious diseases; and improving integration between MCH and infectious disease programming. The Specialist serves as COR/AOR or Activity Manager for one or more Health Office instruments. The Specialist provides technical and administrative input on the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of programs/projects/activities related to MCH and infectious disease.  Design work includes developing concept papers, scopes of work, budgets, and work schedules for solicitations, and providing support to the evaluation of applications or proposals.  Project management responsibilities include monitoring implementation progress, ensuring that activities are completed on schedule or adjusted to meet changing conditions, identifying constraints to implementation and proposing solutions, and conducting regular site visits to monitor project activities against stated objectives.  The Specialist also oversees the financial management of assigned activities, ensuring that obligations, expenditures, and budget pipelines conform to work plans.  The Specialist provides technical input on implementing partners (IP) work plans, and reviews and approves these work plans and other key deliverables.  The Specialist liaises with GoRM counterpart agencies, international donors, private-sector businesses, and others.  The Specialist works to ensure internal coordination, across other Health Office Teams and the Mission, to leverage investments and further targeted objectives.

Technical Leadership, Advisory, and Management – 30%

The Specialist keeps the Health Office updated on MCH and infectious disease-related research, developments, and emerging issues, and formulates strategies and technical recommendations to improve program implementation.  The Specialist drafts briefing papers, reports, talking points, and other documents related to MCH and infectious disease activities and issues.  The Specialist represents USAID and related MCH and infectious disease strategies in interagency, G0RM, donor, and/or other technical working groups and committees, and identifies and fosters partnerships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to advance MCH and infectious disease programming in Mali.  The Specialist provides cross-cutting support and/or backstops other technical areas within the Health Office as needed.

To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants MUST meet the minimum qualifications below and ONLY preselected candidates will be contacted:

1. Education (10 points): Master’s degree or host country equivalent in health, Public Health (MPh, or equivalent), or a related field is required.
2. Prior Work Experience (25 points): A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in the health sector is required. Experience must have provided the opportunity for project design, program planning, and/or implementation.  A significant portion of this work experience should have been in development-related work, or related fields, for USAID, other donor agencies, GoRM organizations, or private-sector institutions which included project design, performance monitoring, and/or the analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data.
3. Language Proficiency (15 points): Level IV (fluent) English and French language proficiency, in speaking and in writing, is required. The work involves original writing, preparation of complex papers documenting research and/or conceptualization processes, and other correspondence and analytical materials in English.  The Specialist must be able to fully participate in high-level meetings conducted in English, and be able to defend assigned program/project/activity recommendations in English – locally, in USAID/Washington, and in international fora.
4. Knowledge (25 points): The Specialist must have good grasp of health policy in general, and the institutional factors constraining MCH-ID program growth and advancement in Mali; demonstrated coordinative and organizational skills for application within multi-cultural work environments, ideally in an international development assistance setting; and, the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and to work effectively under pressure. The work requires application of developed conceptual, analytical, and reasoning skills, as well as the ability to analyze large amounts of disparate information, and use that information to target a variety of audiences.  Experience performing at high levels, with minimal supervision and daily direction, and a strong sense of initiative, is required.
5. Skills and Abilities (25 points): The Specialist requires a proven ability to plan, organize, manage, and evaluate MCH-ID program activities; to establish and maintain strong working relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders; and, the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, and to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and work under pressure. Verbal communication skills, including tact and diplomacy, to achieve consensus on policy, project, and administrative matters is demanded.  Written communication skills, including the ability to obtain, evaluate, and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, and to prepare reports, project documentation, and briefing papers is required.  The work requires proficiency in using various computer software applications, including Microsoft Office programs and other database or web-based applications. 

SELECTION FACTORS: 

To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications noted above. For applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, further consideration and selection will be based on panel assessment of the selection factors listed below.

Applicants are required to address each of the selection criteria on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards or recognition they have received relevant to each criteria described below, and any related considerations.

Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

Full Statement of duties and the qualification requirements are available on https://www.usaid.gov/mali/work-with-us/careers

TO APPLY: All cv/resume and cover letter must be in English; otherwise application package will be considered as incomplete and will be rejected.

Interested candidates for this position must submit the following required documents:

1. A cover letter of not more than two (2) pages describing how the incumbent’s skills and experience fit the requirements of subject position.
2. A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) relevant to the subject position.
3. Copy of Diplomas, degrees, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.
4. Three (3) to five (5) professional references with complete contact information including email addresses and telephone numbers. References should have knowledge of the candidate’s ability to perform the duties set forth in the application and must not be family members or relatives.
5. Full mailing address with telephone, facsimile numbers and email address and should retain for their records copies of all enclosures that accompany their submissions.

SUBMIT APPLICATION: Indicate the Vacancy Reference Number: HR-HEALTH-003-2018-PMS in the subject line of your email. If this is not properly indicated your submission would NOT be retrieved. 

Email Human Resources Management Section: bamakohrmvacancies@usaid.gov with the above reference in the subject line, or

Local Address for Application Submission: US Agency for International Development (USAID/Mali) -BP 34, Bamako-Mali

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION IS:  September 07, 2018 at 5:00pm