For USEFM - FP5 $53,065 Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.

Security Clearance Required:

Public Trust - Background Investigation

Appointment Type

Permanent

Appointment Type Details:

Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period.

Marketing Statement:

We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

Summary:

The work schedule for this position is:

40 hours per week

Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (4 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Duties

The Public Health Specialist for Laboratory Support works under the leadership of the Laboratory Branch Chief as a laboratory activity manager and key technical advisor to the official in charge of laboratory activities. The Specialist’s responsibilities include day-to-day program and administrative management, and coordination and collaboration with other President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) agencies to ensure project implementation addresses program strategic objectives and internationally recognized laboratory standards and best practices. Serves as a technical expert on enhancing laboratory systems and implementation of laboratory quality standards to address quality of laboratory services for HIV program. Provide technical support for planning and implementation of national and regional quality assurance and training programs with focus on quality of HIV rapid testing, viral load testing and TB related testing.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements:

EXPERIENCE:

At least five years of experience working in a clinical laboratory setting (HIV/AIDS related care, national reference laboratory or research-oriented facility) in laboratory management, quality management systems, equipping, procurement, set up, and functioning required.

JOB KNOWLEDGE:

Knowledge of current HIV/AIDS issues, including laboratory requirements, experience in advanced laboratory techniques and quality management systems is required. An in-depth knowledge of the range of laboratory policies, regulations, precedents, and activities applicable to development and administration of national laboratory program is required. Good working knowledge of team management techniques to plan, organize and direct multi-disciplinary project teams and activities and overall administrative requirements, budgeting and fiscal management in support of contracts/cooperative agreements/ grants is required. Working knowledge of overall administrative requirements, budgeting and fiscal management in support of contracts/cooperative agreements/grants/purchase requisitions is required. Must be intimately knowledgeable of the health system and laboratory networks of Zimbabwe

Education Requirements:

Honors Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences is required. Completion of hands on experience in Medical laboratory sciences of at least 6 months is required. Registration with a professional body is required.

Evaluations:

LANGUAGE: Level IV English is required (fluency in speaking, reading, writing)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Strong oral and written communications skills are required to develop and maintain effective, sustainable working relationships with national and international working partners. Ability to analyze, understand and discuss new activity design, management and implementation approaches is required. This includes the development of evaluation designs, use of reliable and valid instruments, and methods for data collection, analysis and reports. The Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable ingenuity and tact in applying guidelines to unique and different settings, as the work is highly complex and can be threatening to stakeholders. Considerable innovation will be required to influence other collaborative organizations engaged in laboratory support programs to adopt appropriate strategies for their program activities. Intermediate user level of word processing, spreadsheets and databases is required. Strong skills in interpretation of activity monitoring and evaluation data are required.

This may be tested

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO): The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Qualifications:

All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits:

Agency Benefits:

Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Harare may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.

For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.

The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

Other Information:

HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS: Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below. Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:

AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*

AEFM / USEFM

FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

* IMPORTANT: Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), equivalent documentation, or certification. A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.

** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.

For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.

To apply for this position applicants must electronically submit the documents listed above to be considered for employment. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible and qualified.

Required Documents:

Please provide the required documentation listed below with your application:

Copy of Bachelor's degree

Copy of registration certificate

Copy of National ID

Copy of Ordinary level certificate with a minimum of 5 passes including English **PLEASE ATTACH O LEVEL CERTIFICATE NOT A LEVEL**

In addition to the above US Citizen EFMs only should also attach the documents below:

Copy of Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)

DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)

Most Recent SF-50 (if applicable)

Please make sure you enter all your work experience and education through the ERA Application. Attached Curriculum Vitae /Resume (s) will not be considered.

Next Steps:

Applicants who are invited to take a language or skills test, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email.