Clinical Specialist

Project Description

Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC), a global project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), that provides strategic technical assistance and direct service delivery to achieve HIV epidemic control among all at-risk populations and people living with HIV (PLHIV); strengthen global health security (GHS), including outbreak response; expand tuberculosis detection and treatment (TB), improve maternal and child health (MCH), address malaria; and promote health systems strengthening (HSS) including supply chain management.

In Ghana, EpiC will work to support the Ghana Ministry of Health (MOH), Ghana Health Service (GHS)-National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP) and Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Regional Health Directorates (RHDs) and District Health Directorates (DHDs) to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2030 in the three PEPFAR-supported regions through the focused implementation of innovative prevention, case finding, linkage to care and treatment, treatment continuity, and viral load suppression strategies.

Job Description:

The Clinical Specialist, will support the effective delivery of integrated HIV clinical care and laboratory services across program implementation sites within the EpiC Ghana project. S/he will be in routine contact with NACP, RHDs, DHDs, health facilities, and implementing partners in the three PEFAR supported regions in the country, providing ongoing technical and quality assurance support for HIV clinical care and laboratory functions to enhance program outcomes and contribute to achieving HIV epidemic control. The Clinical Specialist will lead quality improvement initiatives and provide support for supply chain. The role will also strengthen clinical-laboratory coordination to improve viral load coverage, ensure timely sample processing and return of results, and promote the use of results for clinical monitoring and patient management. The position requires close collaboration with the HIV Technical Advisor and other program staff within EpiC and the FHI 360 Ghana country office to ensure application of best practices and alignment with project strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supports the design, implementation and monitoring of clinical care and lab services related to HIV treatment, continuity of treatment, viral load and AHD activities for PLHIV, HIV prevention (including PrEP) for pregnant and breastfeeding women, PMTCT, EID, and case detection.

• Collaborates closely with the Ghana Health Service-NACP, RHDs, DHDs, health facilities/ART Centers, PEPFAR-supported nurse assistants, community organizations and EpiC community/facility treatment staff to ensure quality clinical care and lab services for PLHIV, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and HIV exposed infants.

• Collaborate with NACP to ensure that commodities such as ARVs, HTS test kits, PrEP commodities are available on a consistent basis at all clinical service provision facilities.

• Is knowledgeable about the national protocols on HIV Clinical management and all the differentiated models of ARV delivery such as MMD, SDART, DSD, Early refills

• Expert inpatient-centered care strategies that prioritize a holistic approach to maximize chances of patient ART adherence and viral load suppression

• Ensures high quality standard operating procedures for clinical care contextualized to the Ghana environment.

• Assists in strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the project diagnostic components such as specimen collection for viral load, specimen referral, specimen transport, supply chain, equipment management, expansion of point-of-care diagnostic services, and , especially related to HIV testing, viral load monitoring, CD4 testing and TB/HIV diagnostics.

• Contributes technical and programmatic expertise in diagnostics, quality management systems relevant to the Ghana context.

• Assists in assuring that commodities such as ARVs, HTS test kits (rapid, self-testing), TB Prophylaxis drugs and TB diagnostics, and viral load reagents are available on a consistent basis at all clinical service provision facilities and labs.

• Participates in the development and facilitation of clinical and laboratory training within the EpiC Ghana project and contributes to reporting on the effectiveness of such training.

• Supports the development and implementation of EpiC Ghana project workplans and budgets related to clinical lab & supply chain activities.

• Supports in the design and development of corrective workplans to address performance issues identified in the sub-network of the PEPFAR supported regions.

• Contributes to the preparation of timely and accurate technical reports specific to EpiC Ghana clinical HIV activities.

• Contributes to the achievement of high-quality results in accordance with the targets identified in the work plan and Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

• Contributes to providing and reviewing weekly and monthly performance data

• Reviews key performance indicators pertaining to missed appointment and IIT patient tracking, ART patient retention, and VL coverage and suppression

• Contributes to program quality according to FHI 360 standards including quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives.

• Receives technical guidance and mentorship from senior staff, including the HIV Technical Advisor at the designated areas of activity implementation and other settings as appropriate for the EpiC Ghana project.

• Takes swift action to implement technical recommendations from the HIV Technical Advisor, the facilities, the health department, and other relevant entities.

• Assists in developing lessons learned from activities related to clinical and laboratory services and management for HIV care and treatment within EpiC Ghana and contribute to applying these lessons to improve both existing programs and the design of new programs.

• Contributes to writing success stories to demonstrate the impact of the project by identifying successes and key achievements pertaining to clinical care and services.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Medical Doctor with specialization in family medicine, infectious diseases, internal medicine, or a related field.

• 6+ years of relevant experience in technical and program management in HIV-care settings, including a minimum of 5 years’ experience in supervision and oversight of program implementation with skills and competencies in providing technical mentoring and coaching

• 5+ years of relevant experience in handling, interpretation and integration into the relevant electronic platforms (EMR, E-Sante, PLR) of different lab test results such as Viral load testing, PCR testing for EID, TB testing, IO diagnostics, self-testing, EMR of the HIV laboratory management.

• Experience in assisting with technical capacity strengthening and supporting sub-partners, especially those working with PLHIV.

• Previous experience working with USAID or PEPFAR supported programs.

• Ability to meet tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.

• Excellent report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral presentation skills.

• Familiarity with Ghana public health sector, NGOs in Ghana is highly desirable.

• Cultural sensitivity and sound understanding of the needs of high risk populations and PLHIV.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and well-developed computer skills.

• Ability to travel within the departments of the PEPFAR supported regions, nationally, and internationally if needed.

• Fluency in English with strong written and oral communication skills

The expected hiring salary range for this role is indexed to USD 20,000 - 30,000 for annual basic salary. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, market pay, and budget. For internal candidates, salary placement will also follow FHI 360’s current promotional increase guidelines.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

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