JOB DESCRIPTION

Background (EpiC Project)

Meeting Targets and Achieving Epidemic Control (EpiC) is a global project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that provides strategic technical assistance and direct service delivery to achieve HIV epidemic control among at-risk populations and strengthen global health security. EpiC has been operational in India since 2021 and had been supporting the national community systems strengthening (CSS) efforts under the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) by focusing on organizational capacity strengthening of community-based organizations (CBOs) working with vulnerable and at-risk populations in the states of Maharashtra and Telangana, and national level networks. Additionally, EpiC has been supporting lifesaving activities among people living with HIV (PLHIV) by supporting community-pharmacy for treatment; addressing non-communicable disease (NCD) screening and management among adult/aging PLHIV clients; and enhancing engagement of young people living with HIV (YLHIV) for index testing and promotion of early initiation and retention on treatment and responsible living through U=U messaging.

In the light of the Executive Order issued by the Trump administration in January 2025, the EpiC India workplan for fiscal year 2025 is being revised to support implementation of lifesaving activities that align to the latest guidance issued by The Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD). In the PEPFAR geography of Maharashtra, EpiC is to:

Accelerate early HIV case finding among hidden and unreached at-risk populations in community and facility settings to meet the 1st 95 goals Support lifesaving care and treatment linkages through early linkage and retention on treatment, viral suppression to meet the 2nd and 3rd 95 goals Address co-morbidities including mitigation of advanced HIV disease (AHD), tuberculosis (TB), opportunistic infections (OIs) and NCDs among adult PLHIV

EpiC India is looking to hire a full-time Team Leader/Senior Technical Advisor– HIV to support the incorporation and implementation of evidence-based best practices at site level in the assigned PEPFAR geography of Maharashtra to meet the above objectives.

Job Summary

EpiC is seeking applications from qualified and experienced candidates to fill a new position of Team Leader / Senior Technical Advisor – HIV for EpiC India. The incumbent is to be based at the FHI 360 Country Office in New Delhi and will provide strategic and technical leadership and direction to the project team to steer efficient, timely and effective project implementation, and assist the EpiC India Project Director in stakeholder coordination and management particularly National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS), and other PEPFAR and Global Fund partners at the national and state level. Reporting to the Project Director, EpiC India, the Team Leader / Sr. Technical Advisor-HIV will oversee and coordinate case finding, care and treatment activities by leading the technical expert/s responsible for field level implementation of activities, including ensuring that targets set by the funder are met and reported in line with donor / MSACS requirement. S/he will coordinate with the Project Director to bring in new technical expertise and updated global practices.

Job Responsibilities:

Lead the implementation of EpiC project activities focusing on accelerated HIV case finding and care and treatment, addressing co-morbidities including tuberculosis (TB), opportunistic infections (OIs) and NCDs among PLHIV in the PEPFAR priority state of Maharashtra, and some above site activities.

Support the EpiC India Project Director to ensure collaboration and coordination with the NACO, SACS, USAID/State Department, Global Fund partners and other key country and state level stakeholders by regularly meeting and consulting with all relevant agencies to share information and to stimulate joint design, implementation and evaluation of interventions.

Develop scopes of work, project deliverables and monitoring and evaluation indicators and targets together with the Strategic Information (SI) team for the service delivery partner/s.

Work with the service delivery partner/s to actively monitor and proactively adjust field implementation strategies to increase HIV testing uptake, and case-finding among at-risk populations.

Provide HIV care and treatment related technical and management support for HIV facilities and CSO partners to strengthen case management services, ensure ART initiation and strengthen viral load suppression through innovative, evidence-based programming, including introduction of community-based ART models and facility based models focusing on improving quality of patient-centric care.

Develop/ adopt technical tools and resources to roll-out the lifesaving activities in Maharashtra.

Work with the Strategic Information team to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of HIV interventions and to track programmatic performance and to design and implement corrective actions where interventions and strategies do not deliver the anticipated outcomes.

Remain informed on current state-of-the-art programs in the HIV/AIDS care and treatment with focus on at-risk and vulnerable populations, through the review of literature and articles, and maintains link with other international bodies which specialize in at-risk population focused HIV treatment and care;

Contribute to the preparation of project deliverables including monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual reports etc.) and documenting program activities and deliverables.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Project Director, EpiC India

Qualifications and Experience

Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology and other related areas.

Minimum of 12 years of experience in HIV/AIDS service delivery including the design and implementation of customized projects that fit within the country strategic plans and partnership frameworks.

Knowledge of current India’s national HIV/AIDS program and the gaps and challenges in meeting the 95:95:95 goals. Knowledge of the GHSD guidance on life-saving activities on HIV care and treatment services will be preferable.

In-depth technical knowledge and experience of the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) and experience of working with NACO and SACS, preferably Maharashtra SACS.

Demonstrated experience in HIV case finding, in both community and facility settings, including testing, counselling, linkage, treatment and care including viral load testing and innovative approaches to accelerate partner/ index testing, and care and treatment.

Prior team lead experience and supervisory experience is mandatory.

Highly proficient with MS Project, and the Microsoft suite of programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Visio).

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills.

Ability to motivate, influence and work well with others.

The position will be based in New Delhi, India and work out of the FHI 360 Country office and is open for Indian national candidates only.

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

Suitably qualified candidates openly living with HIV are also actively encouraged to apply.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements