US EMBASSY JOBS - Senior Evaluation and Research Specialist

POSITION: PHS- Senior Evaluation and Research Specialist

OPENING DATE: May 24, 2017

CLOSING DATE: June 2, 2017

WORK HOURS: Full-time; 40 hours/week

SALARY: Ordinarily Resident (OR):  FSN- 11; (Step 1- TZS 69,422,538 through Step 13- 104,133,810 per annum)

Not-Ordinarily Resident (NOR): FP- 4**Final grade/step for NORs will be determined by Washington.

The “Open To” category listed above refers to candidates who are eligible to apply for this position.  The “Open To” category should not be confused with a “hiring preference” which is explained later in this vacancy announcement.

ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT (OR) APPLICANTS (See Appendix A for definition) MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

The US Mission in Dar es Salaam is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Public Health Specialist- Senior Evaluation and Research Specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITIONThe incumbent Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist will serve as the Deputy Associate Director for Science in the Science Office of CDC Tanzania. The incumbent will participate as a member of the CDC Tanzania Branch leadership and advise upon and perform professional activities in the fields of scientific work, research methods, public health evaluations and epidemiology, to support and advance CDC Tanzania’s scientific and clinical programs and implementing partners.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Research and Evaluation Capacity Building
(35%)Supports CDC in all scientific endeavors through hands on support, consultancies, scheduled trainings and technical expert advice. The incumbent will be responsible to support Tanzania MOH and CDC implementing partners in preparing protocols for program evaluations, operations, research, surveys and surveillance and to support both CDC staff and implementing partners in ethical guidelines, regulations and processes.

Job holder is responsible for developing and facilitating curriculum for protocol development, research methods including data collection, data management and analysis, data interpretations and manuscript writing.

Job holder ensures that adequate support is provided to CDC staff and partners in the development of protocols and data collections tools, data collection implementation and data analysis and write-up.

B. Conducting Research and Program Evaluations
(30%)The incumbent is responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the program. Working with the team, the incumbent develops conducts and disseminates CDC- funded program evaluations and research. The incumbent is responsible for analyzing program data through statistical methods.

The incumbent coordinates high level, collaborative short-term projects with other internal and/or external organizations to meet broad agency and PEPFAR goals.  As needed the incumbent supports collaborative program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of program activities.

The incumbent is responsible for monitoring ongoing studies to ensure quality, validity and reliable of data is sustained and ensures monitoring data records and processes for ethical assurance.

The incumbent is responsible for disseminating program and study results through scientific journals, periodic reports and public presentations and ensures to critically appraise and apply scientific evidence pertaining to disease prevention, treatment, care and support programs at CDC.

C. Project Management
(10%)The incumbent will serve as an activity manager or a point of contact for partner cooperative agreements for scientific endeavours and will also have a supervisory role for science team which consists of 3 to 4 members.

D. Support to Associate Director of Science Clearance Process(10%)The incumbent is responsible for supporting the CDC-Tanzania ADS for scientific and human subjects clearance for abstracts and manuscripts, and also responsible for supporting the development of methods which enable better tracking of data collections and CDC-funded abstracts and manuscripts.

The incumbent is responsible to work along and support the grants officer and the associate director for science to restrict funds for data collection and research endeavours and works with partners and subsequently works to have restrictions lifted after protocol development.   Builds capacity within the CDC team and partners along with the program teams to improve submitted scientific products for clearance including protocols, abstracts and manuscripts.

E. ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT (Standard for all PDs)
(10%)The incumbent is responsible to complete all required administrative requirements and financial disclosures in a timely manner and adhere to accountability standard for government issued property, compiles with private act, provides responsive service to all internal and external customers and also follows regulations governing federal records management.

The incumbent will work closely and interact with staff and outside agency colleagues in a professional manner. This includes actively participating in identifying, communicating and implementing quality improvements that ensures attainment of workforce goals.

Incumbent performs other duties as assigned.
(5%)   

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREDAll applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

1. Education:A Master’s Degree (or host country equivalent) in Epidemiology or an MPH specializing in epidemiology or research methods, biostatistics or equivalent is required.
2. Experience:Seven years of progressively work in scientific settings in epidemiology, public health research and/or implementation science is required including three years of supervisory experience is required.
3. Language:Level IV (fluent) speaking and written communication in English and Kiswahili is required. (This will be tested)
4. Skills and AbilitiesGood working knowledge of computer software programs such as word processing, spreadsheets and databases is required.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: The complete position description listing all of the duties and responsibilities can be obtained on our website and/or by contacting the Human Resources Office DarRecruitment@state.gov.

HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:  Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:

1. AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
2. AEFM / USEFM
3. FS on LWOP**

* IMPORTANT:  Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of the most recent Member Copy Four (4) of the DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and, if applicable, a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  If claiming conditional eligibility for U.S. Veterans’ preference, applicants must submit proof of conditional eligibility.  If the written documentation confirming eligibility is not received in the HR office by the closing date of the vacancy announcement, the U.S. Veterans’ preference will not be considered in the application process.  Mission HR’s decision on eligibility for U.S. Veterans’ preference after reviewing all required documentation is final.

** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP.

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA: 

1. Management will consider when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

2. Current OR employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply. Current OR employees with an Overall Summary rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance report (EPR) are not eligible to apply.

3. Current NOR employees hired on a Family Member Employment (FMA) or a Personal Service Agreement (PSA) are not eligible to apply within the first 90 calendar days of their employment, unless they have a When Actually Employed (WAE) work schedule.

HOW TO APPLY:Please ensure documents are in Microsoft Word, JPEG, TIFF and/or Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

SkyDrive or Cloud files will NOT be accepted and your application will be determined invalid.

Applicants must submit the following documents to be considered.  Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

1. Universal Application for Employment (UAE) (Form DS-174), which is available on our website or by contacting Human Resources. (See “For Further Information” above);
2. Any additional documentation that supports or addresses the requirements listed above (e.g. resume, transcripts, degrees, etc.)
3. Copy of Degree.
4. For Tanzanian Nationals: Copy of Passport, or National ID, or Voter ID
5. For Other Nationals: please attach current Resident/Work Permit and copy of valid Passport.

WHERE TO APPLY:  Effective immediately only online applications will be accepted via DarRecruitment@state.gov

Applicants MUST follow instructions in the notice on the website.When sending an online application, please indicate the position title in the subject line.Failure to do so will result in an incomplete application.