Overview

Background

The Baylor College of Medicine Bristol-Myer’s Squibb Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence (COE) in Mbabane and the associated Satellite Centres of Excellence (SCOE) at Hlathikulu Government Hospital and RFM Hospital in Manzini are a manifestation of a public-private partnership between the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini and Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, USA. The Foundation seeks to immediately fill the following position:

 PROJECT OFFICER

 Reporting to the Project Manager, the main purpose of the Project Officer will be coordinating & implementing project activities in specified geographical areas and supervise community activities. The Officer will also train project staff members, supervise and support facilitation of group/club sessions.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – Duties include but are not limited to the following:

Project Management, Planning and Delivery:

  • Coordinate and support CATS facilitate the weekly running of the Teen Club meetings.
  • Support CATS and CECs to prepare a lesson plan for every Teen Club meeting/ community Group session.
  • Providing a key co-ordination and implementation role, ensuring project management standards are followed and deadlines met.
  • Designing monthly and weekly plans for implementing project to get desired outcomes.
  • Ensuring project outcomes are delivered to quality required and to schedule according to set budget and scope.
  • Developing work plans and other working tools for the project staff.
  • Establishing project procedures, risks and management of issues.
  • Supervising accuracy and quality of techniques and principles throughout different community development teams.
  • Establishing, leading and motivating the project team.
  • Ensuring that at least two regular progress review meetings are held once a month and behavioral expectations are established.

Program Implementation and Supportive Supervision:

  • Supervise project Community Cadres volunteers and staff and report to the Programs Manager.
  • Supervise, coach and mentor community Cadres, Volunteers.
  • Provide ongoing support counseling to PLHIV and ALHIV
  • Support the Provision of treatment adherence counseling
  • Train (CATS/CEC) Community Cadres to implement Teen Clubs and provide mentorship as they coordinate adolescent psychosocial support groups
  • Train and supervise Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters and Volunteers
  • Assist Cadres in their role to form groups either in the community or at facility level.
  • Launch Community Support Cadres for People living with HIV
  • Facilitation of disclosure to partners, family members and friends
  • Participate in training for Cadres.
  • Play a lead role in training and teaching in your sphere of work
  • Liaise with Cadres to Investigate children in difficult social circumstances and refer appropriately
  • Support Cadres to Conduct home visits as necessary.
  • Overseeing and conducting on-site visits to monitor PLHIV/ALHIV clubs.

Stakeholder Management and Communications:

  • Coordinate partnerships and outreach visits to government facilities.
  • Building effective working relationships with project stakeholders.
  • Engaging stakeholders at each project stage.
  • Identify, liaise and work with available community support resources.
  • Encourage parents to enroll their children for diagnosis, treatment and care.
  • Ensuring communications have appropriate content and tone.
  • Communicating anticipated project risks and issues to stakeholders and taking action to resolve them.

 Marketing, Advocacy and Representation:

  • Facilitate the decentralization of Teen Clubs.
  • Always strive to protect and advocate for the best interest of children and people living with HIV.
  • Organizing and leading marketing planning meetings with stakeholders to address community development interventions and IEC materials for PLHIV/ALHIV.
  • Ensuring proper evidence-based messaging according to target audiences and HIV-related health interventions.
  • Representing the organization in a professional, ethical and leadership manner.

 Reporting, Monitoring Evaluation Learning & Research

  • Be accountable for Teen Club resources (money, volunteers and materials). Keep an inventory for the materials.
  • File reports according to the Donor and COE standards.
  • Keeping an accurate and up to date file of authorization and consent forms for Teen Club members and volunteers.
  • Write and compile reports for the Project (weekly, monthly, quarterly annually).
  • Developing some working tools for the project liaising with the Manager.
  • Participate in research activities for the improvement of the program.
  • Be well informed on latest information for the care and counseling of people infected or affected by HIV and AIDS including TB.
  • Ensuring that project activities, outcomes, issues, risks, and all other reports about the project are available to stakeholders and management teams.
  • Coordinating with Manager to ensure proper processes to guide decision making related to interventions as well as progress towards goals.
  • Regularly gather information within subordinates to inform progress, modify or improve strategies and prepare reports.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

  • Degree in Nursing, Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, Social Sciences, any other relevant with public health background plus minimum of 3 years of working experience in the public health sector.
  • Project implementation experience
  • 2-3 years’ experience working with Children and Adolescents living with HIV including disclosure issues.

Skills/Abilities/Aptitudes Requirements:

  • Strong desire or inclination to work with children, especially those with HIV and TB
  • Maintenance of strict confidentiality and professional and work etiquette
  • Respectful to patients and colleagues
  • Flexibility, honesty, trustworthiness and dependability
  • Cultural awareness and sensitivity
  • Stress management skills
  • Ability to work as a highly cooperative member of the team
  • Ability to manage multiple projects with flexibility
  • Ability to work flexible schedules, including occasional evenings, and weekends
  • Effective verbal communication and listening skills
  • Excellent written communication skills
  • Strong organizational and planning skills
  • Ability to hold self and others to deliver and account on agreed goals and standards
  • Remaining positive under pressure and in difficult situations
  • Pleasant and polite attitude at all times, reflecting a professional standard
  • Ability to work as an individual and as part of a team
  • Ability to maintain positive interpersonal relations
  • Ability to reach out to influence, promotes learning and innovation
  • Ability to learn new things and seek for help anytime a need arises.

 Special Requirements

  • Ability to pay attention to detail
  • Remains sober and well-groomed at all times
  • Ability to work with minimum supervision
  • Willingness to work overtime as required
  • Maintenance of strict confidentiality and professional and work etiquette
  • Respectful to patients and colleagues
  • Flexibility, honesty, trustworthiness and dependability
  • Ability to function with mature judgment, tact, and diplomacy, ensuring that policies and procedures are consistently complied with
  • Must be fluent in English, both written and spoken.
  • Must be committed to the transfer of knowledge to those working with communities.
  • Must be willing and ready to travel extensively within Eswatini.
  • Self-starter
  • 2 years and more driving experience of manual single/double cab vehicle 
Applications

Applications to be addressed to the Executive Director, Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation- Eswatini, and sent ONLY by email to: hr@baylorswaziland.org.sz citing the position applied for, your Name and Surname in the email subject.

All applications should be accompanied by a cover letter, curriculum vitae (CV) and certified copies of certificates. Faxed applications, posted or hand delivered applications will NOT be considered. No calls, please. Only short- listed candidates will be contacted. Application Deadline: 10th September 2023.

Baylor Foundation Eswatini is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Baylor Foundation Eswatini ’s recruitment and selection policies and procedures reflect our commitment to the safety of children.  Any appointment is subject to commitment to our Child Protection Policy, satisfactory references and criminal record disclosure.