Technical Advisor, Capacity Strengthening

Job Summary:

The Technical Advisor, Capacity Strengthening will provide technical oversight to capacity strengthening and sustainability efforts across a range of assigned countries under the Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) Project and other programs within the FHI 360 portfolio of HIV programming. EpiC is a eight-year global project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). EpiC is dedicated to achieving and maintaining HIV epidemic control and the project provides strategic technical assistance (TA) and direct service delivery (DSD) to break through barriers to 95-95-95 and promote self-reliant management of national HIV programs by improving HIV case-finding, prevention, and treatment programming. EpiC is led by FHI 360 with core partners Population Services International (PSI), Palladium Group and Right to Care.

The Technical Advisor (TA) will support capacity strengthening and sustainability (CSS) activities across a range of countries and situations including: organizational development support to CSOs to address co-created organizational goals; supporting organizations to receive direct USAID funding; providing capacity strengthening support at a sub-partner to USAID directly funded organizations; assisting organizations to optimize programming as a directly funded USAID or other donor funded partner; and examining ways to diversify and sustain organizational activities. 

The TA will support country teams to develop and execute on capacity strengthening objectives in workplans, share technical expertise and guidance related to capacity strengthening activities, manage consultants or staff focused on capacity strengthening work, ensure technical excellence in interventions delivered, and track capacity strengthening achievements to support reporting and thought leadership. The TA will also play a critical role in knowledge management and thought leadership including identifying opportunities for knowledge sharing on capacity strengthening interventions, draft and support staff to implement guidance related to capacity strengthening, and contribute substantially to deliverables and knowledge products. The TA will also be engaged in new business development efforts across the HIV Department.

This role is currently budgeted at 80% time (32 hours per week), and may increase to 100% depending on funding availability in the new fiscal year. Full benefits offered at 80% Level of Effort with this position.

Accountabilities:

Technical Requirements:

• Coordinates closely with the technical teams in country to ensure capacity strengthening is in line with program objectives and goals, workplan deliverables, recognized best practices for adult learning, and country needs.
• Develops partnerships with a range of civil society partners and liaise and coordinate with key stakeholders related to the assigned projects’ capacity strengthening portfolio including senior leadership with partner organizations, Government officials and donors.
• Mentor country teams in tracking, analysis, and synthesis of capacity strengthening results to advance learning both within the program and externally
• Be accountable for the development of toolkits, two pagers, success stories and other promotional materials, edit / review donor reports and provide other support for projects / countries assigned.
• Networks with key internal personnel.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Project Design Implementation:

• With technical oversight, provides input into the technical portion of the project plan, budgeting, program reporting, and other deliverables related to capacity development activities, within the given resource and financial constraints
• Leads the day to day technical and operational activities of assigned projects
• Track delivery of project outputs
• Coordinates requests from CO (Country Office) for technical assistance
• Maintains a constructive dialogue and technical exchange with field counterparts and technical staff members of implementing partners
• Develops tools for the design and implementation of specific CSS components of programs
• Ensures technical implementation is consistent with best practices in the industry / subject and meet client / funder contractual obligations
• Manages the capacity strengthening team within the program (consultants and staff), including management, administration and reporting and monitoring and evaluation.
• Functions at the advisor capacity with oversight of technical project administrative and finance compliance, technical deliverables, and team management. (Includes projects and consultants)
• Serves as an internal technical resource on relevant issues and facilitates connections between staff members and divisions as and where needed.

Business Development and Client/Funder Support:

• Leads and contributes to proposal development including drafting relevant technical sections, participating in business development meetings with partners/clients, and contributing to proposal budgets.
• Participate in client / funder meetings and provide technical input, draft reports and presentations for relevant audiences and represents the organization to external entities at professional meetings and conferences.
• Represents FHI 360 in professional and public settings and makes presentations at professional meetings and conferences.
• Maintains collaborative relationships with donor/client organizations, relevant government agencies, bilateral and other NGOs (non governmental organizations) and consistently maintained and viewed as a knowledgeable resource in their technical area.
• Continually maintains a dialogue and technical exchange with field counterparts and technical staff members of implementing partners.
• Participate in client / funder meetings and draft reports/presentations.

Operations Management (Finance, HR, etc.):

• Manages the processes, services, planning, organizing, and coordinating, of technical resources related to CSS activities for a project.

Project/Program Reporting:

• Coordinate preparation, review/approvals process, and submission of materials on behalf of country offices for presentation at academic conferences and/or publication in peer-reviewed journals related to capacity strengthening work;
• Support the tracking of technical assistance and refinement of capacity strengthening activities across the work portfolio.
• Supports documentation and collation of lessons learned, best practices, and success stories and identifies opportunities for shared learning across and between country offices, partners, and stakeholders
• Reviews and strengthens regular programmatic reporting on capacity strengthening activities
• Serves as the primary author for technical deliverables (e.g., reports, presentations, manuscripts).
• Gathers and aggregates data to provide a summary / high level overview.

Quality Assurance:

• Ensures technical deliverables related to capacity strengthening from assigned countries are of high quality and meet client / funder obligations
• Identifies areas for improved efficiency or effectiveness within prescribed parameters, and institutes enhancements to procedures.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong knowledge and skills on local partner capacity strengthening interventions, monitoring of capacity strengthening interventions, and adult learning methodologies, specifically related supporting local organizations to receive direct USAID and/or PEPFAR funding.
• Ensures appropriate and timely technical support for field projects.
• Ensures the quality of implemented technical activities and systems at all levels. Conducts routine coordination with employees and consultants, on-site and in the field.
• Solid knowledge of standards for capacity strengthening, US Government and PEPFAR rules and regulations, operational processes and procedures, work, and task flow.
• Has the ability to manage projects, effectively work with remote staff working globally, set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
• Proficient writing and verbal communication skills.
• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office).
• Ability to manage their own work to job and performance standards.
• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Demonstrates the ability to assess needs within agreed upon duties and considers course of action best to meet those needs.
• Effectively applies knowledge of technical area to solve a range of problems. Demonstrates the ability to develop solutions to problems that cannot be solved using existing methods or approaches.

Supervision Given/Received:

• May supervise junior staff members.
• Coordinates own workflow and sets individual priorities.
• Works under general guidelines for completion and accuracy as determined by the supervisor.
• Serves as mentor to more inexperienced technical staff.

Education:

• Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in Knowledge/Information Services, Communications, Education, Environment, Health, Behavioral, Life/Social Sciences International Development, Human Development or Related Field.
• Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.

Experience:

• Typically requires 8+ years of relevant experience in technical implementation of large projects and/or programs – may manage activities of lower-level staff.
• Documented experience providing technical assistance and business development in the specific technical domain.
• Experience designing, adapting and implementing organizational assessment tools.
• Knowledge of business development processes, specifically proposal development, within an international NGO context.
• Previous USAID Program Management experience preferred
• Strong familiarity with US Government rules and regulations, and demonstrated experience with PEPFAR funding
• Previous experience living and or working with local organizations in Asia is preferred
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization.
• International or Domestic (US) Program Development or Program management preferred.
• Fluency in another language, such as French, Spanish, Filipino, Thai, Nepali, etc preferred

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at a computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements:

• 10% - 25%

The expected US Based hiring salary range for this role is listed below. Candidate FHI 360 pay ranges represent national averages that vary by geographic location. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, business sector, and budget. 

Base salary is only one component of our offer. FHI 360 contributes 12% of monthly base pay to a money purchase pension plan account. Additionally, all US based staff working full-time, which is calculated at 40 hours/week, receive 18 days of paid vacation per year, 12 sick days per year, and 11 holidays per year. Paid time off is reduced pro rata for employees working less than a full-time schedule.

US Based Hiring Salary Range: $115,000 - $135,000

International hiring ranges will differ based on location.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

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