TB/HIV Technical Specialist

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

time type

Full time

posted on

Posted 5 Days Ago

job requisition id

JR38830

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Key Responsibilities:

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

World Vision International in Papua New Guinea is the Principal Recipient (PR) to Global Fund’s Grant “Managing integrated TB/ HIV response in PNG. The Grant cycle 7 (GC7) period is from January 2025 to December 2026 and is also supported by World Vision Australia.

The funding request for Grant Cycle 7 proposed an enhanced package of services with the desire to concentrate interventions, demonstrate impact, increase efficiency and provide lessons for scale up in the coming years. This enhanced package of services needs to be implemented with implementation fidelity, requiring consistent technical support to the implementation team (PHA and SRs). Given the short duration of implementation cycle, PR will work closely with the PHAs to directly implement services in 4 provinces namely National Capital District, Morobe, Western Highlands and West New Britain, while SRs will have to adopt to implementation of new HIV interventions in the funding request and achieve results within two years., with increased focus on HIV prevention efforts and to close the gaps between prevention and treatment services.

The TB and HIV technical Specialist will work in collaboration with National TB and HIV Programs to provide critical technical support to the Provincial Health Authority, Principal Recipient team, Sub-Recipient (SR) in the implementation of enhanced package of TB and HIV interventions under the Global Fund grant. The specialist will collaborate closely with the PHA, Sub-Recipient’s teams, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations to enhance the quality of TB and HIV services and strengthen the capacity of key stakeholders.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide technical support for HIV interventions

• Offer guidance on design and implementation of HIV prevention programs, including condom and lubricant distribution, PrEP and PEP provision, SRH integration, and peer-led outreach.
• Support differentiated HIV testing approaches: facility-based testing, self-testing, index partner and family testing, and social network–based strategies.
• Provide technical oversight for elimination of vertical transmission through integrated HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B testing in antenatal care, ensuring early infant diagnosis, ARV prophylaxis, and HBV birth dose vaccination.
• Guide implementation of innovative HIV treatment and care, including same-day ART initiation, management of advanced HIV disease, adherence counselling, viral load monitoring, and differentiated service delivery models.
• Ensure integration of gender, equity, and human rights principles into all HIV interventions.
• Provide ongoing technical guidance and support to SR staff and partners in ensuring the effective delivery of HIV services for Key Populations.

Provide technical support for TB interventions

• Provide expertise on systematic TB screening at community and facility levels, including use of symptom screening tools, CXR, and WHO-recommended algorithms.
• Strengthen diagnostic networks through use of GeneXpert, advanced specimen referral and transport systems, and digital tools for result dissemination.
• Provide oversight for comprehensive TB care, including standardized first-line treatment, DR-TB management through programmatic management of drug-resistant TB (PMDT), and patient-centered adherence support (including social support).
• Promote integration of TB/HIV services, including one-stop-shop models, joint case management, and intensified case finding among PLHIV.
• Support targeted interventions for key and vulnerable populations (e.g., miners, migrants, prisoners).

Capacity building and health systems strengthening

• Assess Technical capacity of sub-recipients and provide technical support in implementation of enhanced packages of interventions, program management, and reporting.
• Provide mentorship, training, and supportive supervision to health workers, laboratory staff, and community cadres on TB/HIV service delivery.
• Strengthen PHAs and district-level health systems in planning, governance, and coordination of TB/HIV interventions.
• Support development and scale-up of integrated TB/HIV laboratory and sample transport systems to improve access to diagnostics.
• Contribute to health workforce planning, ensuring adequate staffing, role clarity, and sustainability of technical capacity at all levels.

Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)

• Support the program quality team in development and use of program indicators to track TB/HIV service delivery and outcomes.
• Guide data quality assurance, analysis, and interpretation at facility, provincial, and national levels.
• Contribute to preparation of donor reports, Global Fund grant performance reviews, and national program reporting.
• Document best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches for knowledge sharing and scale-up.

Internal & External Liaison and Coordination

• Coordinate with UNAIDS and WHO to ensure appropriate technical support for HIV is provided to NDOH and PHA
• Participate in key meetings and workshops as appropriate and provide support to the NDOH disease program managers
• Represent the program in national technical working groups and coordination forums.
• Support community engagement, stigma reduction, and advocacy initiatives to address human rights and gender-related barriers.
• Ensure alignment of TB/HIV activities with national strategies, Global Fund grant objectives, and partner-supported programs.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum of five years’ progressive experience in implementing TB and HIV grant programs or health system strengthening programs in developing countries.
• Experience in implementation of programmatic management of Drug Resistant TB (PMDT) including rollout of shorter regimen
• Experience in HIV program implementation, with strong experience on implementation of interventions among Key Populations.
• Experience working in resource-limited settings, particularly in HIV programs supported by international donors such as the Global Fund.
• Proven experience in training, mentoring, and building capacity in health staff and local communities.
• A minimum of medical degree (MD, MBBS)
• Postgraduate training in HIV related trainings
• Registered with a professional practitioner’s body
• In-depth knowledge of TB and HIV control strategies, treatment regimens, and current guidelines (national and international).
• Strong skills in data management, analysis, and reporting.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams and with a range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Global Fund processes and reporting requirements is desirable.
• Strong technical knowledge in HIV prevention, care, and treatment interventions.
• Experience in designing and implementing capacity-building programs for healthcare workers.
• Strong M&E skills, with experience in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience working with Key Populations and understanding the specific needs of these groups.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with the ability to work closely within teams with proven leadership and management skills in coordinating project teams and working with consultants in disease surveillance, surveys, M&E activities and operational research.
• Ability to work with a sense of accountability and responsiveness in a diverse, cross-cultural environment.
• Domestic travels to field locations required for at least 20-30% of the time

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local and International Applicants (IA's) Accepted