Program Officer, HTS & Linkages at Heartland Alliance

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as focal person for HIV prevention (case finding and linkage) in the State and ensure compliance with National Guidelines for basic MPPI and the National Guidelines for HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care 2020.
• Work through LGA Coordinators to prepare weekly/monthly HTS workplans and budgets for the state and submit for approval.
• Support the training of field level staff and volunteers.
• Coordinate HIV Testing and Linkage under direct implementation.
• Keep track on relevant state-specific targets relating to testing and linkage and liaise with the state community and facility teams to design state-specific strategies that will deliver assigned targets across various testing streams.
• Conduct routine advocacy and community engagement with program gatekeepers and the government to create favorable environment for implementation of HIV Testing Services and GBV interventions in the State.
• Liaise and consult regularly with OVC Partners as well as other relevant partners and stakeholders to ensure a friendly environment for program implementation.
• Support the State GBV Focal Person to design and deliver Gender Based Violence programs and post-GBV care services for program participants in the state, in line with Heartland Alliance Gender Strategy.
• Aid sub-grant partners on program management issues, relating to case finding and linkage, when required.
• Assist in responding to Heartland Alliance LTD/GTE donor requests and preparing state level reports.
• Liaise with other program and M&E staff for site supervision to ensure program implementation and compliance at the state level.
• Represent HALG in state-level meetings with donor representatives, government partners, sub-grantees, applicants and the public as may be required.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or competency required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Education and/or Experience:

• First degree in social science, public health or another relevant discipline.
• At least 3 years’ relevant work experience in international development. Experience working in an HIV prevention and care program will be an added advantage.
• Familiarity with data reporting softwares like google sheet.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender responsive programming.
• Ability to work effectively with government and civil society partners and communities as well as transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through workshops, training and meetings using participatory methods and adult learning principles. 
• Willingness to travel within Nigeria.

Preferred Skills:

• Ability to work effectively with government and civil society partners and communities as well as transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through workshops, training and meetings using participatory methods and adult learning principles.

Other Competencies:

• Time Management – Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time and complete projects in a fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively.
• Adaptability - adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Cultural Sensitivity – Respects cultural environment in which person is working and does not act in a manner that is outwardly offensive to the local community.
• Non-discriminatory- Does not discriminate persons based on sexual orientation or gender identity, age, preferred jobs or behavioral habits.

Language Skills:

• Excellent oral and written English communication skills.
• Knowledge of Local Language preferred.
• Demonstrated competency in public speaking.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange, Windows operating systems, Power Point.
• Other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The employee will be required to co-locate with local partners usually in the same office.
• The employee is required to travel regularly to often insecure and limited resource environments.