Job Details

Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 and has since grown to become the largest African-based international health development organisation; currently implementing more than 180 programs, reaching more than 40 million people across 35 African countries; and a staff complement of over 2,000. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref Health Africa has offices in ten countries in Africa – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea (Conakry), Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. An additional eleven advocacy and fundraising offices are located in Europe and North America.

Amref Health Africa is driven by its vision of ‘ Lasting health change in Africa’ and its mission ‘ To catalyze and drive community-led and people-centred health systems while addressing social determinants of health’ . We believe that the power to transform Africa’s health lies within its communities, and therefore strive to ensure that health systems are not only functional but that communities are empowered to hold these systems accountable for the delivery of quality and affordable health care.

Amref Health Africa in Zambia was registered as a local organization in 2016. Amref Health Africa in Zambia is affiliated to Amref headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and is also linked with the Amref International University and Amref Flying Doctors.

Since its establishment in Zambia, Amref has since collaborated with the Government of the Republic of Zambia in developing and implementing innovative health development programs across the country in Human Resource for Health, health financing, maternal, newborn and child health, and health security. The organization has physical presence in 4 provinces and programmatic presence across the country.

Project Background

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) number CDC-RFA-JG-25-0062 in December 2024, the NOFO titled “providing targeted technical assistance to the HIV/TB prevention-care-treatment continuum using cost efficient and scalable quality improvement approaches to address program gaps in support of sustainable HIV services in Zambia under PEPFAR.”  The NOFO aims to support health systems strengthening efforts and the delivery of HIV/TB prevention, care and treatment services to meet the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS 95-95-95 targets from the current 89-98-96 before 2030. The purpose of this NOFO is to provide targeted technical assistance (TA) support to the HIV/TB prevention, care and treatment continuum through cost-efficient and scalable quality improvement approaches. The aim is to address program gaps in targeted areas with unmet needs and support sustainable HIV/TB services in select CDC-supported provinces in Zambia to ensure subnational and national targets are met or exceeded.

Amref Health Africa in Zambia is looking for a qualified Principal Investigator (PI) to lead and oversee the implementation of the anticipated CDC project, including guiding technical strategy, providing financial and operational oversight and managing human resources. The PI ensures compliance with all requirements of the award and all relevant rules and regulations.

The PI is responsible for overall program implementation, strategic vision and outcome achievement. The PI provides an integrated vision for the program and will manage a team of senior staff to ensure the quality, timeliness and efficiency of all products and activities generated under the project.  The PI will be responsible for communications with CDC, for publicly representing the program and for liaising with government and other institutions/stakeholders on issues related to HIV/TB prevention, care and treatment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide program leadership, direction and supervision, including oversight of staff, consultants and partners, monitoring and evaluation and program implementation.
• Ensure that project implementation is in accordance with CDC regulations and procedures and the specifications determined in the statement of work. This will include monitoring grant implementation to ensure quality technical interventions, resulting in concrete and specific outcomes.
• Lead regular work plan, budget and implementation reviews to facilitate the cost-effective and timely achievement of program deliverables.
• Ensure program activities maximize impact and are completed in compliance with CDC rules and regulations, local laws and donor agreement requirements.
• Oversee the production and submission of timely activity and financial reports to CDC, accurately communicating project progress, achievements, challenges and utilization of funds.
• Meet project targets while ensuring fiscal integrity in the use of program funds.
• Act as primary point of contact with CDC, government counterparts and other stakeholders, including other agencies and individuals working on related programs and activities. This will include maintaining cooperation between the CDC and Ministry of Health.
• Provide input and quality control for written reports and oral presentations on the program.
• Represent Amref Health Africa in Zambia and build and maintain a productive relationship with CDC, Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.
• Oversee the Technical Director and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Lead, to ensure timely and quality completion of all program technical and financial deliverables and reports in accordance with CDC guidelines.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and collaboration for CDC/PEPFAR, government partners and other key stakeholders.
• Promote sustainability of project activities with effective networking, linkages to other programs and capacity building of project staff.
• Review project reports and work plans in line with the set targets in coordination with the Technical Director.

Education and Experience

• Minimum a master’s Degree in medicine, Public Health, social sciences, epidemiology or a related field. Academic certificates verified by Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA).
• At least 10 years’ experience in progressive leadership positions managing large-scale programs involving HIV/AIDS, laboratory systems and services, coupled with networking, capacity building, collaboration with NGOs and the Ministry of Health and provision of technical assistance to the Ministry of Health on Laboratory systems and services.
• In-depth knowledge and experience of Zambia’s health system and demonstrate expertise in laboratory system strengthening and services.
• Experience working on CDC/PEPFAR, USAID, and/or other donor-funded HIV/AIDS, prevention, care, treatment and support projects, as well as laboratory systems and services projects.
• Familiarity with Zambia HIV/AIDS/TB policies and health systems strengthening, as well as WHO standards.
• Strongly preferred is proven experience in a leadership role overseeing the administration of international, donor-supported HIV/AIDS projects with budgets exceeding $5,000,000, along with expertise in strategic planning, management, supervision and budgeting.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Ability to communicate effectively in English (written and spoken).
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, donor and governments including Ministry of Health.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a multicultural team.
• Able to work under pressure and on multiple tasks.
• Dynamic, self- motivated and able to demonstrate initiative.
• Willingness to travel extensively within Zambia.

Your application should include a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for this position and your CV with relevant skills and experience. Closing date will be Friday, 24th January 2025 .

Amref Health Africa does not require applicants to pay any money at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process and has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment. Although Amref may use different job boards from time to time to further spread its reach for applicants, all open vacancies are published on our website under the Vacancies page and on our official social media pages. Kindly also note that official emails from Amref Health Africa will arrive from an @amref.org address.

Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is an equal opportunity employer and has a non-smoking environment policy.