Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, April 15, 2021 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
The Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH)-Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support (METS) Program is a five-year (2020-2025) CDC-funded Cooperative Agreement. The MaKSPH-METS program emerged out of the growing recognition of the importance of evidence-based decision making for an AIDS Free Generation in Uganda.
The overall purpose of the Program is to establish coordinated and effective national and district systems for the management of strategic information for a robust HIV response.
MakSPH METS is looking for qualified candidate to fill the position of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Specialist
BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION
Incumbent serves as the infection prevention and control (IPC) specialist and coordinator for CDC Uganda and the International Infection Control Program (IICP) at CDC headquarters in Atlanta. The position is responsible for assisting CDC Uganda, IICP and partners in the implementation of activities to strengthen and build IPC capacity in Uganda for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated transmission of diseases such as COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The incumbent serves as the IPC technical advisor and primary liaison between the CDC Uganda team and IICP to the Ministry of Health, local governments, implementing partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), collaborating USG agencies, and other CDC programs. The incumbent focuses on coordination and communication to ensure active collaboration between stakeholders across multiple projects related to IPC and WASH in healthcare facilities; program and administrative management; strategic planning; project implementation; and monitoring and evaluation to ensure project implementation meets objective, international public health standards and best practices. Both the advisory and managerial roles require public health technical leadership, results-oriented analysis, advocacy, and clear and consistent communication with all stakeholders. The incumbent represents CDC Uganda and IICP on IPC issues at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including with collaborators and donor agencies. .

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Management (50%)
• The incumbent maintains regular communications with CDC Uganda office and IICP, at least weekly. Communications include full accounting for their time and activities.
• The incumbent maintains relationships, clear communication, and collaboration with other CDC programs, other USG agencies (including USAID), and other stakeholders, such as Ministry of Health and other government entities, local health bureaus, non-governmental organizations, hospitals, and implementing partners to strengthen IPC and healthcare facility based WASH activities in country.
• The incumbent takes an active role in developing and prioritizing specific CDC Uganda and IICP program goals, objectives, and strategies to strengthen national, subnational, and healthcare facility IPC capacity. This includes collaboration on initiatives proposed in the country operational plans, annual work plans, and regular progress reports related to IPC in healthcare settings.
• The incumbent serves as the CDC Uganda and IICP primary point of contact for requests
pertaining to IPC. As needed and within deadlines requested, the incumbent will respond to informational requests, prepare program specific materials, and provide verbal updates, presentations, written communication, and reports on IPC efforts, success stories, and relevant surveillance data findings (e.g. nosocomial infections, healthcare worker exposures).
• The incumbent ensures coordination between CDC Uganda, IICP, and relevant stakeholders by maintaining project protocols, work plans, and contact lists of all relevant partners, facilitating technical assistance from subject-matter experts, mapping partner work plans and activities to ensure no duplication of funded efforts, and keeping leadership and subject matter experts aware of activities, progress, and challenges.
• The incumbent maintains communication with CDC branches, stakeholders, and project team members through email, in-person meetings, and teleconference communication, as
appropriate. This includes but is not limited to scheduling, organizing and facilitating routine conference calls (biweekly/monthly) to discuss activities and progress; quarterly conference calls to review quarterly progress, successes, and challenges; and ad hoc communication, as needed, to monitor implementation of IPC activities to ensure program results are achieved.
• The incumbent collaborates with each partner organization to ensure that all IPC
programmatic activities, monitoring and evaluation activities and study protocols meet human subject requirements and pass-through ethical review with the appropriate agency authority. S/he is responsible for data integrity and security of information in reporting databases, particularly pertaining to the protection of personally identifiable information (PII). Whenever possible, these records will be filed electronically for recordkeeping purposes.
• The incumbent is responsible for providing oversight and monitoring budgets allocated to IPC projects. This includes reviewing budget requests for appropriateness, completing technical reviews, monitoring use of funds for adherence to proposed activities, ensuring quarterly pipeline reviews/budget status reports are completed, following up on irregular findings, and providing advice for realignment of budgets.
• The incumbent maintains files and records pertaining to activities and programs for which they are responsible including final project plans and protocols. Program files include, but are not limited to, reports, meeting summaries and minutes, research determinations, panels, and awards.
Technical Assistance (50%)
• The incumbent serves as the IPC technical advisor for CDC Uganda in close collaboration
with IICP to develop and strengthen IPC and healthcare facility-based WASH capacity in
Uganda.
• In collaboration with subject matter experts, the incumbent provides technical assistance and direction to implementing partner organizations (grants/cooperative agreement awards), program collaborators, and host government partners, such as MOH, in the development, implementation, and management of IPC-related work plans. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting the development and revision of the national IPC strategic plans, policies, guidelines, and training materials; and supporting the design and implementation of initiatives and programs to enhance IPC and WASH practices in healthcare facilities and prevent outbreaks in healthcare settings, such as COVID-19.
• The incumbent may be requested to represent CDC Uganda and IICP on institutional
committees at national and international meetings and conferences, and on working groups related to IPC and WASH in healthcare facilities.
• In collaboration with supervisor, senior CDC scientists, IICP, and relevant stakeholders, the incumbent is responsible for monitoring and evaluation of IPC activities. This includes, but is not limited to, conducting or providing technical assistance for evaluation of programmatic activities; developing monitoring tools; conducting site visits and meetings to assess or review progress of projects; documenting and summarizing findings for reports, proposals, publications, or presentations; identifying scientific, personnel, logistical, and implementation problems and making revisions to overcome obstacles; and making recommendations to CDC Uganda and IICP on changes program operations.
• The incumbent collaborates with surveillance programs and ensure linkages between IPC, WASH in healthcare facilities, and surveillance activities for antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections (e.g., nosocomial infections, healthcare worker exposures) to inform immediate actions and strategic initiatives.
• The incumbent supports the development and implementation of healthcare-based infection control preparedness and response strategies for outbreaks (such as COVID-19), conducts readiness assessments, participates in CDC or Ministry emergency operations committees, and provides information, technical guidance, and recommendations related to IPC and healthcare facility-based WASH.
Other duties as required
• Incumbent conducts in-country and international travel including to project sites, as
necessary.
• The incumbent participates in interagency strategic planning efforts and administrative
meetings for the purposes of discussing and developing plans to further the IPC program,
including meetings with collaborators and donor agencies.
• The incumbent assists with preparations for Congressional and Executive delegations,
industry leaders and other high-level visitors, participates in making arrangements for visits, and serves as CDC representative, as required. The incumbent may serve as site officer for special visits from high-ranking USG or other personnel.
• The incumbent notifies direct supervisor of any issues beyond the ability of the incumbent to resolve, along with suggestions for resolution.
• Note: This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by incumbent. Incumbent will be required to perform other duties as assigned by the agency.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE
a. Education
Bachelor’s degree or host country equivalent, or higher, in Public Health, Nursing, Medicine, or related field is required. Master’s degree or host country equivalent in Public Health or other health care related field is highly desirable.
b. Prior Work Experience
Minimum of 5 years of public health experience. Minimum of 2 years of experience in a clinical health setting. Minimum of 2 years of experience in Infection Control and Prevention in low- and middle-income countries. (All of the experience requirements may have been done concurrently).
c. Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) English ability is required.
d. Job Knowledge
The incumbent should have detailed knowledge about the WHO Core Components of IPC
programs, standard and transmission-based precautions, surveillance, healthcare outbreak detection and response, behavior change, and quality improvement. Detailed knowledge of the Ugandan health care system and structures and familiarity with Ministry of Health policies, program priorities, and regulations is required.
e. Skills and Abilities:
• Position requires a highly motivated and well-trained public health professional with strong leadership and interpersonal skills to work with all levels of staff in a team setting to accomplish program goals.
• Strong oral and written communication skills are required in order to convey program
progress, technical requirements, and to develop and maintain effective working relationships with collaborative organizations engaged in IPC activities.
• Strong working knowledge of computer software programs including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. is required. Experience using Office 365, MS Teams, SharePoint, and other O365 programs and/or willingness to learn new technology is required.
• Ability to gather, analyze and interpret quantitative data, provide factual and interpretive reports and communicate findings to a variety of audiences is required.
• Ability to develop, understand and discuss new program design, management and implementation approaches is required.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a high-performance environment under tight deadlines is required.
• Good working knowledge of team management techniques to plan, organize and direct multidisciplinary project teams and activities is required.
• Basic understanding of overall administrative requirements in support of memoranda of understanding and cooperative agreements is preferred.
• The incumbent must also have skills in diplomacy in order to work effectively with the
Ministries of Health (MOH), World Health Organization (WHO), Department of State (DOS), Embassies, and international public health entities.
TERM OF POSITION
This position is a temporary, 1-year full-time position. At the completion of a successful first year, there will be an opportunity for an extension of up to 1-year extension. The incumbent will be seconded back to the US CDC in Uganda but will not be an employee or either the US CDC or the US Government. As a secondee to CDC, the employee will report to the Director of Global Health Protection as a primary supervisor, and to project leads for the various IPC projects for which the incumbent is responsible.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

{module 317}

Job application procedure
Qualified and interested candidates are invited to submit the following application documents and a motivation letter clearly highlighting the position being applied for and address this to;
The Dean,
Makerere University School of Public Health,
College of Health Sciences, Makerere University,
P.O. Box 7072,
Kampala, Uganda
ii) Application Documents
a) Motivational Letter
b) Resume with contacts of 3 professional referees
c) Copies of all relevant academic documents
iii) Soft copies of the applications should be submitted as one PDF file to the following email address mets@musph.ac.ug by 5:00pm on April 22nd, 2021.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

All Jobs

QUICK ALERT SUBSCRIPTION

{module 321}