SUMMARY:
A Programme Manager - Community (APACE) vacancy is available at our Client, Wits Health Consortium's Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (RHI) in Lejweleputswa (Welkom) - Free State.

POSITION INFO:

Background

The Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI) is a renowned African-led research institute that seeks solutions to Africa’s health challenges.

It is located within the University of the Witwatersrand and addresses some of the greatest public health concerns affecting our region, including HIV and its related problems, sexual and reproductive health and vaccinology. This is done through pioneering, multi-disciplinary research; responsive technical support and innovation in health services; and evidence-based policy development and advocacy with national, regional and global stakeholders.

Main purpose of the job

• To lead the development and implementation of the APACE community strategy to support the achievement of 90-90-90 targets in Lejweleputswa, Free State, and to ensure the strategic value, relevance, sustainability, and evaluation of community activities

Location

• Wits RHI – Lejweleputswa (Free State) - Welkom

Key performance areas

Community strategy development and oversight

• Lead the development of a strategy for the community component of the APACE project within national, international and donor guidelines
• Communicate and promote the WRHI APACE strategy to all relevant stakeholders
• Align project goals with donor strategic objectives and guidance
• Ensure the effective implementation of the community strategy for the APACE Project, with regular review and adaptation based on project goals and performance
• In consultation with relevant staff, review performance outputs, develop reports on challenges and achievements and assist in the development of action plans to ensure successful implementation of relevant agreed activities
• Together with the M&E team, develop a monitoring and evaluation plan for community activities and regularly track progress towards targets
• Work together with management, Strategy teams and staff to create policies and procedures to ensure a standardized approach to community-based work
• Collaborate with IT, M&E, Training and APACE Teams to facilitate design and development of appropriate database tools and reports
• Establish, review and ensure the implementation of SOPs for the effective implementation of the program
• Provide quality assurance of activities undertaken by subordinates
• Provide technical advice to the team about community HTS modalities implementation in line with the program targets 
• Monitor and improve interactions and synergy between the community team, other APACE implementation teams, and other RHI teams in the district
• Participate in strategic meetings with the specialist team and other WRHI stakeholders
• Monitor performance of team members with respect to strategic goals
• Conduct site visits and review project assessments to evaluate progress on implementation plans
• Provide feedback to internal and external stakeholders on district performance
• Participate in proposal writing, as required

Training and Skills transfer

• Serve as a champion, coach and expert in community approaches to ensure that APACE Programmes effectively use community resources to achieve outcomes
• Provide technical support to community-focused staff at facility and district level (Tshwane and Lejweleputswa)
• Identify training needed around community approaches and engagement with internal staff and external partners
• Capacity building: Co-ordinate with training team to prioritize, anticipate and assess training needs of internal staff and external partners
• Provide feedback to internal and external stakeholders in the implementation of the Community Strategy

Compliance, Human Resource and Budget Oversight

• Provide support to the COP to ensure adequate resources for program implementation are available
• Ensure the ordering and procurement of community HTS resources to ensure that provision of HTS is rendered in accordance with the QA principles
• Ensure registration and participation in proficiency testing and Internal Independent control measures
• Ensure that community team adherence to waste management measures for community HTS generated waste disposal
• Work with finance and relevant project staff to develop and track allocated project budgets and expenditures
• Provide input as requested into USAID financial compliance reports, including but not limited to annual Expenditure Analysis reports which require technical programmatic insight

Stakeholder management (internal and external)

• Act as the first point of contact internally and externally for all aspects of the APACE community programme
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with key external partners to coordinate projects, in particular, NGOs, CBOs/ NPOs, FBOs, WBOTs DOH and other PEPFAR District Support Partners
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with key internal partners to coordinate projects
• Liaise with WITS RHI internal departments/ units in the coordination of services for the outputs/ key deliverables for the program (AFYS, Decanting teams, PHC teams)
• Provide feedback to internal and external stakeholders on the implementation of the Community Strategy
• Participate as relevant in regular planning sessions with a specialist team, Wits RHI community and DOH stakeholders in all Health Calendar Activities
• Communicate effectively with all levels of WRHI staff around programmatic inputs and outputs
• Communicate with stakeholders and collaborators, including donors and sponsors

Staff management

• Attend to all staffing requirements and administration
• Supervise and manage the duties of subordinates to ensure optimal staff utilization and maintenance of sound labour relations
• Set and review work plans
• Perform and facilitate performance development and assessments
• Identify substandard performance by team members and take necessary corrective action
• Coach and train subordinates and team members to ensure the acquisition of knowledge and skills required by the organization
• Promote harmony, teamwork and sharing of information

Effective self-management and performance ownership

• Take ownership and accountability for tasks and demonstrates effective self-management
• Follow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of own work are consistently and accurately maintained
• Maintain a positive attitude and respond openly to feedback
• Take ownership for driving your own career development by participating in ongoing training and development activities such as conferences, workshops, etc.

Required minimum education and training

• Grade 12
• Nursing degree or diploma or equivalent in health sciences or related field
• Valid drivers license

Professional body registration

• Depends on whether clinically active

Desirable additional education, work experience and personal abilities

• Experience working in a donor-funded organization, or project-based environment
• Knowledge of national, provincial and district health structures, clinical systems, HIV/TB programmes, community structures and services
• Knowledge of Government Department Services such as SASSA, DSD supported CBO’s, etc.
• Knowledge of HIV TB Programmes and the indicators thereof
• Demonstrated competence in data management, analysis and use
• Knowledge of evaluation designs in HIV programs, and quality improvement (QI)
• Demonstrated strong writing skills
• Self-motivated and able to work independently and as part of a dynamic team
• Understanding of child, adolescent, and family development
• Understanding of mental health and psychosocial programming especially at the community level
• Experience in training and materials development
• Experience working with counselors, community health workers, home-based carers, etc.
• Exceptional organizational and administrative skills
• Ordered and systematic in approach to tasks
• Attention to detail  
• Able to prioritize own workload and work
• Pro-active, able to exercise discretion and independent decision-making
• Demonstrated capacity for and commitment to performance management

Required minimum work experience

• Minimum 5 years experience in public health and HIV/TB community programmes

Demands of the job

• National travel will and overtime may be required from time to time
• Must be contactable after working hours

Communications and relationships

• Maintain effective working relationships with Senior Management and WRHI staff at all levels
• Communicate effectively with all external stakeholders such as donors, Department of Health (DoH), media, medical and academic institutions, community and other partner organizations

TO APPLY

• Only if you do meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV - Please Apply Online
• Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position.
• The closing date for all applications is 30 March 2021.
• Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates.
• Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful.
• In accordance with our Employment Equity goals and plan, preference will be given to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto.

Please note that AJ PERSONNEL is only responsible for the advertising of the advertisement on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium.

AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position. 

NB! This job is now closed. You can apply for other jobs by uploading your CV.