Public Health Specialist (Laboratory) – The U.S. Mission in Accra
Job Description
Duties
The job holder serves as a senior Public Health Specialist supporting the Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) and other Centers/Institutes/Offices (CIOs), Divisions, and Programs activities for the implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of assigned public health program activities and studies. Job holder plays an essential role in developing annual laboratory strategies, budgets, and drafts regular progress reports related to program activities. Job holder’s duties include technical support, advice and guidance, day-to-day program and administrative management and coordination and collaboration with colleagues of other agencies and public health entities that administer similar public health programs in Ghana. Job holder leads strategic public health activities as assigned. Serves as the subject matter expert (SME) in the area of laboratory methods, quality and safety to provide guidance and insight to the team. Job holder engages with key stakeholders within and outside USG (mid to high level) to ensure alignment and support for organizational goals and to identify the opportunities and improvement for programs. Job holder coordinates funding, report compliance and administrative recordkeeping with the implementing partners to assure projects are conducted in accordance with the implementing agreement and that USG funds are appropriately utilized. The position requires public health technical knowledge, results-oriented analytical skills, advocacy, and constant and clear communication with implementing partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and host country ministries responsible for public health Laboratory programs.
Program Management (50%)
Working alone or as part of a team, job holder assists with the initial development and ongoing management of one or more program activities designed to meet CDC’s objectives in country.
Drafts memoranda, policy statements, and proposals to introduce new initiatives and to recommend effective operations consistent with strategic objectives of CDC’s programs. Job holder serves as a global health technical liaison and advisor with implementing partners of laboratory programs to achieve desired results as specified in the implementing grant, cooperating agreement, or contract. The annual value of implementing grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts in Ghana in fiscal year 2025 for which job holder is responsible for managing or
directing is $22 million USD. Job holder provides guidance and direction to grantees, program collaborators, and contractors on managing and implementing various laboratory activities to ensure consistency with USG and mission policies and guidance and host country policy regulations. Participates with implementing partners in the development of work plans to implement activities following cooperative agreement awards. Provides technical direction for proposals that result in a grant and/or cooperative agreement (CoAg). Engages actively in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the Country Operational Plan, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports.
Technical Assistance (20%)
Job holder provides direct technical assistance to the Government of Ghana and its Ministry of Health (MoH), and other implementing partners on the implementation and establishment of high-quality laboratory programs at the national, district, and local levels and ensures that services are based on the latest standards of practice. Acts as a national, regional, and international resource in matters within the job holder’s portfolio and develops global, national, and sub-national level policy, technical guidance, and training materials.
Interagency Coordination (15%)
Job holder represents CDC in agency and intra- and inter-agency technical working groups, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with collaborators and donor agencies, frequently taking the lead role on laboratory projects. These projects are general short-term and most often have to do with special requirements for VIP visits, special projects, etc. This would include 3-4 ad hoc projects per year where the position would have a lead role. Job holder will focus on non-duplication of services provided by USG agencies, implementing partners, and contractors and shares strategies to influence other organizations engaged in laboratory programs to adopt a collaborative approach to program activities.
Administrative Management (15%)
Job holder is responsible for program development within own area of responsibility. This includes strategies, activities, work plans, and completing required program plans as outlined by HQ and HHS/DoS (Annual Operational Plans/Annual Work Plans). Job holder is the primary author of regular progress reports related to program activities. Job holder is responsible for providing oversight and monitoring of the budget within his/her portfolio.
Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:
All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a:
- Public Trust Security Clearance.
All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.
Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time 12 weeks upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
Education Requirements:
Doctoral level (terminal) degree, Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Doctor of Medicine (MD) or host country equivalent degree in public health, biology, epidemiology, or allied sciences is required.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.Evaluations:
You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement.
You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
You must complete the application form and provide the required documents. Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.Qualifications:
Experience:
Five years of mid to senior level public health experience in developing, implementing and evaluating public health programs or development assistance programs that involve coordination with an international agency or implementing partner is required.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Language:
Fluency in Speaking/Reading/Writing English and at least one local language (eg Twi, Fante, Ewe, Ga) and may include the ability to translate
Please address this language requirement in your ERA application.
Job Knowledge:
Detailed knowledge of current host country public health issues. Knowledge of general program design, implementation, and evaluation is also required. In-depth knowledge of various public health services including prevention, emergency response and workforce development is required. Detailed knowledge of the host government health care system and structures, including familiarity with MOH policies, program priorities, and regulations is required. Good working knowledge of team management techniques to plan, organize and direct multi-disciplinary activities is required. Good working knowledge of overall administrative requirements, such as timelines and utilizing systems and databases, and processing requirements; budgeting and fiscal management in support of implementing grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts is required.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Skills And Abilities:
Strong oral and written communication skills are required to develop and maintain effective, sustainable working relationships with national and international partners. Ability to analyze, understand and discuss new program design, management and implementation approaches is required. Intermediate user level of word processing, advanced spreadsheets features is required. Numerical skills for data analysis are required.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:Agency Benefits:
The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees.
For Eligible Family Member (EFM) applicants, benefits should be discussed with the HR Office. The pay plan is assigned by the HR Office and confirmed by Washington, D.C.Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:
A hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the order listed below. It is essential you accurately describe your status in your application, failure to do so may result in a determination that you are not eligible for a hiring preference.
HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER
- Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
- AEFM / USEFM
- Foreign Service (FS) on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) with reemployment rights **
* IMPORTANT: US citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”) preferably Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability, equivalent documentation, or certification. A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
** This level of preference applies to all FS employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, etc., please visit the 3 FAM 7210 Definitions.
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs only:
- Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible. This does not apply when the hiring mechanism is TEMP or the work schedule is intermittent or irregular.
- Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing.
The following apply to Locally Employed (LE) staff only:
- Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible.
- Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, or an MBC score of less than 100 points on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible.
How to Apply
How to Apply:
Click the “Apply to This Vacancy” button at the top of the page to begin your application. For an instructional video on how to apply click here.
Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills (including English), and job related skills or requirements in your application.
You may edit your application any time before the vacancy closing date. If you fail to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date of this vacancy, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
For a copy of the complete position description, please contact the HR Office.
To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Office.
Required Documents:
Please upload all applicable documents to your application. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
All Applicants:
- Residency Permit (if applicable)
- Work Permit (if applicable)
- University Degree
- Professional License
In addition, Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants must submit:
- Copy of Sponsor’s Travel Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
- Passport copy
- DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
- SF-50 (if applicable)
Next Steps:
The HR Office will contact successful applicants. For more information on applying for jobs or employment with us, please visit the U.S. Mission website https://gh.usembassy.gov/jobs/.
Thank you for your application and your interest in working with us.