MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SANITATION
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: DIRECTORATE OF HIV, STI AND VIRAL HEPATITIS
Context:
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation, through its Directorate of HIV, STIs and Viral Hepatitis (DHA), is actively engaged in enhancing adult HIV care and treatment services nationwide. This effort, supported by the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) under a Cooperative Agreement (CoAg) via a Government-to-Government framework, is designed to elevate treatment outcomes, improve patient retention, boost viral load suppression rates, and ultimately enhance the quality of life for individuals living with HIV. A parallel objective involves strengthening the identification, linkage to care, retention, and viral load suppression for children and adolescents affected by HIV.
Technical Officer – CoAg – (G2G Cooperative Agreement)
Background:
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation, specifically the Directorate of HIV, STIs and Viral Hepatitis (DHA), has established a Cooperative Agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This Government-to-Government (G2G) funding mechanism is dedicated to bolstering district-level HIV response capabilities, facilitating a transition of U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) direct service delivery support to the Ministry, and building district capacity in HIV program management.
Position Objective:
Reporting to the team lead, the Technical Officer will be instrumental in managing HIV Prevention, Care, and Treatment performance at sites not currently supported by partner organizations in Dedza and Ntcheu districts. This role involves mentoring and developing the skills of technical personnel, establishing robust systems and protocols to ensure high-quality HIV/TB Prevention and treatment services that adhere to Ministry of Health and Sanitation standards. The officer will provide crucial technical direction for the cooperative agreement’s implementation, collaborating closely with the Directorate of HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STIs, District Assembly Leadership, and District Medical and facility teams to improve key performance indicators for HIV/TB Prevention and Treatment, aligning with the Ministry's strategic priorities. The Technical Officer will also cultivate and lead a high-performing team focused on achieving ambitious targets and maintaining operational excellence.
Leadership and Management Responsibilities:
- Provide technical, administrative, and financial leadership for the planning, management, and execution of the CoAg, guided by national policies and strategies. This includes developing annual and quarterly work plans, managing budgets, overseeing reporting, monitoring facility performance, compiling reports, preparing proposals, and disseminating findings.
Technical Expertise:
- In collaboration with the technical lead and district teams, ensure the provision of training to technical staff to enhance their proficiency in HIV/TB Prevention, Care & Treatment for both facility and community-based services, routine data collection, reporting, and other relevant areas.
- Work alongside the Directorate of HIV, STIs, and Viral Hepatitis to support the development, dissemination, and utilization of policies by facility teams to advance HIV/TB prevention and treatment service delivery.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Develop and track work plans and action plans for the CoAg Grant.
- Generate quantitative and qualitative reports for all CoAg activities in accordance with established guidelines.
- Create reporting tools for data collection and ensure the timely submission of all reports.
- Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of CoAg activity implementation, ensuring alignment with relevant reporting indicators.
Program Improvement and Innovation:
- Assess progress and identify areas for improvement in the delivery of comprehensive, high-quality HIV/TB services.
- Identify promising practices and develop innovative strategies to enhance service delivery and improve performance indicators.
Team Leadership and Management:
- Develop and lead a dynamic team dedicated to meeting set targets and achieving technical excellence.
- Manage assigned technical and administrative staff working under the CoAg.
Core Responsibilities:
- Offer technical guidance for CoAg implementation, adhering to national policies and strategies. This includes contributing to the technical aspects of annual and quarterly work plans, monitoring facility performance, compiling technical reports, developing technical proposals, and disseminating findings.
- Facilitate training for technical staff to build their capacity in HIV/TB Prevention, Care & Treatment for facility and community services, routine data collection, and reporting, among other key areas.
- Evaluate program progress and pinpoint any deficiencies in providing comprehensive, high-quality HIV/TB services.
- Identify and promote best practices, devising innovative methods to support the delivery of excellent services while enhancing performance metrics.
- Monitor the quality of care, ensuring adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and design and implement quality improvement initiatives.
- Participate in the development, dissemination, and application of policies by facility teams to bolster HIV/TB prevention and treatment service delivery.
- Ensure the availability of data reporting tools and guarantee their timely submission.
- Undertake any other duties as assigned by the Team Lead.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- A comprehensive understanding of the Malawian health delivery system, current health sector programs, HIV program policies, strategies, guidelines, and SOPs.
- Demonstrated technical leadership capabilities.
- Knowledge of operational research, including design, data collection, analysis, and documentation.
- Experience in managing and implementing HIV prevention, care, and treatment services and key performance indicators.
- Training in Testing Services, ART, PMTCT, Viral Hepatitis, and other HIV interventions.
- Proven experience in capacity building of healthcare workers in HIV testing, Care & Treatment.
- Experience as a mentor and supervisor in HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis services.
- Capacity for sound judgment and effective decision-making.
- Strong initiative, ability to develop and execute work plans, and demonstrated problem-solving skills.
- Exceptional organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and reliability.
- Proficient interpersonal skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication and presentation abilities.
- Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality scientific and management documents.
Professional Experience:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine or Nursing from an accredited University/Institution, with current registration from the Medical or Nursing Council of Malawi. A Master’s Degree in Public Health is considered an asset.
- Must be a current employee within the Government of Malawi (Civil Servant).
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in HIV program management.
- Experience in policy development, program implementation, and M&E systems.
Contract Duration:
The selected candidate will be offered a one-year contract, which may be renewed based on satisfactory performance and the continued availability of funding.
Application Instructions:
Qualified individuals who meet the specified criteria are invited to submit their applications. Please include an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) with contact details for three verifiable referees, certified copies of academic and professional certificates, proof of recent professional regulatory license renewal, evidence of current civil service employment, and any other relevant supporting documentation.
Applications must be submitted no later than 22nd May, 2026, to:
The Secretary for Health and Sanitation
Ministry of Health
P. O. Box 30377
LILONGWE 3
Attention: Director of Human Resource Management and Development
Alternatively, applications can be sent via email to: recruitment@health.gov.mw