JOB PURPOSE
The Strategic Information (SI) Advisor will provide technical advice/guidance to the National HIV Programme in support of HIV/AIDS SI strategies to strengthen prevention as well as treatment and care programs. The SI Advisor is responsible for ensuring efforts are made to link strategic information strategies to national programming for care and treatment and to prevention components
KEY OUTPUTS
As the SI Advisor, the job holder supports implementation of the national program’s strategic information portfolio throughout the Regional Health Authorities and among Civil Society Stakeholders. The incumbent will support the HIV/STI/TB Unit by providing technical assistance in the use of strategic information strategies to strengthen the areas of surveillance, linkage and retention to clinical care and treatment, and counselling and testing. Job holder provides ongoing support for capacity building within the MOH and other partners to improve existing data collection and analysis, interpretation and integration of data describing the HIV epidemic into the national response. The incumbent provides advice on appropriate strategic information technical approaches and collaborates on the design and implementation of strategies based on the latest theories and research findings in the areas of strategic information for key populations.
The SI Advisor will collaborate with RHAs and Civil Society SRs to coordinate special studies and data gathering among key groups and monitor trends and risk behaviors among key populations. Assists in the design and development of implementation plans for studies to identify biomedical and behavioral aspects contributing to HIV transmission, and related public health issues and problems among key populations. Coordinates activities that include biomedical and behavioral surveillance and related systems. Monitors the progress and participates in the evaluation of the national HIV public health program’s effectiveness in integrating strategic information systems’ data by measuring and assessing the extent of program uptake and changes in health care seeking and risk behaviors.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
This position requires high-level technical knowledge in epidemiology; monitoring and evaluation theory and application; data management, analysis, and presentation of routine health program data; and HIV/AIDS. This position also requires superior organizational skills, the ability to communicate effectively, and the ability to function independently. This position requires working with a number of persons of varying levels and types of experience and training, and quickly understanding local context and systems to gain trust as an effective technical voice on SI issues. The incumbent is expected to have a strong background in epidemiology and M&E, along with training and capacity building skills.
KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS:
- Provide technical leadership on collection, use, and dissemination of strategic information across national stakeholders, and program grantees.
- Provide expert support to the technical components of the HIV response as related to implementation science, data use and decision making and evaluation of strategic information.
- Design, implement and provide technical oversight to the implementation science related to state of the art interventions for HIV prevention in Jamaica.
- Ensuring that sound, relevant strategic information is available for the HIV Programme to make critical data decisions, effectively support grantees, and provide to relevant stakeholders.
- Develop strategic information assessment tools to determine the greatest needs and opportunities for increasing the scope and effectiveness of prevention and care and treatment activities.
- Develop a framework for data quality assessment at the national and sub-national level
- Provide routine data to program staff to make informed and timely use of data for program decisions.
- Provide in-person, routine mentoring and technical support to the implementation of national and subnational data review meetings.
- Manage the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and oversee work done with grantees.
- Represent the project in relevant technical working groups.
- Participate in strategic planning with partners and stakeholders
- Provide guidance on opportunities, challenges, and synergies with other activities to routinize analysis, review, interpretation, and use for quality improvement,
- Communicate regularly with the multi-agency team on process and technical aspects of the SI activities.
- Provide technical assistance and capacity building at the national and sub-national level with a focus on sound methods of data presentation, interpretation and use at the sub-national and national level for improved program planning and service delivery in HIV clinical services.
- Lead SI Training Capacity Needs Assessment, including facilitate data collection by meeting with stakeholders, lead qualitative and quantitative data analysis for the assessment and related skills audit, suggest actionable recommendations for improvement that would help fill gaps identified by assessment.
- Assist with the implementation of recommendations from above assessment
- Lead data dissemination capacity building including support for scientific products
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
Perform any other related duties, as assigned by the Senior Medical Officer of the HST Unit.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- Key deliverables are produced within agreed time frames to required standards
- Confidentiality of information obtained on the job is preserved
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
- Strong communication, writing and organizational skills for monitoring and effective reporting
- Ability to work independently, take initiative and manage a variety of activities concurrently
- A strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a high profile, fast-paced environment.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, international development, or related discipline.
- At least 5 years’ relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation. (HIV/AIDS experience is an asset)
- Strong knowledge of methods for program monitoring, program evaluation, and operations research.
- Demonstrated experience designing, implementing and/or testing HIV/AIDS services, and using evidence for learning and adapting programming (asset)
- Demonstrated experience in building capacity of government and non-government/civil society actors. (asset)
- Experience with evaluation and research design, translating research findings into effective programs, data collection and analyses, indicator construction, GIS, curriculum development and computer software i.e. MS Office and database programs.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB
- Exposure to highly confidential and sensitive information
- Will be required to work beyond normal working hours in order to meet deadlines.
- Will be required to travel and must have access to a motor vehicle
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Interested persons should submit their application along with resume no later than
July 16, 2021 via email to jobapplications.moh@gmail.com
Applications must be addressed to:
Senior Director
Human Resource Management & Administration
Ministry of Health
10a Chelsea Avenue, Kingston 5
We thank all candidates for responding, however only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.