ThaiNGO

“This is a re-advertisement of announcement from January 13, 2017 (FSN#2017/9). Candidate who has applied in the first round does not need to submit an application."

POSITION GRADE: FSN-11

SALARY: FSN-11 ฿1,262,783 per annum (Starting salary) 

APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.   

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok is seeking an individual for the position of the Development Assistance Specialist (Global Health Security and Development Advisor) to Office of Public Health (OPH) in the U.S. Agency for International Development/Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA), located at Athenee Tower, Wireless Road, Bangkok.  

JOB SUMMARY:  

The Development Assistance Specialist (Global Health Security and Development Advisor) supports a team of three advisors to USAID directly leading various facets of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and Emerging Pandemic Threat (EPT) programming in the Asia Pacific region.  As a technical expert in the area of zoonotic disease, the incumbent provides regional leadership in the assessment and analysis of new and emerging zoonotic disease and issues related to pandemic threats, and the implementation of national animal and human disease control programs with a particular focus on zoonotic Influenza and other diseases of animal origin that threaten public health, food security, and social and economic stability. The incumbent provides the full range of highly-technical consultative, advisory, management, monitoring, data collection, analysis, and evaluative functions for USAID/RDMA and other USAID/Missions across Asia. The position also plays a leadership role in coordinating and collaborating with other U.S. Government (USG) agencies in the region related to high-level GHSD strategy and program implementation. In line with regional technical service provision and program management, the incumbent is expected to travel extensively throughout the region (approximately 30% of the time) as required.  

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Technical Leadership (35%)   

1. Provide high-level guidance and technical direction to Missions across the Asia Pacific on both USAID specific project designs and evaluations, USG interagency strategies and initiatives, and national strategic plans on matters related to GHSA and EPT;
2. Lead analysis on the latest research on relevant health interventions, and participate in the design of new health interventions for immediate implementation;
3. Maintain technical currency in a dynamic, fast paced,  complex arena where emerging infectious disease issues of critical national security concern that affect multiple sectors—such as approaches to Zika, Ebola and MERS coronavirus—may require immediate guidance;
4. Contribute to international strategic plans and initiatives led by Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and United Nation (UN) organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO)  and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on behalf of USAID;
5. Provide technical guidance to state health officials, relevant ministries and departments, donors, civil society organizations, and other partners from the public and private sectors on matters related to zoonotic disease, emerging infectious disease, and GHSA;
6. Support national governments in the region on various initiatives under GHSA and development of GHSA roadmaps and work plans;
7. Keep USAID Missions and USG inter-agency partners across Asia abreast of new health-related research and significant events in the region;
8. Participate in high level technical and program reviews, technical advisory groups and discussions with the government and private sector players in the health arena, thereby exerting influence not only on USG investment but also on significant government and private sector resources;
9. Determine the need for, and develop, regional guidance related to complex scientific epidemiology which guide area offices, cooperative agencies, and private agencies involved within the assigned area of specialization; monitor the animal health and human disease outbreaks within the region and disease prevalence to predict changes which may affect program success or country/regional health status;
10. Provide significant contribution to the development of overall Mission conceptual frameworks and strategic plans.  The incumbent also prepares concept papers and other relevant documents, and initiates, describes, and justifies project ideas and initiatives in accordance with the overall health sector strategy to the Mission. 

 B. Program Design and Implementation (30%)

1.  Perform as Activity Manager for EPT programming in the Asia Region, co-managing a USG investment of approximately US $18 million annually across a highly complex portfolio which includes three cooperative agreements and two PIO grants operating in nine countries;
2. Lead the design of innovative activities in the region to be pilot tested and then scaled up to regional initiatives benefiting more than one country;
3. Develop technically informed, well grounded, Statements of Work (SOW) as they relate to project activities;
4. Manage field support activities, including substantive review of technical and programmatic inputs and approval of proposed work-plans, and provide recommendations for improvement as necessary;
5. Provide technical assistance in program design, implementation and evaluation of all EPT activities within USAID presence and non-presence countries;
6. Lead monitoring and evaluation of program activities, including leading other USAID staff through the process;
7. Lead review of quarterly reports, provide briefings on EPT activities to Mission management and GH senior leadership;
8. Lead review of financial reports from partners and provide substantial input into budgeting decisions;
9. Coordinate technical reviews of implementing partner activities and facilitate inputs from other team-members, within RDMA and from other USAID Missions;
10. Work closely with RDMA’s technical and support offices to engage in new partnerships, foster public/private partnerships, and develop cross-sector solutions to regional development challenges. 

C.  Embassy/Host Country Relationship Management/Liaising (20%)

1. Establish and maintain strong working relationships with U.S. Embassy and USG inter-agency officials within the infectious disease portfolio;
2. Cultivate a network of other bilateral, multilateral (UN FAO, WHO, OIE) and development partner (international and indigenous NGOs, FBOs) contacts and relationships in support of the portfolio and USG goals in the subject area;
3. Establish and maintain strong working relationships with host-country technical and policy-level officials across the region;
4. Establish and maintain important contacts with senior level business and community leaders fostering open lines of communication and rich programmatic exchange;
5. Negotiate agreements and obtain approvals for USAID work in Thailand and throughout the region;
6. Represent OPH at scientific meetings and conferences during negotiations with government counterparts on matters related to GHSA;
7. Provide expert advice to OPH on working technically and diplomatically with the MOPH and with other stakeholders in Thailand and across Asia for carrying out infectious disease activities;
8. Influence government, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and private sector actors to help shape policies related to infectious disease outbreak prevention and response at the national level to enhance sustainable health impact;
9. Support government stakeholders in order to produce evidence to guide policy change; engage various stakeholders in order to respond to such changes and support the development of a sustainable approach to policy change implementation.

 D. Analysis/Assessment/Research (15%)

1. Lead monitoring and evaluation efforts for the GHSD portfolio, and contribute to data collection and analysis for RDMA’s Regional Development Cooperation Strategy (RDCS) and OPH’s Project Appraisal Document (PAD) through tracking the collection of performance data; devising more efficient methods for collecting information; verifying that the data are accurate; and determining that the information gathered is in accordance with the indicators;
2. Contribute to GH/GHSD’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) EPT program global framework, and alignment to GHSA action packages and deliverables; 
3. Recommend training, new strategies, and policies to increase the overall effectiveness of GHSA activities, analyze animal and human health data from the region to detect disease trends, identify new and emerging animal health issues, conduct risk assessments, and evaluate the effectiveness of current zoonotic infectious disease programs;
4. Represent USAID and the USG as a respected technical expert at national and regional conferences and workshops related to GHSA, EPT, and other pandemic disease crosscutting issues.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED AND SELECTION CRITERIA: 

All applications must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item in DS-174 block no. 19-22. If the application submitted fails to demonstrate eligibility, the application will be marked unqualified. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide all pertinent information. 

(1) Education:  A Master’s degree or equivalent in Public Health, Veterinary Medicine, Epidemiology, Public policy, or relevant studies in Science and Social Sciences is required. 

(2)  Experience (35 Points) :  A minimum of five years of professional-level experience in the field of public health development with experience in implementation of infectious disease interventions and at least three (3) or more years of this experience with a Government Agency, other international/local or donor organization is required. Project and/or organizational management experience required. 

(3)  Language: Level IV, Fluent in English and Thai is required. 

(4) Knowledge (35 Points):  A comprehensive knowledge of the concepts, principles, techniques and practices related to GHSA and the strategies most effective for implementing pandemic disease prevention and response programs is required.  An advanced level of knowledge and understanding of infectious disease systems, particularly related to animal-to-human disease transmission, applicable laws, and agency regulations and instructions, and the appropriate government and non‑government entities across the Asia Pacific region is critical to the successful performance of the duties assigned to this position and therefore, required.  Demonstrated technical expertise related to emerging pandemic threats, emerging infectious diseases and the international/national/local infectious disease outbreak response is required. Proven experience working with other donors, governments, international organizations, and the private sector is required.

(5)  Skills and Abilities (30 Points): 

• High level of analytical skills required.  Work requires continual attention to detail with the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Excellent project management, development assistance programing, policies and strategies formulation and organization skills required.
• Strong people skills and ability to interact, communicate, establish and maintain effective work relationship with stakeholder at all levels (internal and external) required.
• Must be capable of effectively presenting technical information to top management, clients, public groups and/or senior government officers, particularly non-health audience, in both oral and written format.
• Must be able to stay abreast of the latest information and maintain technical currency in GHSA and EPT arenas and keep others informed.
• Must be able to work effectively on a team, and ability to facilitate decision process and to achieve consensus.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and the use of Microsoft Office applications required.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision to accomplish key objectives.  Additional work hours beyond 40-hours per week may be required.
• Physical fitness and ability to obtain a fit to travel clearance and able to travel frequently within/outside the region to support USAID projects is required.

 SELECTION PROCESS 

Applications will be initially screened and scored for eligibility in accordance with the required qualifications and points mentioned above. To be considered for candidacy, applicants must address each criterion in their application as to how they meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Top-ranked candidates who meet the minimum qualification will be given a recruitment test. The recruitment test and interview will be structured around the selection criteria above. Applicants with passing marks from recruitment test and with a valid TOEIC score of 855 or above will be invited for an interview. Recruitment test and interview will be conducted in USAID/RDMA Bangkok, Thailand. USAID/RDMA will screen for nepotism/conflict of interest in determining successful candidacy. Reference checks will be conducted once the applicant pool is narrowed down to the top candidate(s). Only shortlisted candidates for final interview will be notified of the selection result. Internal candidates must have successfully completed a one year probationary period of employment before being eligible to apply.

TO APPLY:  

Please follow the check lists and submission guidelines, posted on the official website: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/job_opportunities.html carefully and submit complete application package thru bkkrecruitment@state.gov before the deadline.

Failure to follow the instructions will invalidate your application. 

CLOSING DATE FOR THE POSITION: April 6, 2017