JOB ADVERTISEMENT : FIELD OPERATIONS MANAGER (FOM) - CHP CARE and Health Program Cameroon

A-    BACKGROUND

Cameroon has among the highest burden of HIV in West and Central Africa (2.7% among average risk reproductive age adults – DHS 2018). High HIV prevalence is associated with high-risk sexual behaviours such as inconsistent use of condoms and lubricants and a high rate of sexually transmitted infections (STI). Stigma and discrimination have further marginalized key populations limiting their access to life-saving services such as anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and reducing the country’s ability to control the HIV epidemic

The national response is led by the National AIDS Control Committee (NACC), which coordinates implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan 2021-2023. This policy aims to reduce HIV and STI-related morbidity and mortality and alleviate its socioeconomic impact on the development of Cameroon. Among strategic approaches, the plan stresses improved access to prevention, care and treatment for key populations.

The USAID-funded Community HIV/AIDS Investments for Longer and healthier Lives (CHILL) has the following objectives: (1) HIV testing for Key and Priority populations (KPs & PP); (2) ART uptake for KPs and PPs by ensuring that those who test positive are actively linked to treatment as soon as possible; and (3) improving retention in treatment through improved linkages between facility and community-based services, and reinforced community-based support for adherence and client follow-up.
Care and Health Program (CHP) will be the CHILL prime and will lead the program in partnership with fifteen local community-based organizations (CBO). The consortium is collaborating with the Ministry of Public Health (MOH), NACC and other stakeholders to build the capacity of the national, regional and community response.
These efforts will expand service coverage in five focus regions and generate data for evidence-based programming through the implementation of evidence-based prevention, care and treatment services to key and priority populations in Cameroon.

In the context of this project, CHP is recruiting a Field Operations Manager (FOM) with the following criteria:

PROJECT PERIOD: 5 Years
CONTRACT PERIOD: 3.5 years, beginning from May 6, 2024
PLACE: Yaounde
CONTRACT TYPE: CDD
TRIAL PERIOD: 3 Months Renewable after evaluation.

POSITION LOCATION
The Field Operations Manager will be a member of the CHILL team based at the CHP Central Office Yaoundé.

BASIC FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
    Technical (20%)
The FOM
1.    With Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators’ support, he/she will ensure that clients effectively access client-friendly HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, care, treatment, and additional support services, including sexual and reproductive health, family planning, TB, sexual- and gender-based violence, legal, psychosocial, substance use, etc., at both community and health facility levels. He/she will also ensure that clients receive high quality adherence counseling, client messaging and tracking, case management, and retention in care support.
2.    The Field Operations Manager will work closely with CHILL’s technical leads to ensure that clients receive appropriate prevention, care and treatment services, including: linkage with prevention outreach, access to condoms and lubricants, information, education, and communication material; treatment of opportunistic infections, sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), HIV diagnostics, TB diagnosis and treatment (and TB-HIV program linkage), palliative care, psychosocial care and supports.
3.    S/he will keep abreast of emerging data concerning referral, linkage to care, and retention in care, and will provide guidance and advice to colleagues and implementing partners.

    Program Management (20%)
The FOM
1.    Conducts regular site visits and works closely with the CHILL Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators to ensure that activities are being implemented on time and as planned. Based on information collected during field visits, s/he communicates findings and recommendations for strengthening activities to the DCOP-Programs, other senior technical leads, and broader CHILL team, implementing partners as appropriate.
2.    Help partners develop sustainable strategies, provide direction and capacity strengthening, reach agreement on follow-up actions, and follow through to ensure they are effectively carried out. S/he will work with closely with Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators and Field actors to ensure various program activities are evidence-based, best practice or theory-driven, and that partners use the latest evidence-based intervention guidance. S/he will assist implementing partners to understand compliance with all relevant Cameroon, WHO, USAID and PEPFAR regulations and procedures.
3.    Develop with the Technical Leads, Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators and Implementing Partners an annual / quarterly work plan and reporting in collaboration with the MEAL Specialist under the leadership of the DCOP - Programs. S/he also contributes to drafting narratives of quarterly, semi-annul and annual reports, relevant presentations, and briefing papers.

    Coordination (20%)
The FOM
1.    Ensures the roll out and implementation of various program interventions/strategies across the different program areas such as prevention, care, treatment, monitoring and evaluation.
2.    Supports Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators to assist in and guide implementing partners (IP) monthly planning meetings and validates the monthly action plans.
3.    In collaboration with the technical leads organizes monthly coordination meetings between DICs and other stakeholders.
4.    Synthesizes and validates Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators’ reports from Implementing Partners’ weekly debriefing meetings.
5.    Supports Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators and follows-up CBO partners in implementation of their action plans.
6.    Participates in program design meetings, which include planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
7.    Oversees planning and implementation of all events at CHILL sites, including the logistics for trainings, meetings, visits etc.
8.    Informs the DCOP- Programs of any attempted fraud, fraud, corruption or misuse of resources from implementing partners.

    Coaching and Technical Support (10%)
The FOM
1.    Provides supportive supervision of Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators planned activities and takes corrective measures.
2.    Participates in the identification of gaps and proposes training themes for strengthening the technical and organizational capacities of team members and IP.

    Monitoring and Reporting (10%)
              The FOM
1.    Contributes to the capitalization of results and good practices of the project.
2.    Assists in the monitoring of quality services by making sure all services are offered based on established Standard Operating Procedures and service delivery tools.
3.    In collaboration with Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators, M&E and finance team, ensures the respect of technical and financial deadlines for reports submission by IP.
4.    Provides regular feedback to Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators and Technical Leads on CBOs’ technical performance and follow recommendations.

    Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (10%)
The FOM
1.    Contributes to the capacity assessment of IP and follow-up on the capacity development plans.
2.    With Prevention and Site Activities Coordinators’ support, provides coaching and support towards the improvement of services based on various quality assessment visits such as: QA/QI, SIMS, External Evaluators.
3.    Contributes to non-stigmatizing service provision through regular visits, on-site supervision and feedback from clients.
    Procurement and Supply Chain management for HIV/AIDS commodities and drugs (10%)
                   The FOM
1.    Ensures that prevention and HTS supplies and all related commodities are timely supplied to DICs.
2.    Ensures the tracking of all commodities put at the disposal of CBOs to be distributed to clients.
3.    Forecasting for ARVs, STI drugs, Laboratory reagents and equipment’s f or ART delivery and STI/PrEP/HIVST service completed.
4.    Support to supply chain management provided by subcontracting logistic company and participation in logistics task force.
5.    Technical assistance provided to inventory and supply chain management officers f or obtain of HIV/AIDS drug and commodities.
6.    Work closely with PSM and Chemonics
    Job profile:
    The FOM
•    Shall hold a minimum of a master’s degree in Public Health, Administration and/or other relevant discipline, and have a minimum of 03 years’ experience in public health programming including at least 2 years leading similar programs.
•    Shall be fluent in both English and French and serve as the main contact between USAID and CHILL.
•    Demonstrated ability to manage and support diverse teams in challenging environments, leading cross-sectoral programming and leading consortia.
•    Proven ability to develop relationships good teamwork player.

    Other skills and abilities:
•    Ability to multi-task within tight deadlines and with strong attention to details
•    Excellent communication skills in both French and English
•    Highly motivated, willing to learn,service-oriented and able to work under high pressure


If you are interested in pursuing any of these opportunities, please submit a resume, a cover letter, CV, copy of certificate/diploma and a list of at least three (3) professional references no later than 26/04/ 2024 to chp@carehealthprogram.org with “Position Title" in the subject line or deposit it physically at CHP Headquarter Office located behind the « center regional office of taxation at Omnisport »

OTHER INFORMATION
•    Female candidates are encouraged.
•    Only selected candidates will be called.