Global Health Fellows Program
Technical Advisor III/IV: Senior Social and Behavior Change Advisor
Front Office, Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
Location: Arlington, VA
Assignment: Two year fellowship
GHFP-II-P5-181
The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency’s immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual work planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.
Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency’s ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.
BACKGROUND:
The Bureau for Global Health (GH) is the USAID/Washington operating unit charged with providing technical support to improve the health of people in the developing world by expanding health services, including family planning/reproductive health and maternal/child health; strengthening health systems; and addressing HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, avian influenza and other public health threats. GH’s primary role in the health program area is to strengthen field operations, promote research and technical innovation, and provide leadership and training.
USAID/GH’s Office of Health, Infectious Diseases, and Nutrition (HIDN) covers seven broad public health areas: TB, Malaria, Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition, Neglected Tropical Diseases, and Emerging Pandemic Infectious. Within each of these areas, specialists work in providing technical assistance and managing programs in countries, developing and scaling up innovations in public health, and exercising global leadership in their fields in national and international fora. Social and Behavior Change (SBC), including social and behavior change communication, is an important ingredient to the success of each of these health areas.
INTRODUCTION
The Senior SBC Advisor (Senior Advisor) will work as part of an SBC team located in the Front Office of HIDN, and will primarily support infectious disease programs including Emerging Pandemic Threats, TB, NTDs and malaria. Receiving day-to-day guidance and technical direction from the HIDN Office Director, the Senior Advisor will assist in managing GH/HIDN’s social and behavior change project(s) and activities; provide technical assistance to the HIDN Office and USAID Missions on SBC and field implementation; and collaborate with other SBC technical staff on questions and issues concerning social and behavior change.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Senior Social and Behavior Change Advisor will be responsible for:
SBC activity management (30%):
- Providing technical backstopping and oversight on SBC programs and issues related to the health areas of the office.
- Participating on design teams for new projects and providing technical guidance in the implementation and evaluation of the programs.
- Overseeing program development and reviewing partner work plans and products.
- Assisting in monitoring the project(s)’ technical and financial performance.
- Traveling to monitor the SBC field activities of centrally-managed projects as needed.
Providing SBC advice to Missions (30%):
- As requested, supporting USAID Missions in developing and evaluating initiatives to build in-country capacity that addresses SBC issues, including the ability to carry out longer-term integrated SBC strategies in health.
- Facilitating sharing of SBC materials and best practices across US Government programs in different countries.
Providing SBC expertise to HIDN and Bureau for GH (30%):
- Developing recommendations for new areas of SBC research and programming, and promoting innovation in behavioral interventions and communication.
- Providing USAID country health teams and implementing partners with informed input and ongoing technical support to ensure best practices in social and behavioral interventions and communication campaigns.
- Keeping current on literature from all areas of social and behavioral research related to the health areas of the office, with particular attention to determinants of individual behavior change including providers, broader transformation of social norms, and effectiveness of diverse behavioral approaches.
- Maintaining knowledge of individual, small group, community and mass media interventions, and state-of-the-art methods for designing and evaluating SBC activities.
At the level IV, the Senior Advisor will be further responsible for:
- Developing and making recommendations to GH and HIDN leadership on SBC strategy and programmatic approaches.
- Collaborating with relevant HIDN staff to plan, participate, facilitate, and present at international and domestic meetings, workshops and conferences dealing with social and behavioral aspects and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
International and domestic travel approximately 10-20 %.
Training and professional development (7%)
- Keeping abreast of literature and latest developments in the fields of social and behavior change, health communication, and behavioral economics as it relates to infectious diseases.
- Deepening knowledge of the theories and frameworks related to individual behavior change and broader social responses.
- Participating in interagency and intra-agency working groups as appropriate.
- Participating in professional continuing education and skills training within the purview of GHFP-II.
REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:
- Master’s degree in public health, social psychology, health communication, behavioral economics, or other relevant behavioral/social science field.
- Formal training in and demonstrated understanding of theories and frameworks relating to individual behavior change and broader social responses, the evidence base for social and behavioral/communications interventions and best practices, and familiarity with the current SBC literature.
- Hands-on field experience designing, planning, implementing and evaluating behavioral interventions and/or communication campaigns required.
- Excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team, including cross-cultural teams.
- Experience with USAID programming, and evaluation functions and procedures both in USAID/Washington and in USAID missions desirable.
- Overseas experience in developing countries desirable.
- Ability to travel internationally.
- US Citizenship or US Permanent Residency required.
In addition to the above, the position requires the following at each level:
Senior Technical Advisor III
- Minimum ten (10) years’ experience in public health programming, policy or research, including substantial experience in social and behavior change, communication or health-related work with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, avian influenza and/or neglected tropical diseases with three to five (3-5) years’ experience in an international or resource-challenged setting.
Senior Technical Advisor IV
- Minimum fifteen (15) years’ experience in public health programming, policy or research, including substantial experience in social and behavior change, communication or health-related work with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, avian influenza and/or neglected tropical diseases with five (5) years’ experience in an international or resource-challenged setting.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Salary based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs.
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