Employment
The International Center for AIDS Care & Treatment Programmes (ICAP) at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, in partnership with the Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, will be establishing a programme to provide technical, programme, capacity building and systems support to various USAID-funded organisations to accelerate access to HIV Prevention, Care & Treatment services for high-risk groups, such as HIV-infected pregnant women and children.
This USAID-funded programme, part of the PEPFAR initiative to combat HIV/AIDS in South Africa, is seeking to appoint a qualified and dedicated person to fill the position below. Please note that the position is in the programme implementation capacity and not in the research or academic capacity.
Appointment will be on a two-year contract, which can be extended in future.
Performance Improvement/ Capacity Building Advisor
(Ref. 11TGB453)
The successful candidate will be a member of a technical group and will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide support for the implementation, improvement and expansion of family-focused HIV services, with close attention to the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission and paediatric HIV issues. The incumbent will be expected to design and offer customised skills-building and performance improvement events, tools and resources, which will be used to transfer technical skills and knowledge at supported facilities. The appointee will also provide follow-up technical assistance, supportive supervision and mentoring support to ensure high-quality capacity building.
Duties: Leading the development and supporting the implementation of HIV-related training and capacity-building strategies, including the assessment of training needs at multiple levels of the health system • developing and implementing a Best Practice framework for performance improvement and capacity building of health workers at S2S-supported health facilities, taking into account different social and cultural contexts • defining a programmatic approach to performance improvement and capacity building for S2S, including the creating of implementation tools for application to programmes • building capacity of facility personnel by supporting the maximisation of their roles though performance improvement events, including comprehensive paediatric HIV Care & Treatment training sessions, healthcare worker leadership and performance improvement retreats, and family-centred HIV Care & Treatment review meetings • providing direct skills-building technical assistance, including assistance with the design of training events with approaches that include adult learning theory, interactive group discussions, modelling, clinical monitoring/preceptorship, case-based learning and case-study activities • assisting in guiding the development or refinement of a variety of tools and materials related to skills building and performance improvement • managing the development of a centrally organised knowledge system to promote the understanding and use of performance improvement and capacity-building Best Practices • performing other relevant duties as assigned.
Requirements: An advanced degree in Public Health, Medicine, Social Science or a related discipline, with special focus on performance improvement/capacity building • at least 3 – 5 years’ experience in capacity-building activities and in HIV Care & Treatment • experience in designing, developing, implementing and monitoring organisational capacity-building interventions targeted at the public sector • experience in building and transferring skills through mentoring, coaching and training • strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships in a challenging environment • ability to multitask and to be effective in high-pressure situations • ability to absorb and synthesize a broad range of information • ability to relate and work well with colleagues • exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills • experience in working in collaboration with Local Government partners • a strong written and spoken command of English as well as one other official language, preferably an African language • computer literacy (ability to use MS Office), as well as knowledge of e-mail and standard office equipment • willingness and availability to travel 30% of the time throughout South Africa.
Commencement of duties: As soon as possible
Closing date: 1 December 2008
Enquiries: Dr Liezl Smit on ++27 +21 933 5331 or ++27 +21 938 9758, email address: ls@sun.ac.za
The University will consider all applications in terms of its Employment Equity Plan, which acknowledges the need to diversify the demographic composition of the staff corps, especially with regard to the appointment of suitable candidates from the designated groups.
The University reserves the right not to make an appointment.
Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and contact details of at least two referees), must reach the University before or on the closing date of the advertised post.
Apply online at http://www.sun.ac.za/vacancies. You may also forward your application to The Manager: Human Resources (Satellite Campuses), Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, e-mail it to hrtygerberg@sun.ac.za or fax it to 021 932 9266. Application forms are obtainable on our homepage at http://www.sun.ac.za/applicationforms, or by e-mailing hrtygerberg@sun.ac.za, or contacting 021 938 9636.
Should no feedback be received from the University within four weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application did not succeed.