SOLICITATION NO.: 391-09-23
ISSUANCE DATE: MAY 23, 2009
CLOSING DATE: 5.00 PM ISLAMABAD TIME ON JUNE 13, 2009
OPEN TO: U.S. CITIZENS, U.S. RESIDENTS, AND THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (TCN)
SUBJECT:USAID/ PAKISTAN -- SOLICITATION FOR US/TCN PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR –PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISOR, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
Ladies/Gentlemen:
The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified individuals interested in providing personal services as described in the attached solicitation.
Submissions shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified and must include signed SF-171 or OF-612 which is available at the USAID website or at Federal Offices. A written statement that responds to the requirements of the position (Education/ Experience required for the position) and applicant’s CVs may also be included as an attachment. Incomplete, unsigned applications, and late submissions will not be considered.
Any questions regarding this solicitation may be directed to Leila Alikadic, Human Resources Manager, Pakistan phone: 92-51-208-2841 or Rizwana Khan, Human Resources Specialist, Pakistan phone: 92-51- 208-2793, fax: 92-51-287-0310, E-mail: .
The selected applicant must be able to obtain security and medical clearances. The US Citizens should get USG Secret Level of clearance and Third Country Nationals should be able to obtain employment authorization. For medical clearances, the US Citizens should obtain Department of State Class I Medical Clearance; Third Country Nationals should obtain a Post Medical Clearance issued by the U.S. Embassy Pakistan Health Unit.
Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications.
USAID IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: In selecting personnel there will be no discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, politics, marital status, physical handicap, age or membership or non-membership in an employee organization.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Stewart
Supervisory Executive Officer
USAID Pakistan
8100 Islamabad Place
Dulles, VA 20189-8100
U.S. Agency for International DevelopmentEmbassy of United States of America,
Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad / Tel: [+92] 51 208 0000
Fax: [+92] 51 287 0310
ATTACHMENT TO SOLICITATION NUMBER: 391-09-23
SOLICITATION NUMBER: 391-09-23
ISSUING DATE: May 23, 2009
CLOSING DATE: June 13, 2009 (5pm local time)
POSITION TITLE:Public Health Advisor, Health Office, Islamabad, Pakistan
MARKET VALUE:$83,445 – $108,483 (GS-14). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon the candidate’s past salary, work history and educational background
ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION POSITION: Islamabad, Pakistan
DIRECT SUPERVISOR:Office Chief, Health Office,
Islamabad, Pakistan
SUPERVISORY CONTROL:Minimum. Incumbent is expected to act independently with little direction.
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:The US/TCN PSC Contract will be for one year, with possibility of annual extension.
SECURITY ACCESS:U.S. Citizens: Secret Level
Employment Authorization for US Residents and
Third Country Nationals
AREA OF CONSIDERATION:US Citizens, US Residents, and Third Country
Nationals
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISOR, OFFICE OF HEALTH
A. OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND:
The United States Agency for International Development Mission to Pakistan (USAID/Pakistan) requires an experienced Public Health Advisor in the Office of Health with senior-level management expertise and practical knowledge in program/project management, monitoring and evaluation and technical, analytical, and organizational management skills. The Public Health Advisor will provide technical leadership and guidance within USAID in program planning, management and monitoring, and analysis and reporting of health activities to benefit the Pakistani population. To be fully successful, the Incumbent will work closely with relevant officials, many at a senior level in USAID, the Embassy, the donor community, Pakistani federal and provincial governments, Pakistani NGOs, US NGOs, other USAID partners and international organizations. The Incumbent will also coordinate with USAID/Pakistan’s Offices of Democracy and Governance, Earthquake Reconstruction, Economic Growth, and Education. The successful applicant will serve for a period of two years, with the option to extend for a third year, or longer, subject to availability of funds and continuing need for the position. The Mission’s work environment is fast-paced, and offers an exceptional opportunity to apply and hone the wide range of skills required to be an effective development professional
Pakistan, an underdeveloped country, has suffered from decades of internal political turmoil and low levels of foreign investment. In recent years, IMF-approved government policies, bolstered by generous foreign assistance and renewed access to global markets, had generated a macroeconomic recovery. However, investment and economic growth at micro- and macro-economic levels has slowed again due to political and social instability, and threat of extremism and violence. The GOP investment in the social sectors has decreased from a base low level.
Since 1951, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided over $7 billion to support Pakistani development efforts. This assistance has strengthened the political, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations. After suspending development aid in 1993, USAID reopened its mission in Pakistan in 2002 to demonstrate its commitment to the country, to tangibly improve the lives of the poor in Pakistan, and to build support for Pakistan's decision to join the international war on terrorism. Pakistan's stability is critical to US foreign policy interests. At least a third of the population lives below the poverty line, making programs to increase their incomes a priority. USAID/Pakistan has focused its program directly on the pressing needs of economic growth, education, health, and governance.
Ensuring the stability and development of Pakistan is a top priority for the US Government. The USAID/Pakistan Mission is expanding, with annual funding for FY 2009 exceed $400 million for activities in education, democracy and governance, health, economic development, and earthquake reconstruction, and the FATA. .Future funding levels are expected to be higher.
Pakistan is facing major challenges meeting the health needs of its people. Current public investment in the health sector is less than 0.6% of the government’s budget, and out of pocket expenses for health care are very high.
Sixty-five percent of women deliver their babies at home, and only eight percent of home deliveries are attended by a skilled provider. This contributes to high levels of maternal and newborn deaths. Pakistan’s data show that healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies would dramatically reduce maternal and perinatal deaths, but one-third of families who have reached their desired family size or wish to space births are not using a family planning method. Pakistan ranks eighth in the world in its burden of tuberculosis (TB), and has a concentrated HIV epidemic that is growing. Pakistan is also one of just four countries where polio is still endemic. In addition, Pakistan suffered a devastating earthquake in October 2005 with over 73,000 deaths and nearly 70,000 people injured.
USAID’s health strategy is designed to provide assistance to Pakistani public and private institutions to help them improve public health programming, health care delivery, and ultimately the health status of the population. The major activities of the USAID/Pakistan Health Strategy are (1) Integrated Primary Health Care; (2) Infectious Disease Control and Prevention; (3) Health Systems Strengthening; (4) Construction and Rehabilitation of Health Infrastructure.
The Public Health Advisor will play a key role in developing and managing the USAID/Pakistan Health Office portfolio. S/he must have senior-level project management, technical, analytical and organizational management skills. The Incumbent will be responsible for managing assigned health activities addressing maternal, newborn, and child health, nutrition, and family planning in facility and community settings. S/he will supervise other staff on the Health Team. The Incumbent will also be responsible to liaise with government officials, donors and international organizations, ensure that USAID is collecting appropriate data and tracking relevant indicators for health activities that fall under his/her responsibility, communicate information onUSAID health efforts through reports, press releases, briefers, web stories and other channels.
The Incumbent is required to possess a high degree of competence, maturity, and well-rounded experience in international health programming, analysis, leadership, and management.
This scope of work provides a description of expected duties for the Public Health Advisor for USAID/Pakistan position The Incumbent will be based in the USAID/Pakistan Mission in Islamabad, Pakistan with travel to different parts of the country and internationally (as approved) working under the supervision of the Health Office Chief or his/her designee.
B. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The major activities of the USAID/Pakistan Health Strategy are (1) Integrated Primary Health Care; (2) Infectious Disease Control and Prevention; (3) Health Systems Strengthening; (4) Construction and Rehabilitation of Health Infrastructure. This position’s primary responsibilities relate to the Integrated Primary Health Care component of the Strategy. Specifically, the Public Health Advisor will provide expertise and support to the Health Office in the following ways:
1. The Incumbent will serve as leader of the Integrated Primary Health Care cluster within the Health Office, including supervision and coaching of up to five Pakistani, Third-Country National (TCN), and/or U.S. staff. The Incumbent will lead the cluster in the day-to-day management and direction of primary care activities, advocate within and outside the USG for primary health care issues, and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of related technical topics to advise and inform the Mission. The Incumbent’s specific activities may include: assessing knowledge and skills of local staff with respect to USAID vision, mission, business practices and requirements, and technical areas; identifying staff training needs and opportunities, and coaching staff to attain high levels of competence and confidence in the USAID context; distributing workload appropriately among Cluster staff; and evaluating quality and timeliness of work products. These activities will comprise approximately 30 percent of the Incumbent’s portfolio.
2. The Incumbent will manage and monitor the Health Program’s largest activity, the “Integrated Primary Health Care (IPHC)” project. The Incumbent will facilitate the achievement of the Health Office’s overall objectives in Health by ensuring that planned development results are achieved in a highly efficient, timely manner consistent with USAID regulations and policies. The Incumbent will provide technical leadership and guidance in managing the IPHC activity. The Incumbent will ensure that performance monitoring systems with reliable measures/indicators of impact are functioning and will enhance the achievement of results by regularly reviewing activity implementation and financial status to identify any problem areas. These activities will comprise approximately 50 percent of the Incumbent’s portfolio.
3. The Incumbent is responsible for regular analysis and reporting on the health situation in Pakistan as it relates to assigned activities, related donor activities, and GOP policy and personnel changes. Since the situation in Pakistan has high-level USG interest, reporting must be fully accurate, well-written and inclusive of all relevant factors. Specific activities may include: monitoring and analyzing developments in health status and health services within Pakistan to provide recommendations to the Health Office Chief on future strategic directions within the Health portfolio; providing substantive support and input for the drafting of relevant health documents and reports; and writing briefers, press releases, speeches, success stories and other key documents. These activities will comprise approximately 15 percent of the Incumbent’s portfolio.
4. Other job related duties as assigned including provision of mutual coverage for other project management staff while on leave or in training.
C. OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS:
1. Reporting Responsibilities
The Incumbent will receive supervision, policy direction and guidance from the Health Office Chief, or his/her designee, located in USAID/Pakistan.
2. Supervisory Controls
The Incumbent receives supervision, policy direction, and guidance from the Health Office Chief. The exercise of initiative and sound independent judgment and will be necessary when dealing with operational matters and supervision of staff. The Incumbent will consult the Health Office Chief or his/her representative before acting on issues involving significant political, programmatic, financial, personnel, or interagency implications. The Incumbent is expected to develop annual work objectives in consultation with the Health Office Chief.
The expected results for the overall Pakistan Health Area Objective are established collaboratively in a team forum with the incumbent participating in discussions. Deadlines, specific results and action plans are developed in consultation with the Health Team. The Incumbent carries out the work independently, providing leadership to partners and customers in the development, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of program activities. The work is reviewed from a macro standpoint in terms of achievement of established milestones, effectiveness in facilitating teamwork and appropriateness of program activity focus.
The Incumbent monitors the work of implementing partner(s) in three ways: (1) through direct interactions with the Chief of Party and technical counterparts; (2) via the work of the IPHC Cluster staff under his or her supervision; (3) through a contracted “Implementation Monitoring Program” activity specifically set up to support USAID in monitoring the IPHC activity on the ground.
3. Physical Demands
Work in the office is mostly sedentary but the job also requires attendance at events and meetings within Islamabad, and limited travel to health activity implementation sites and events outside of Islamabad.
4. Organizational Location of Position
The position is located in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, at the USAID Mission which is co-located with the Embassy. USAID/Islamabad is a bilateral mission, and the incumbent will support programs only in Pakistan. The Incumbent will have the opportunity to travel to health activity implementation sites around the country as allowed by security restrictions. At the time this Public Health Advisor position is filled, the USAID Health Office staffing pattern is projected to be: the Health Office Chief, Deputy Chief, a Health Officer and General Development Officer (four US Foreign Service Officers); up to five US/TCN personal services contractors (including this position); and, four Program Management Specialists plus one Program Assistant, all Foreign Service nationals.
D. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA:
This is a mid-level management position in USAID/Pakistan. The successful candidate will be sufficiently experienced to understand the needs of USAID/Pakistan and the Health Office, and to act as a professional in mentoring Pakistani and/or other junior staff.
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be further evaluated based on the following evaluation factors. Applicants are required to provide a cover letter addressing how they meet the requirements of each of the criteria below and must submit three written references with complete contact information. The most qualified candidates will be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample (interviews may be conducted by phone). Reference checks will be conducted on candidates as part of final selection. USAID/Pakistan will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.
Selection will be based on the following criteria (Maximum Points Available: 100).
1.Academic Qualifications (20 points):A Master’s or equivalent university degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, Social Sciences, Public Administration, or other relevant discipline is required.
2.Technical Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (30 points): The Incumbent is required to possess a high degree of competence, maturity, and well-developed leadership and management skills, as well as knowledge of primary health care (including family planning) issues and experience in health programming in developing countries, preferably in South Asia. Excellent analytical and management skills are required to strategize develop and implement effective program activities involving financial and human resources. Excellent administrative and organization skills are needed to oversee the performance of grantees and contractors. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, tact and diplomacy are required to establish and maintain working relationships and a high level of trust with various USG, GOP, donor, private sector, and NGO officials important to USAID/Pakistan’s work in health. The Incumbent must be able to clearly communicate both to technical audiences and groups as well as to non-technical ones and must have the skills to adapt written and verbal communications accordingly. The ability to work effectively in a team environment and proactively work to achieve consensus on policy, project and administrative matters is essential. Good computer skills (Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) are required to manage the program and financial components of activities. Knowledge of the workings of private voluntary and international organizations is desirable. Experience in Pakistan is also desirable.
3.Work Experience (40 points): The successful candidate will have at least 7 years of experience in supporting similar international health efforts, related programming, and management. A significant amount of this experience (at least 5 years) should have been gained from working in developing countries, particularly in the South Asia region or with other predominantly Muslim countries. The experience should include coordinating with bilateral and multilateral donors and in managing or implementing large health programs.
4.Communication Skills (10 points): Strong English language technical and persuasive writing skills are required and the Applicant will be requested to submit a sample of his/her work illustrating each style. Demonstrated ability to process information from a wide variety of sources into cohesive, polished documents is required. Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts to different audiences and across different demographic groups is required. The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal skills enabling her/him to establish and maintain strong contacts with counterparts both inside and outside of USAID, and to work collaboratively with USAID customers. Proven ability to exercise tact, cultural sensitivity and diplomacy is necessary for this position. The ability to maintain strict confidentiality and high ethical standards relating to all areas of acquisition and assistance matters is required. Strong interpersonal, teamwork and cross-cultural skills are required to consistently perform in a complex institutional and multi-cultural environment. Successful candidates will need to be flexible in order to excel in high-pressure, multi-tasking situations and with limited lead-time.