Community Project Coordinator at Zambia Alliance for Healthy Empowered Communities

Organization: Zambia Alliance for Healthy Empowered Communities
Position Title: Community Project Coordinator
Department: Program
Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Reports to: Program Manager

The Community Program Coordinator will work closely with the Principal Investigators, Program Manager, and Hospital staff at two Lusaka District Hospitals in implementing a dynamic set of interventions that will link and retain HIV-positive adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in HIV prevention, treatment and care services, with an emphasis on ensuring regular access to ART for HIV positive AGYW. The Community Project Coordinator will oversee the daily implementation of the community-based aspects and activities of the AGYW program, including developing community-based psychosocial-educational programing, and assist with the training and supervision of new community programming staff at other locations. This Community Program Coordinator will work directly with both HIV-positive and -negative AGYW enrolled in the program and work closely with the partnering Hospital staff to ensure coordination with hospital services. The Community Program Coordinator is responsible for building and maintaining close relationships with DREAMS and other HIV Testing programs around partnering Hospitals and collaborating with their staff in identifying eligible AGYW to engage in this dynamic program, as well as establish supportive relationships with each eligible AGYW engaged in the program. S/he will have responsibility to help train and supervise a group of Community Volunteers who will be an essential part of the AGYW program through the provision of Peer Navigator like skills and support to participants. S/he will have responsibility to ensure that program records are current and provide monthly reports. S/he is responsible for ensuring that the program team provides high quality technical products and clinical services, delivers required results, and uses resources efficiently and cost effectively. The Community Program Coordinator will also work closely with the Program Manager and other program staff to ensure that all program elements are working in harmony and are complimentary to both program and overall hospital goals.

Opportunity:  We are looking for young professionals who have both a passion for and experience with AGYW to implement a dynamic, innovative, exciting and new intervention and support program that creates the best possible support structures for HIV-positive and

-negative AGYW to ensure access to and retention in HIV treatment and care for HIV-positives and prevention services for HIV-negatives.  Because this is a new and ambitious program with a highly vulnerable population, there is a steep learning curve. Candidates should be tenacious and industrious with a flexible skill set that includes a thorough understanding of the social dynamics of the target population, an understanding of HIV prevention and treatment options, good communication skills with AGYW, the ability to motivate, the ability to provide individual and group support, patience, respect for individual differences, the ability to interact professionally in community and health care settings, and a demonstrated commitment to HIV prevention, treatment and care. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to provide essential support and mentoring to vulnerable and at-risk AGYW.

Hours: Full-time with flexible schedule, including some weekend hours. Some travel required.

For Immediate Hire. All applications must be received by 13th September, 2019 with expected hire date 1 October 2019

ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage and oversee on-the-ground implementation of the HIV community services elements of the AGYW program in Lusaka, Zambia.
• Work closely with the Principal Investigators and Program Manager to track and manage the program budget and monitor the effective use of program funds.
• Ensure day-to-day program implementation aligns with the annual work plan, and program objectives and commitments.
• Establish and maintain relationships with identified DREAMS and other HIV Testing partners, and other community partner organizations to ensure an effective and efficient referral process and quality care coordination for eligible AGYW, and to identify and resolve issues that may impede program success.
• Collaborate with the Program Manager, the Community Volunteers, and the Hospital staff regarding all referrals.
• Attend Hospital team huddles and departmental meetings on an as needed basis to ensure coordination of referrals with appropriate treatment and care services, and all program related linkages.
• Lead regular supervision meetings of all community-based program staff, as well as participate in regular distance led supervision by the Principal Investigators when they are not in Lusaka.
• Liaise with the Program Manager and Hospital staff on program related issues.
• In collaboration with the Program Manager, conduct regular field visits of program partner’s (identified DREAMS, HIV Testing partners, and other community partner organizations) sites to keep abreast of key issues associated with overall program efficiency and effectiveness and to ensure appropriate support and mentoring of the
• Community Volunteers and their day-to-day activities.
• Review regularly the identified evaluation data collected by the community-based services to ensure quality and integrity, and submit as scheduled.
• Review regularly the identified evaluation data collected by the Community Volunteers and about the range of HIV services provided in the community to ensure quality and integrity, and submit as scheduled.
• Ensure that all narrative and activity reports are submitted to the Program Manager in a timely manner.
• Coordinate program related events such as workshops, assessment visits, and annual work planning, including stigma reduction activities.
• In collaboration with the Program Manager, coordinate the annual work planning process with partners.
• Represent the AGYW program as requested at various stakeholder meetings.
• Liaise with the Program Manager and Principal Investigators on program related issues.
• Liaise with other U.S. Government partners working in similar health program areas as requested
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, or a related degree, with at least 2 years of experience in a similar position.
• Exceptional communication skills and ability to understand, relate to and motivate adolescent girls and young women, as well as to work effectively with program and hospital colleagues.
• Deep, demonstrated commitment to empowering and working with youth as partners.
• Experience in managing budgets and collaborating with multiple projects/partners.
• Knowledge of program design, management and monitoring tools
• Significant experience with the HIV/ART prevention, treatment and care continuum.
• Knowledge of financial and human resources management, and general administration of program activities.
• Demonstrated group facilitation skills.
• Knowledge of Lusaka 1st Level Hospitals, local health care system and resources, as well as local DREAMS and other HIV Testing partners.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Competency with computer skills (e.g. Word, Excel and basic data file management).
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including well-developed organizational and time prioritization skills.

.