Technical Officer (Project Axshya) - The Union (Apply by: October 26, 2015)

JOB DESCRIPTION
Technical Officer-Project Axshya, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), New Delhi

1. POSITION VACANT: Technical Officer- Project Axshya, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), New Delhi

2. BACKGROUND:

The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) is an international scientific organization headquartered in Paris, France, since 1920. It has regional and country offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America and South-East Asia regions.

Union South East Asia (USEA), one of the organization’s largest offices since 2009, has managedProject Axshya, a Global Fund Round 9 project designed to extend the reach of India’s Revised National TB Control Programme through advocacy, communication and social mobilization activities in 300 districts across 21 states. Other key projects are to support tobacco control efforts in India, Nepal and Bangladesh through the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use; Project LIGHT, which brought fluorescent LED microscopes to 200 Medical Colleges across India; and the Eli-Lilly supported project to expand sustainable TB control in India. USEA also coordinates trainings to build capacity in the management of TB and MDR-TB, operational research, programme management and other skills.

For more information about The Union visit www.theunion.org

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Project Coordinator, Project Management Unit, The Union South-East Asia Office, the Technical Officer will be responsible for providing technical assistance to the State and District TB cells for planning, implementation, monitoring and supervision of ACSM activities under the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) and Project Axshya.

Job Responsibilities:

1) Provide technical support for training, supervision and implementation of the Global Fund (GF) project, according to the project plan and alignment with the RNTCP; Support the development of training material, ensure quality and standards of content, follow up trainees and support and supervise implementation of best practices; 
2) Provide technical support in the implementation of project activities identified in the PIP of the PR and the operational plans of SRs, SSRs to ensure delivery of outcomes agreed in the performance framework; coordinate closely with SRs and SSRs, programme managers at the state and district levels to coordinate and support collection of routine reports, maintenance of project records, validation of data, timely analysis;
3) Coordinate and engage with Private health sector (General Practitioners, Private Hospitals and Private Laboratories) to promote Standards for TB Care in India (STCI) in project districts through SRs or field team directly; 
4) Provide technical expertise in the development and conduct of training that will build organizational capacities required by sub-recipients and partners, including SSRs to implement Global Fund project interventions; 
5) Assist in training, supervision and implementation of the GF project;  work with SRs and SSRs to establish good practices of intensive supervision of the project; inspect and crosscheck project records and evaluate these against objective performance through review of project records, interviews with patients, providers, community groups, policy makers, programme staff, and others; in coordination with the M & E staff in the project, establish systems which will facilitate monitoring of the project at the district, state, regional, and national levels;
6) Support the supervision of project implementation in conjunction with identified staff from SRs and SSRs; personally visit intervention sites and provide supportive supervision of project activities to ensure delivery of project outcomes defined in the performance framework and at a community level;
7) Specifically, SRs/SSRs are to be visited at least quarterly; intervention sites are to be visited in a systematic plan developed in agreement with the Project Coordinator and the SRs;
8) Assist in coordinating and actively participate in periodic review meetings of SRs/SSRs and partners/stakeholders for quarterly reporting, training, advocacy and communication initiatives;
9) Identify problems/challenges in project implementation and report to the PMU along with potential solutions;
10) Assist in ensuring coordination among government, non-government and private sectors including involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private providers; coordinate closely with the national programme at national, state and district level; coordinate and synergise closely with other GF PRs/SRs;
11) Assist in communicating up-to-date information on project implementation and feedback on policy implementation.  This includes ensuring accurate and timely quarterly project reporting, including electronic transmission;
12) Provide a succinct report on the status of project implementation, and on any important developments, on a monthly basis in the prescribed format;
13) Coordinate and assist in the creation, collection and sharing of information related to tuberculosis control and the GF project;
14) Assist the Project Coordinator and work closely with and ensure project objectives alignment with the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP); regularly meet with the National Programme Manager and her/his team in the state and district level and coordinate closely with and support state and district programme managers; participate in and represent the Union in RNTCP review and other meetings as deputed;
15) Perform other relevant duties as required by the Project Director and Regional Director of The Union South East-Asia Office.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualifications:
Applicants must have a professional degree in Medicine and/or Public Health.

Experience:
1) At least eight years’ experience in public health programmes at the National/State level;
2) Experience of working with Private Health sector and National TB Programme (RNTCP) will be an advantage;
3) Experience of working with National/International organisations will be an advantage;
4) Experience in capacity building/mentoring.

Competencies and skills:
1) Willingness to travel within the country as required; 
2) Willingness to participate in team induction and meetings as required;
3) Fluent written and spoken English;
4) Knowledge of Hindi and at least one other Indian regional language would be an advantage;
5) Strong oral and written communication, consultation and interpersonal skills;
6) Excellent organisational skills and ability to successfully manage competing priorities and meet deadlines;
7) Capacity to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment with tact and diplomacy;
8) Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

The Union is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women candidates are encouraged to apply.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The gross remuneration budgeted for this position is attractive. Please note that offers shall be commensurate with the qualifications, experience and salary history of the selected candidate.

6. LOCATION: New Delhi

7. REFERENCE: TO-UNION

8. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senior Consultant
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025 
Phones: 011-2684-2162; 011-4165-3612; 011-4101-1564 and 011-4101-1565

9. LAST DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:

Interested candidates must send their latest resume/CV along with the cover letter and remuneration expectations, latest by 26th October, 2015 to to-union@sams.co.in indicating the position applied for in the subject line.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.