Location: Tegucigalpa, Honduras (or alternate location in Central America)
Reports to: Regional Program Director/Coordinator (RPD/C)
Please Note: This position is contingent upon award and CDC approval with an anticipated start date of June 2025.
Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community. We work with government, non-government, private sector and community stakeholders to promote transparency, foster accountability and access the channels they need to make their voices heard, promote change and realize their full potential.
Global Communities is seeking a Regional Care and Treatment Lead (RCTL) for the anticipated CDC PEPFAR HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Program in Central America. This five-year, $85M program will enhance the capacity of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama to address gaps in HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment and accelerate progress towards achieving the 10-10-10 prevention objectives and 95-95-95 care targets. The program is expected to provide technical assistance to ministries of health (MoH) and other relevant stakeholders to prevent new infections; increase knowledge of HIV status and early diagnosis; improve treatment outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and enhance skills of healthcare workers involved in HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.
The RCTL will lead and oversee the design and implementation of care and treatment activities for the program. We are looking for passionate, dedicated professionals to help us build the world we envision: one of expanded opportunity, where crises give way to resilience and all people thrive.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the RPD/C, the RCTL will be responsible for the development and implementation of care and treatment activities. Activities will include the introduction and institutionalization of differentiated service delivery models, training and mentorship of frontline health workers, and other key approaches. The high-level responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Lead technical approaches for scale up of comprehensive HIV treatment services to improve access to viral load monitoring / suppression of PLHIV.
- Lead the development and implementation of bespoke treatment methods, including but not limited to care registries, early treatment initiation, differentiated service delivery models, opportunistic infection diagnosis and treatment, lost-to follow-up reengagement, quality assurance in viral load networks and management of advanced HIV disease and drug resistance monitoring.
- Foster an enabling environment by supporting program efforts to integrate care and treatment protocols into national guidelines and systems, supporting, as required, MoHs and other above-site stakeholders to achieve this goal.
- As required, coordinate with the CDC in a given Central American country to fulfil the customized CDC program of assistance to that country, including: enhancing laboratory diagnostic capacity and the care and treatment of opportunistic infections; strengthening interventions for intercurrent diseases impacting HIV infected patients; initiating programs to provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART); strengthening the capacity of countries to collect and use surveillance data and manage national HIV/AIDS programs and developing public health programs to improve interventions related to the treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB and opportunistic infections.
- Strengthen and leverage multilateral organizations, global health partnerships and private sector partnerships and encourage country ownership and country-led plans to ensure program outcome sustainability.
- Work with the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) team to ensure activities achieve the intended results of increased early treatment initiation, retention and adherence; improved access to viral load testing and HIV drug resistance monitoring and sustained viral suppression. Refine activities in response to MEL data to ensure activities are effective and efficient uses of program resources.
- Oversee training, mentorship and continuous quality improvement of front-line providers to ensure delivery of high quality, patient-centered HIV treatment and care services.
- Ensure seamless management and implementation of comprehensive HIV treatment services across all treatment partners and guide development of work plans, MEL plans, and quality assurance plans.
- Coordinate with other implementing partners, CDC, MoH, civil society organizations, municipal governments and other national and international stakeholders.
- Lead HIV treatment related trainings and capacity building for staff, partners, healthcare providers, and relevant stakeholders.
- Support and supervise the HIV care and treatment team, clarifying, communicating and monitoring their performance standards and expectations.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree or higher (or significant practical experience) in Public Health or a related field, with specific emphasis on community-level health promotion and/or education.
- Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience, with five (5) years of experience in designing and implementing large-scale, US government funded HIV treatment and support programs for key and priority populations in a similar context.
- Substantial experience in Central America is required.
- Experience in a leadership/management role for a program of similar size and complexity, including experience with direct supervision of professional staff is strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of evidence-based and combination HIV treatment interventions for key and/or priority populations and approaches to addressing gender issues related to HIV treatment is required.
- Prior experience in building capacity for staff, partners, healthcare providers, and relevant stakeholders in improving health is required.
- Knowledge/experience with CDC rules and regulations and experience managing CDC contracts is preferred.
- Management/supervisory experience is required.
- Demonstrated experience working with community-based organizations targeting key populations and PLHIV is required.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and sustain professional relationships and to work collaboratively with host country government counterparts and program stakeholders is preferred.
- Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal, with full fluency in Spanish is required.
- Proficiency in English preferred.
Global Communities positively welcomes and seeks applications from all sections of society. We are committed to a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of everyone and offers equal opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.
Global Communities holds strict safeguarding principles and has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment, Global Communities will conduct robust reference and background screening checks, including international vetting as a signature of the Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. The incumbent is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities Safeguarding policy and the Standards of Conduct.
