Project Description

Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC), a global project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), that provides strategic technical assistance and direct service delivery to achieve HIV epidemic control among all at-risk populations; strengthen global health security (GHS), including outbreak response; expand tuberculosis detection and treatment (TB), improve maternal and child health (MCH), address malaria; and promote health systems strengthening (HSS) including supply chain management.

In Haiti, EpiC will work to restart and deliver critical lifesaving activities to contain the spread of new HIV infections and sustain lifesaving support to PLHIV, including prevention services/PrEP for pregnant and breastfeeding women, the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), HIV case identification, HIV care and treatment, TB/HIV, the management of advanced HIV disease, and health information management. All activities will be closely coordinated with the National AIDS Control Program (PNLS), the National Public Health Laboratory (LNSP), and the department level health directorates.

Position Summary

The Senior Technical Officer- PMTCT and Pediatric HIV will support the effective delivery of pediatric HIV and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services across program implementation sites within the- EpiC Haiti project. S/he will be in routine contact with implementing partners and health facilities in the region, providing ongoing technical and quality assurance support for pediatric HIV and PMTCT services to enhance program outcomes and contribute to achieving HIV epidemic control. This role will drive quality improvement initiatives and facilitate seamless coordination between clinical, community and laboratory functions. The position requires close collaboration with the Clinical Advisor, Lab/Supply Chain Advisor, Community staff and other program staff within EpiC and the FHI 360 Haiti country office to ensure application of best practices and alignment with project strategies.

The position will be based in FHI 360’s office in Port-au-Prince. Preference is for Haitian national candidates.

Key Responsibilities

• Supports the design, implementation, and monitoring of clinical and lab services related to HIV treatment, continuity of treatment, viral load, and AHD activities for PLHIV, HIV prevention (including PrEP) for pregnant and breastfeeding women, PMTCT, Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), and case detection.

• Collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) health facilities, community organizations, and EpiC Community Treatment staff to ensure quality of clinical and laboratory services for PLHIV, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and HIV exposed infants, specifically enhancing pediatric and PMTCT outcomes.

• Works with health facilities, the MOH, and community organizations and EpiC Community Treatment staff to support Multi-Month Dispensing (MMD), Same-Day ART (SDART), Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD), and case detection at the facility and community level by providing technical assistance.

• Ensures high quality standard operating procedures for clinical care contextualized to the Haiti environment, with specific attention to pediatric and maternal health guidelines.

• Assists in strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the project diagnostic components such as specimen collection for viral load tests, specimen referral, specimen transport, supply chain, equipment management, expansion of point-of-care diagnostic services, and biosafety and biosecurity, especially related to HIV testing, viral load monitoring, CD4 testing, and TB/HIV diagnostics, relevant for both adult and pediatric populations.

• Contributes technical and programmatic expertise in diagnostics, quality management systems, and the laboratory standards relevant to the Haitian context.

• Assists in assuring that commodities such as ARVs, HTS test kits, TB Prophylaxis drugs, TB diagnostics, STI test kits, and STI drugs are available on a consistent basis at all clinical or community service provision facilities, with adequate stock for pediatric formulations.

• Participates in the development and facilitation of clinical and laboratory training within the EpiC Haiti project and contributes to reporting on the effectiveness of such training, with specialized modules for pediatric HIV and PMTCT.

• Supports the development and implementation of EpiC Haiti project workplans and budgets related to clinical lab & supply chain activities.

• Contributes to the preparation of timely and accurate technical reports specific to EpiC Haiti clinical and lab & supply chain activities.

• Contributes to the achievement of high-quality results in accordance with the targets identified in the work plan and Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

• Contributes to providing and reviewing weekly and monthly performance data.

• Reviews key performance indicators pertaining to pediatric HIV treatment, PMTCT, EID and monitoring of HIV exposed infants.

• Contributes to program quality according to FHI 360 standards including quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives.

• Receives technical guidance and mentorship from senior staff, including the Senior Clinical Advisor, the Senior Lab/Supply Chain Advisor and the Community HIV Treatment Advisor at the designated areas of activity implementation and other settings as appropriate for the EpiC Haiti project.

• Takes swift action to implement technical recommendations from the Senior Clinical Advisor, the Lab & Supply Chain Advisor, the PNLS, and the health department, and other relevant entities.

• Assists in developing lessons learned from activities related to clinical and laboratory services and management for HIV care and treatment within EpiC Haiti and contribute to applying these lessons to improve both existing programs and the design of new programs.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public health, medical laboratory sciences, or related field, or its International Equivalent.

• Medical Doctor with specialization in family medicine, infectious diseases, internal medicine, or pediatrics is preferred.

• 6+ years of relevant experience in technical and program management in HIV-care settings, including a minimum of 3 years’ experience in PMTCT and pediatric HIV services, including EID, pediatric ART and monitoring of HIV exposed infants. Some experience in pediatric HIV laboratory management (i.e. PCR testing for EID) is preferred.

• Knowledge of health and development programs in Haiti, including familiarity with the national health information management system and national protocols, guidelines and standards for HIV service provision, with a strong understanding of pediatric and PMTCT guidelines.

• Experience in programs serving people living with HIV, including significant experience with pediatric populations and pregnant/breastfeeding women.

• Experience in assisting with technical capacity building and supporting sub-partners, especially those working with PLHIV.

• Previous experience working with USAID or PEPFAR supported programs.

• Ability to meet tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.

• Excellent report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral presentation skills.

• Familiarity with Haiti public health sector, NGOs in Haiti is highly desirable.

• Cultural sensitivity and sound understanding of the needs of vulnerable populations.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and well-developed computer skills.

• Ability to travel within the departments of the western region (primarily Ouest, and other relevant departments as needed) and nationally and internationally if needed.

• Fluency in French and Haitian Creole required; Advanced English preferred.