CANCELLED: Sol No. 72061524R10043 - USAID Project Management Specialist (Nutrition & Child Health)

Overview

GENERAL INFORMATION
USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANT’S BANK ACCOUNTS.
1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72061524R10043
2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 24, 2024
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 09, 2024 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).
4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa Human Resources, e-mail at nairobiusaid.hr@usaid.gov
5. POSITION TITLE: USAID Project Management Specialist (Nutrition & Child Health)
6. MARKET VALUE: Ksh. 7,821,724.00 to Ksh. 13,296,947.00 KSH per year, equivalent to FSN-12 grade level in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Kenya and East Africa. The salary range provided is inclusive of all allowances and annual bonus. All applicable taxes will be deducted from the stated gross market rate. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years estimated to start o/a November 10, 2024. The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature that will be executed by USAID through a series of sequential contracts, subject to the availability of funds, the continued need for services and successful performance.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya; with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Cooperating Country National (CCN) (an individual who is a cooperating country citizen or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country). Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.
10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

USAID/Kenya and East Africa invests in population and health programs at national and county levels that aim to improve the survival, well-being and productivity of the Kenyan population by reducing the burden of major infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, and addressing the main causes of maternal and child illness and deaths. This includes cross-cutting work to strengthen healthcare systems and build capacity, and to support the national government to formulate key policies and guidelines while assisting counties to better plan, manage and finance quality health services to meet local needs. The Health Population and Nutrition (HPN) office is USAID/Kenya and East Africa’s (KEA) largest office, managing a portfolio valued at over $400 million annually. The office receives funding from a number of U.S. Presidential Initiatives, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), Feed the Future (FtF) as well as other USAID health funds for family planning, maternal newborn and child health, nutrition, emerging pandemic threats, and water, sanitation and hygiene.

The position will serve as USAID’s lead for the HPN Nutrition and Child Health Team responsible for providing strategic planning, leadership, management, and technical expertise to ensure the well-coordinated and effective program implementation of the USG Nutrition and Child Health portfolio in USAID/KEA and the HPN Office. This will require establishing effective collaboration with other HPN Teams including the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) interagency team, the President’s Malaria Initiative and other technical teams in analytics, policy, partnerships and systems as well as various support offices within USAID/KEA. The Jobholder is the senior public health advisor who will provide highest level strategic and leadership services in the areas comprising nutrition and child health programs. The Jobholder is recognized by the USG and the GOK as an expert in the field of nutrition and child health and serves as a key advisor to mission management, the PEPFAR KEA Interagency, the GOK, and to implementing partners (IPs).

This position is an essential leadership position within HPN. Serving as a senior strategic and technical advisor, the Jobholder will lead the planning, design, management, and implementation oversight of USAID/KEA’s nutrition, pediatric and child health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) investments as they relate to health activities related to the PEPFAR program. The incumbent coordinates closely with and provides guidance to the Government of Kenya nutrition, child health and WASH program to ensure U.S. government investments in the these health sectors are in line with the GOK strategic framework and are effectively and transparently implemented. The incumbent is a key player in the U.S. Mission’s interagency health efforts. This position requires highly specialized technical skills, expert subject matter knowledge, political and diplomatic tact, complex problem-solving skills and significant experience related to the respective field of nutrition, pediatric and child health. The Jobholder has a mastery of global health issues, as well as the entire USAID/USG health portfolio. As the Project Management Specialist (Nutrition & Child Health); the Specialist will also oversee USAID partner agreements, grants and contracts, supervise other USAID Team staff, and oversee USAID programming, financial, and other resources.

The position is supervised by the Family Health Center of Excellence Director, who will provide general guidance related to policy and program objectives. The Nutrition and Child Health Jobholder works closely with technical and management staff throughout the HPN Office. In this role the Specialist may be called upon to provide briefings to other Technical Mission Offices and Mission leadership. As a senior nutrition and child health advisor, the incumbent represents USAID at official national government events, national and international fora, donor forums and technical working groups to advise on policies, strategies, and technical issues, as well as coordination among implementing partners and other USG agencies as it relates to the nutrition/child health/WASH programs. S/he will ensure that planning and responses by USAID/KEA are carried out in accordance with Agency and State Department directions.

Responsibilities

Statement of Duties to be Performed.

Strategic and Technical Leadership -- 50%

• The incumbent serves as a high-level public health advisor to USAID/KEA's HPN Office and Mission leadership on overall nutrition, child health, and WASH issues. This includes providing vision, strategic direction, and leadership and taking prime responsibility for identifying new potential in the design and implementation of all projects/activities in the portfolio ensuring they meet the goals’ and objectives of the Mission’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and the USAID, Health Population and Nutrition integrated program, whilst responding to Government of Kenya priorities and strategies.
• This portfolio includes technical areas such as newborn care, infant and young children’s health, nutrition and its integration with food security, water, sanitation and hygiene in collaboration with the water sector. This role forms an integral part of Family Health’s mandate to contribute to the reduction of infant and child morbidity and mortality in Kenya.
• The Jobholder carries out a full range of consultative, advisory, strategic, coordinating, planning and evaluation responsibilities related to the assigned portfolio. Contributes to the development of USAID policy and programs in KEA in the area of nutrition, infant and child health and WASH. The Specialist is ultimately responsible for overseeing development and management of all Nutrition and Child Health Team acquisition and assistance mechanisms.
• The incumbent keeps abreast of current and new health systems issues affecting the portfolio emerging from USAID/Washington and provides recommendations on options for shaping USAID/KEA’s nutrition/child health/WASH programs in support of USAID Global Health Strategic Priorities. The incumbent represents USAID at the highest government and donor levels.
• The Jobholder will advance multisectoral programming within the Mission through design, implementation and coordination of integrated child health and wash activities that coordinate closely with other health systems investments, PEPFAR and PMI to jointly achieve optimal health outcomes. Additionally In nutrition activities and WASH activities this efforts will maximize synergies with other Technical Offices in the Mission including Office of Economic Growth and Integration (OEGI) Feed the Future Presidential initiative, the WASH Program, Food for Peace (FFP), the Education Office and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), and other relevant sectors that impact on WASH nutrition especially for vulnerable populations in various counties across Kenya.
• Articulates USAID nutrition, infant and child health, and WASH strengthening vision and strategic priorities to GOK and other development partners including donor agencies and private sector providers, leads in the alignment and harmonization with national and global best practices for the achievement of sustainable strategies to facilitate medium to long-term impact of activities, providing technical direction and capacity strengthening, monitoring progress toward key milestones and recommending program course corrections as needed for interventions at national and county levels.
• Develops and sustains high level relationships with senior GOK, respective development partners and private sector leaders to advocate, introduce and expand policies and programming that promote nutrition and child health through evidence based interventions, promote the development of sustainable improvements, and to incorporate new technologies into the national and USG integrated nutrition/child health/WASH program.
• Provides strategic technical assistance to build systems and capacity of Kenyan entities to ensure effective and efficient delivery of critical nutrition/child health/WASH initiatives and interventions at national and county level.
• The Jobholder keeps abreast of current and new nutrition factors related to children, multisectoral determinants of food security, illnesses amongst infants and children linked to water, sanitation and hygiene, newborn and general, economic, political, and social trends in the GOK and region. The Specialist analyzes those trends in relation to their impact on USAID newborn, infant and young child programs, nutrition programs and WASH programs interprets and advises the Office and Mission on implications and implementation options to maximize programmatic opportunities (as strategic and cost-effective) within KEA's integrated programming environment.
• The incumbent directly supervises the Nutrition and Child Health Team technical staff.

Representation and Coordination -- 25%

• The Jobholder represents USAID in coordinating nutrition/child health/WASH efforts with Government of Kenya officials, implementing partners, other development partners, and private sector organizations and providers.
• As the Nutrition and Child Health Jobholder, represents USAID/Kenya and the broader USG health community at national and international meetings and technical working groups, including leading internal and external meetings on issues related to USAID/USG health programs/projects/activities, with emphasis on all elements related to nutrition, child health, and WASH in the various coordination structures across different sectors
• The Jobholder represents USAID KEA at relevant technical and steering committees and working groups constituted by the GOK or by development partners and other national coordination mechanism, different GOK and development partner sectoral development partners
• The Jobholder uses diplomatic skills and technical acumen to provide senior policy, strategic, and technical advice, guidance, and to influence the Ministry of Health in their strategic decisions and policy formulation to strengthen nutrition and child health programs and initiatives, including transparency and accountability, and encourage KEA to take concrete steps in their overall journey to self-reliance.
• The Specialist maintains an extensive range of senior and mid-level GOK official contacts, such as County Governors and County Health Leaders, Chief Administrative Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Heads of Departments and senior representatives from other development partners and NGOs, and Senior USAID and USG staff; and, serving as the lead USG technical representative to different interagency committees and IPs, to support strategic coordination of relevant health investments among USG health teams, the GOK, IPs, and other partners in the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water, , the private sector and civil society.
• Through these partnerships the Jobholder supports USAID KEA’s efforts to influence other development partners and the private sector to leverage resources to complement GOK’s efforts aimed at strengthening Universal Health Care as it relates to child health, nutrition and WASH.
• The Jobholder liaises and works closely Regional institutions such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought for the Horn of Africa (IGAD) to strengthen the implementation of collaborative learning and adapting activities throughout Eastern Africa for scale up of national and regional best practices in nutrition, child health, and WASH.
• The Jobholder will take an active role in developing specific Agency program goals and objectives for nutrition/child health/WASH initiatives. This includes collaboration on initiatives proposed in country operational plans, annual work plans, and regular progress reports related to the delivery of services and system improvements. Prepares directives, memoranda, policy statements and proposals to introduce new initiatives and to recommend effective operations consistent with strategic objectives of PEPFAR, MOP, OP and the Agency’s health program in Kenya and throughout the East Africa region.

Program Management, Evaluation and Reporting -- 25%

• The Jobholder supervises the management of field support activities and programming related to nutrition, child health, and WASH, including planning, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation. Takes the lead in designing new activities, takes the prime responsibility for identifying new potential USAID-supported activities for nutrition/child health/WASH initiatives, designing services in conjunction with partners, obtaining approval by all concerned parties, and coordinating targeted efforts.
• Seeks opportunities to implement strategies that enhance efficiency, innovation, and research to ensure the sustainability of the nutrition/child health/WASH programs in KEA and reduce USAID costs by improving efficiencies.
• The Jobholder champions nutrition/child health/WASH program requirements, performance standards objectives, and related funding to other USG agencies to ensure required nutrition/child health/WASH budgets are included in the COP, MOP and OP.
• Reviews select HPN implementing partner work plans to ensure procurement forecasting and planning is appropriate. Oversees the implementation of nutrition/child health/WASH activities and provides technical leadership and direction to ensure that all implementing partners are well coordinated and that scale-up of activities are successfully implemented in targeted counties and health zones.
• Supports development of indicator and performance monitoring plans for nutrition/child health/WASH partners and portfolio related activities. Monitors progress according to these plans. Ensures nutrition/child health/WASH partners and portfolio activities are carried out in accordance with USAID directives and in collaboration with other HPN programs.
• Along with other HPN and Mission Leaders, actively supports management and program integration opportunities in strategic and cost-effective ways, with a focus on strengthening activities across all sectors. As needed, may assume project management activities roles such as being a Contracting or Agreement Officer Representative (COR/AOR) or Activity Manager for cooperative agreements, grants, and contracts.
• The Jobholder supports the development and technical reviews of the nutrition/child health/WASH program sections in the annual Operational Plan, Portfolio Review, Planned Program Report (PPR), relevant sections of the CDCS, HPN program monitoring and other relevant USAID Program reviews. As a member of the PEPFAR interagency team the TL contributes to the MCH ITT planning and monitoring activities and collaborates with the PMI team for program planning and review.
• The Jobholder will ensure that all program documentation meets both USG requirements and audit inspection standards. Working with the Family Health the TL helps to ensure that documentation of USAID activities in the Operational Plan (OP) and PPR is prepared with input from other USG Team members; and is submitted to relevant Mission Offices for clearance before onward transmission to USAID Washington.
• The Jobholder performs budget formulation duties as part of the Family Health team and in broader coordination with HPN contributing as required to preparing detailed analyses and estimates of annual USAID funding needs for one or more future budget years for the HPN integrated program. Monitors program obligations, commitments, expenditures, and results against targets in the USAID Operational Plan and the HPN Integrated program for nutrition/child health/WASH -related programs. Ensures that the budget system is used effectively as an evaluating tool in measuring program performance and effectiveness.

The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the United States, or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Additional education

Education: A Master’s Degree in Public Health with focus on child health, nursing, nutrition, health policy, or management is required.

Language Proficiency: Fluent (level 4) English and Kiswahili written, and oral capability is required.

Experience

Additional experience

Prior Work Experience: A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in leading, implementing, and evaluating child health, nutrition, and/or WASH programs in international/resource poor settings. This includes experience with USG, PEPFAR, or PEPFAR implementing partners, with progressively increasing responsibility for activity management and design. Must have technical experience managing nutrition and child health activities (e.g. health promotion, WASH, child development and/or health); including designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluation activities. Experience in managing mid- and high-level coordination and relationships with public sector entities, bilateral and multilateral donors, and NGOs. At least three years of direct supervisory and/or managerial experience is required.

Skills

• Team Player
• Diplomacy
• analytical skills
• time management
• Leadership skills
• Collaborative Skills

Additional skills

Supervision Received

The Project Management Specialist (Nutrition & Child Health) will work under the general supervision of the USAID/KEA Family Health COE Director. The incumbent works independently, takes initiative, and manages a very large results package for strengthening the Kenyan nutrition/child health/WASH programs. Most assignments are self-generated, and occur in the normal course of the work, but the incumbent determines those that must be coordinated with the supervisor. The supervisor provides an overall general direction and results to be achieved. Completed work is accepted as technically correct, and the overall assignment is reviewed in terms of results achieved.

Supervision Exercised

The position supervises up to (3) professional staff members, providing supervision, leadership, mentorship, and guidance.

Physical Demands

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Terms and conditions

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS
The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks, including references from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before or after a candidate is interviewed.

Job Knowledge (60 Points)

Advanced specialist knowledge and experience in public health and development programming, especially related to child health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene is required. Thorough public health knowledge of current nutrition/child health/WASH issues and development policies is required. Comprehensive knowledge of how USG interfaces with the larger global program of HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases and malaria and how it affects incumbent’s area of nutrition, child health and survival, and WASH. Must have thorough knowledge of nutrition/child health/WASH program design, implementation and evaluation. Comprehensive knowledge of the Kenyan government nutrition/child health/WASH policies, planning systems and structures including familiarity with Ministry policies, program priorities and regulations is required. The incumbent must have professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to the devolution of the health sector and the increasing roles and responsibilities of the Counties within this new formulation. The incumbent must have a good knowledge, or the potential to quickly acquire such knowledge, of USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to development assistance, of programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities is required. The incumbent must have knowledge and understanding of the organization and respective roles of the different levels of the GOK, and the role of units within each level, in order to enhance effective communication, and to develop consensus on program/project strategy and implementation plans. Serves as the Mission’s subject matter expert providing technical advice on nutrition/child health/WASH operations in order to maximize the process efficiency and productivity in USAID/KEA programs.

Skills and abilities (40 Points)

The incumbent works at a senior level in a high-priority USG foreign assistance program that requires detailed technical knowledge, experience, maturity, and an ability to function independently under a complex, highly demanding, frequently changing environment. Demonstrated diplomatic and leadership skills with strong oral communication abilities at senior management levels is required. Ability to analyze, understand and discuss new technical developments and approaches at regional level, as well as program design, management and implementation approaches is required. This includes the development of evaluation designs, use of new nutrition/child health/WASH regimens and protocols (including protocol/guideline development), use of reliable and valid instruments and methods for data collection, analysis and reports. Ability to lead project teams and workgroups and to develop effective working relationships with national and international working partners is required. The incumbent will be expected to exercise a high level of independence, ingenuity, and tact in applying guidelines to unique and different settings, as the work is highly complex. The ability to influence and persuade others will be required to work collaboratively with organizations engaged in nutrition/child health/WASH program activities. Strong skills in project programming, policies, and plans, and in developing strategies for implementation, are required. Ability to provide complex explanations, facilitate meetings and make oral presentations to senior officials and partners in a multi-cultural context, and exercise ingenuity and tact in a highly complex setting is required. The candidate must be capable of working independently, prioritizing and managing several activities simultaneously. The ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment, and to achieve consensus on policy, program/project, and administrative matters, is necessary. The work requires good computer skills in order to manage assigned activities and to achieve set goals and achievements, both technical and financial.

Total possible points: 100

SUBMITTING AN OFFER
Step 1: Register in MyJobsInKenya at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 2: Complete the job application at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 3: Internal Offerors/Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages), a copy of your most recent Performance Evaluation Report, and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload them to MyJobsInKenya.
OR
External Offerors/Not Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages) and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload them to MyJobsInKenya.

Note to Applicants:
1.Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted through myjobsinkenya.com.
2.Submissions will only be accepted through www.myjobsinkenya.com. Late and incomplete applications (those that do not contain the applicant’s most current and up to date detailed CV and relevant education certificates) will not be considered for the position.
3.All Applicants must provide at least three professional references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such
information in its evaluation of the application.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD
The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit any required forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award.

BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES
Benefits and allowances are offered in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP).

TAXES
CCNPSCs are required to pay PAYE and statutory deductions. All applicable taxes will be deducted from the stated gross market rate.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs
USAID regulations and policies governing CCN PSC awards are available at these sources:
1.USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar
2.Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award.
LINE ITEMS
ITEM NO (A) - 0001
SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION) (B) - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)
- Award Type: Cost
- Product Service Code: [ R497]
- Accounting Info: [insert one or more citation(s) from Phoenix/GLAAS]
QUANTITY (C) - 1
UNIT (D) - LOT
UNIT PRICE (E) - $ TBD
AMOUNT (F) - $_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_

3. Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.
4. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/resources_standards-of-conduct.
5. PSC Ombudsman: The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information:
https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman.
The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov.
6. FAR Provisions Incorporated by Reference
52.204-27 - PROHIBITION ON A BYTEDANCE COVERED APPLICATION - JUN 2023