JF Kapnek

Deadline: 4 April 2021

Reporting to: Country Director

Location: Harare

JF Kapnek, a registered PVO 1/86 which has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1986 whose mission is to improve family health, reduce child mortality and create educational opportunities for the children of Zimbabwe through the implementation of scalable, sustainable programs is seeking to fill the vacancy of Technical Director.

Position summary

The Technical Director is responsible for leading the implementation of the TASQC (Target, Accelerate, Sustain Quality Care for HIV epidemic control) program, a USAID-funded program using evidence-based, data-driven and cutting-edge strategies for HIV/TB and cervical cancer prevention, care, treatment, and care in line with MOHCC and PEPFAR/USAID frameworks and guidelines. The Technical Director is responsible for managing the technical elements of the program, including collaborating with consortium leads, coordinating technical teams, work planning, budgeting, and reporting. S/he takes responsibility and accountability of program implementation fidelity, ensuring that all program activities are implemented as designed and agreed upon and urgently conducting course correction for any noted deviations from plans or anticipated outputs. Working in collaboration with the Strategic Information and Evaluation Manager, and the Finance and Operations Director, the position exists to ensure an integrated, harmonized approach to program implementation among the different program components and key stakeholders.

Main responsibilities

Provide strategic technical leadership and guidance to the program: Lead the development of sound program work plans in line with the TASQC annual implementation plan, and the national MOHCC HIV guidance and implement the work plans with a high degree of fidelity; Collaboration with the TASQC consortium leads in the conceptualization and development of sound, innovative and cutting-edge HIV, TB/HIV, TB and cervical cancer prevention, care, treatment, and support strategies/activities to achieve set program objectives, goals and targets; Lead in the implementation of all HIV, TB/HIV, TB and cervical cancer minimum package standards, clinical management systems, patient flow systems, protocols, and best practices for implementation at all levels of the healthcare systems; Contribute to the development of the program budget for all activities in the work plan and monitor the implementation of such a budget to ensure the program is implemented in a cost-efficient manner; Collaborate with the SIE team to monitor program implementation activities through participation in strategic technical program meetings, data review meetings, implementation site visits, and internal and external SIMS visits; Provide technical support to JFK programmes on the design and implementation of the program through work plan and budget reviews, periodic report reviews, compliance reports reviews, capacity gap analysis, SIMS visits, random spot checks, data review meetings and such other strategies; Implement performance standards and performance management/monitoring tools for consortium program staff and efficiently manage the program function to deliver the required outputs and outcomes; Champion the timely scale up and implementation of all best practices and evidence generated from operations research and deep dives to achieve uniform program results across all geographies; Participate in technical program meetings and build relationships with other USG partners and MOHCC implementing partners working on other key programs relating to HIV, TB/HIV, TB and cervical cancer prevention, care, treatment, and support programs; Participate in relevant MOHCC technical working groups on HIV, TB/HIV, TB and cervical cancer programs; Support the MOHCC at provincial level with development of technically sound HIV, TB/HIV, TB and cervical cancer program strategic plans, operational plans, guidelines, job aids and SOPs; Present evidence from program implementation at national, regional, and international conferences.

Manage program resources in an efficient manner to ensure achievement of targets: Oversee the use of TASQC program resources in line with JFK’s policies, the grant agreement, and in compliance with the USAID rules and regulations as applicable; Manage data driven and justified identification of essential program positions, develop job descriptions for positions and motivate for the filling of positions in a timely manner; Implement on-boarding and capacity building material for all positions within the program; Oversee the recruitment, orientation, capacity building, deployment, time and attendance management, performance management and performance appraisal of all human resources deployed within the program and ensure that such human resources meet the quality needed to achieve targets; Work with the HR department to maintain a low vacancy rate of all program positions; Conduct monthly budget variance analysis, provide justification for any observed variances and remedial actions to closely align program implementation with budgets; Produce monthly financial projections aligned with planned activities in the work plan, and drive program implementation in tandem with the set projections; Oversee the timely requests and acquittals for resources in line with financial management policies and other relevant SOPs to support program implementation; Oversee the timely and accurate submission of all administrative documents and reports used in program implementation in line with relevant SOPs.

Support and supervise performance of all program activities at all levels of the healthcare system: Train, mentor, coach and conduct competency assessment, sign-off, performance management and performance appraisal of provincial program managers and technical specialists on their delegated responsibilities; Support the provincial program managers, technical specialists, and sub-recipient key program personnel in rolling out and implementing the minimum package standards/best practice for HIV, TB/HIV TB, and cervical cancer at all levels of the healthcare system; Prevention package/best practices (HIV Screening tools, HIVST, PMTCT, TB screening, TPT, Cervical cancer screening); Treatment package/best practices (Same day ART, Hand-to-hand referrals, VIAC, LEEP camps) Retention package/best practices (DSD models, Facility/community linkages, community support platforms, client engagement platforms) Care monitoring package/best practices (VL monitoring, TB sputum conversion rates, TB treatment completion, laboratory results management) Drive the consumption and use of SIE generated information products by provincial program managers, technical specialists, and sub-recipient key program personnel to engender data driven/evidence informed HIV, TB/HIV TB, and cervical cancer program implementation at all levels of the healthcare system; Conduct regular, structured, and documented spot checks, field visits and random internal SIMS visits to verify and ascertain the fidelity of implementation of program activities and minimum care packages/best practices by program managers, technical specialists, and sub-recipient key personnel; Conduct joint site visits with TASQC Consortium partners, and MOHCC to ensure common understanding of challenges and jointly conceptualize solutions for implementation at all levels of the healthcare system.

Lead the development, documentation, and communication of technical program reports: Develop program reporting quality standards for all program activities for implementation at all levels of the healthcare system; Consolidate reports from provincial managers, technical specialists, and sub-recipient key personnel on all program implementation activities for the Country Director and senior management; Coordinate and develop all contractual technical reports and ensure that such reports represent the true picture of program implementation as verified through field visits; Guide and assist provincial managers, technical specialists, and sub-recipient key personnel on documentation and recording of program best practices for internal and external stakeholders; Provide regular program reports to national level MOHCC and support regular reporting to MOHCC at provincial and district levels; Develop program reports for dissemination to external stakeholders including peer-reviewed journal articles, abstracts, and presentation at local, regional, and international conferences to enhance program visibility and recognition.

Qualifications, skills and experience

A degree in medicine (MBChB, MBBS, MD) from a recognized university AND, A master’s degree In Public Health, Health Services Management, Business Management, Project Management, Epidemiology, Biostatistics or related; Minimum of 10 years progressively responsible, professional level experience in managing public health programs with emphasis on HIV/AIDS and clinical skills; Experience working at provincial level MOHCC (PMD or similar level) or national level MOHCC within AIDS and TB or closely related units, with a deep understanding of the Zimbabwe healthcare system; Experience working on PEPFAR-funded activities, with strong understanding of PEPFAR guidance and reporting requirements, including MER and custom indicators; Understanding of, and sensitivity to, the major issues affecting HIV/AIDS in all geographic regions of Zimbabwe, with in-depth knowledge of the implementation of HIV/AIDS programs in Zimbabwe; Experience managing a large workforce and implementing a performance management system.

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