Public Health Specialist, Provincial Liaison Lead

The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria is seeking an individual for the position of Public Health Specialist, Provincial Liaison Lead in the PEPFAR Office.

Basic Function of Position:

In support of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) the incumbent represents the U.S. Government (USG) agencies directly supervising the nine PEPFAR Provincial Liaisons (PPL) (Consulate-based and non-Consulate-based) in each of the provinces.  The incumbent represents United States Government agencies to the South African government (SAG) and PEPFAR implementing grantees on programmatic and operational issues and prepares reports, briefing materials, and talking points for the PEPFAR Coordinator and the US Ambassador related to PEPFAR programs.  The incumbent is responsible for maintaining good relationships between the South African Government, the United States Government, and grantees.

Qualifications Required:

NOTE:  ALL APPLICANTS MUST ADDRESS EACH SELECTION CRITERION DETAILED BELOW WITH SPECIFIC AND COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION SUPPORTING EACH ITEM.  Items 1- 5 are ALL REQUIRED

1.     Education:  Honor’s degree in public health, public policy, public administration, epidemiology, demography, social or behavioural science, or related discipline is required.

2.     Experience:

-       A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible work experience in public administration, public health, or public policy setting, including a minimum of three years experience in program management and/or coordination is required. 

-       A minimum of one year of supervisory/project management work, to include supervision of employees or contractors is required.

3.     Language:  English level IV (fluent) reading/writing/speaking is required.

4.     Knowledge:

-       A broad knowledge of the SAG operational environment, including a detailed knowledge of the structure and operations of the South African Department of Health, Department of Social Development, Department of Basic Education, Premier’s Office, and Provincial AIDS Councils and the environment for health care delivery at the national, provincial, and district level in South Africa is required.  

-       A detailed knowledge of the policies, procedures, and regulations of SAG and the local jurisdiction related to health care delivery and public health issues commonly encountered in the implementation of PEPFAR-supported activities within the assigned jurisdiction is required.

-       A comprehensive knowledge of the principles, methods, and strategies for implementing, managing, and evaluating public health programs and public policy implications affecting management of these programs is required.

5.     Skills and Abilities:

-       An ability to independently analyze political, social, economic, and policy issues and formulate, present, and successfully defend complex activity design and implementation actions and documents in clear, effective, and professional manner is required.

-       Must possess skill in conducting detailed analyses of complex functions and grantee performance.

-       Must have the interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with all levels of internal and external management to insight interagency participation and cooperation.

-       Must have a high level of writing skills, administrative and management skills, policy and diplomacy skills

-       Must be proficient in the use of Microsoft Suite 2007. (This will be tested.)

Qualification Required for the Full Performance Level.  In addition to the qualifications required for the Trainee level, applicants must have:

• A good working knowledge of the programmatic elements of PEPFAR.
• A good working knowledge of the structure and functions of all USG agencies implementing PEPFAR in country, primarily USAID and CDC, and the management structures of PEPFAR including Technical Working Groups and the Oversight Committee.
• In-depth specialist knowledge of USG/HIV public health program, methods, processes and techniques used to plan, develop, implement and evaluate results of HIV/AIDS program.

Selection Process:

When qualified, US Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFM) and individuals with U.S. Veterans preference will be given preference.  Qualified USEFM applicants who also have U.S. Veterans preference will receive the highest preference.

Additional Selection Criteria:

1. Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, section need for continuity and residency status in determining successful candidacy.
2. Employees currently on probationary status are not eligible to apply.
3. Currently employed USEFMs who hold a Family Member Appointment (FMA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment.
4. Currently employed Not-Ordinarily Residents (NORs) hired under a Personal Services Agreement (PSA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment unless currently hired into a position with a When Actually Employed (WAE) work schedule.

To Apply:

Interested applicants for this position must submit the following at the time of application or the application will not be considered:

1. Applicants who claim EFM or MOH status must include in the cover letter accompanying their application that they are claiming EFM/MOH status, their present nationality, and name and employing section/agency of their sponsoring family member.
2. Application for U.S. Federal Employment (DS-174); or
3. A current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information as a DS-174; plus
4. Candidates who claim U.S. Veteran’s preference must provide a copy of their DD-214.
5. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.

For more details on the Application and Selection process, please go to:

Please note that this link will take you to the p-net site.

http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/job_opportunities.html

Register and Apply via:  http://americanembassy.pnet.co.za

Internal applicants, EFMs, and MOHs should submit their resume including cover letter via e-mail ONLY to HRRecruitment@state.govand include in the Subject line:  Public Health Specialist, Provincial Liaison Lead position, VA 12-77.

Point Of Contact:

Helen Pruett

Telephone: (012) 431-4133

DEFINITIONS(Please read the following definitions)

1.  Eligible Family Member (EFM):  An individual related to a U.S. Government employee in one of the following ways:

• Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610);
• Child, who is unmarried and under 21 years of age or, regardless of age, is incapable of self-support.  The term shall include, in addition to natural offspring, stepchildren and adopted children and those under legal guardianship of the employee or the spouse when such children are expected to be under such legal guardianship until they reach 21 years of age and when dependent upon and normally residing with the guardian;
• Parent (including stepparents and legally adoptive parents) of the employee or of the spouse, when such parent is at least 51 percent dependent on the employee for support;
• Sister or brother (including stepsisters and stepbrothers, or adoptive sisters or brothers) of the employee, or of the spouse, when such sibling is at least 51 percent dependent on the employee for support, unmarried, and under 21 years of age, or regardless of age, incapable of self-support.

2.  U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM):  For purposes of receiving a preference in hiring for a qualified position, anEFM who meets the following criteria:

• U.S. Citizen; and
• EFM (see above) at least 18 years old; and
• Listed on the travel orders of a direct-hire Foreign, Civil, or uniformed service member assigned to or stationed abroad with a USG agency that is under COM authority; and either:
• Resides at the sponsoring employee's or uniformed service member's post of assignment abroad, or
• Resides at an Involuntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (ISMA) location authorized under 3 FAM 3232.2.

 

3.  Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM): EFM (see above) eligible for a Family Member Appointment for purposes of Mission employment: 

• Is a U.S. citizen; and
• Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610) or a child of the sponsoring employee who is unmarried and at least 18 years old; and
• Is listed on the travel orders or approved Form OF-126, Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report, of a sponsoring employee, i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad at a U.S. mission, and who is under chief of mission authority; and
• Is residing at the sponsoring employee's post of assignment abroad; and
• Does not receive a Foreign Service or Civil Service annuity.

4.  Member of Household (MOH):  An individual who accompanies a  direct-hire Foreign, Civil, or uniformed service member permanently assigned or stationed at a U.S. Foreign Service post or establishment abroad, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan.  An MOH is:

-      Not an EFM; and

-      Not on the travel orders of the sponsoring employee; and

-      Has been officially declared by the sponsoring USG employee to the COM as part of his/her household.

A MOH is under COM authority and may include a parent, unmarried partner, other relative or adult child who falls outside the Department’s current legal and statutory definition of family member.  A MOH does not have to be a U.S. Citizen.

 

5. Not Ordinarily Resident (NOR)– An individual who:

-      Is not a citizen of the host country; and

-      Does not ordinarily reside (OR, see below) in the host country; and

-      Is not subject to host country employment and tax laws; and

-      Has a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN). 

NOR employees are compensated under a GS or FS salary schedule, not under the LCP.

 

6. Ordinarily Resident (OR)– A Foreign National or U.S. citizen who:

-      Is locally resident; and

-      Has legal, permanent resident status within the host country; and

-      Is subject to host country employment and tax laws. 

EFMs without U.S. Social Security Numbers are also OR.  All OR employees, including U.S. citizens, are compensated in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP).

 

The U.S. Missionin South Africa provides opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status or sexual orientation.  The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing enhancement programs.

 

The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation.  Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.

 

Cleared:           HRO: C.Hamblin

                        FMO:

                        PEPFAR: J.Maloney

Approved:        A/MGT: C.Jackson