Consultant for Sexual Health and HIV Unit

Job Posting Organization:
The consultancy is being conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) in Fiji, specifically through the Sexual Health and HIV Unit. The organization is dedicated to improving health outcomes and ensuring that sexual health is recognized as a fundamental component of overall health and human rights. The MHMS aims to integrate sexual health services into the national health agenda, addressing the challenges posed by the HIV epidemic and promoting well-being across all genders and life stages. The organization is committed to universal health coverage and health for all, with a focus on building capacity and sustainability in sexual health programming.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a pivotal role in supporting the MHMS by providing technical and strategic leadership to strengthen sexual health as a core function of the health system in Fiji. This position involves mentoring the national Sexual Health Officer to enhance technical and leadership capacity in sexual health policy and service delivery. The consultant will work towards embedding sexual health within the health system, ensuring that individuals can achieve the highest standard of sexual well-being, free from coercion and discrimination. The role requires integrating comprehensive sexual health services across various life stages and linking them with HIV, STI, gender-based violence, and mental health services. The consultant will also facilitate national and community consultations to gather feedback and recommendations for the development of a national sexual health strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key deliverables, including: 1) Developing a nationally endorsed Sexual Health Strategy aligned with WHO guidelines and Fiji’s health priorities. 2) Conducting a comprehensive situation and gap analysis of sexual health and related determinants. 3) Producing a costed national implementation plan with actionable milestones. 4) Facilitating consultations with various stakeholders to gather inclusive feedback. 5) Developing Fiji-specific clinical care pathways and standard operating procedures for sexual health services. 6) Creating a national training curriculum for sexual health service delivery. 7) Conducting Training of Trainers workshops to establish a cadre of certified facilitators. 8) Developing supportive supervision tools and quality assurance checklists. 9) Mentoring the Sexual Health Officer and documenting capacity transfer and service improvements. 10) Developing community-based communication strategies to promote positive sexual health and rights.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor's degree in medicine, nursing, public health, or a related field as essential qualifications. A postgraduate qualification in one of these fields is desirable. The consultant must possess strong technical expertise in sexual health, HIV, STI, and sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), along with experience in developing national strategies and operational tools. Skills in training design, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement are essential, while experience in Pacific Island health systems and knowledge of gender-based violence and mental health approaches are considered advantageous.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold at least a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as medicine, nursing, or public health. A postgraduate qualification is preferred but not mandatory. The educational background should provide a solid foundation in health principles, particularly in sexual health and rights.

Experience:
The consultant should have a minimum of 7 years of experience as a senior public health professional, specifically in sexual health, HIV/STI prevention, and sexual and reproductive health programming. International experience in resource-constrained settings is essential, as it enables the consultant to adapt global best practices to local contexts. Experience working with the UN system and in the Western Pacific Region is desirable.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the local context may be beneficial but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for 11 months, starting from February 1, 2026, to December 31, 202

• The consultant will be based in Fiji and is expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work. Remuneration is set at Band level B, with a daily wage rate ranging from USD 350 to 49
• Living expenses will be provided based on the daily subsistence allowance for Suva, Fiji. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Public Health Specialist and the Acting Team Coordinator for Pacific Health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security and Communicable Diseases.