Program Officer, HIV Testing Services (HTS)

Job Posting Organization:
The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization founded in 2002, dedicated to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries. CHAI operates in over 40 countries and focuses on creating and sustaining high-quality health systems. Initially established to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, CHAI has expanded its mission to include a wide range of health issues, including infectious diseases like COVID-19, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The organization emphasizes innovative approaches to strengthen health systems and maximize sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions and that programs are designed for national scalability. CHAI values diversity and inclusion, recognizing that a diverse workforce enhances its mission and effectiveness.

Job Overview:
The Program Officer for HIV Testing Services (HTS) will play a crucial role in providing technical, analytical, and operational support to the HTS program. This position will involve working closely with the Program Manager to implement HIV Testing Services activities, which include study coordination, data management, partner engagement, and documentation. The officer will facilitate the effective scale-up of national HIV self-testing (HIVST) initiatives, ensuring that the program meets its objectives and contributes to the overall goal of improving health outcomes in Zambia. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying challenges in implementation and contributing to solutions that enhance program delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Program Officer will be responsible for several key duties, including:

• Supporting the rollout and implementation of HIV Testing Services (HTS) and HIV self-testing (HIVST) activities in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and implementing partners.
• Assisting in executing national HIVST scale-up plans, ensuring timely delivery of activities aligned with approved workplans.
• Identifying implementation bottlenecks and contributing to agreed corrective actions.
• Compiling and organizing data for modeling, costing, and analytical exercises to support operational research and evidence generation.
• Documenting program research findings, implementation experiences, and lessons learned, and contributing to drafting program reports, briefs, and presentations.
• Facilitating coordination between CHAI, MoH, and implementing partners to ensure smooth implementation of HTS activities.
• Participating in technical working groups and program meetings, tracking action points, and assisting in coordinating field activities and partner engagements.
• Monitoring progress against program work plans and activity timelines, maintaining organized program files, databases, and documentation for HTS activities.
• Providing logistical and administrative support for meetings, trainings, and fieldwork related to HTS activities, including coordinating travel arrangements and stakeholder engagements as required. 1
• Performing other related duties as assigned to support program delivery.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health or Social Sciences, with a Master’s Degree being an added advantage. Additionally, candidates should have 3–5 years of experience in HIV programs, health systems strengthening, or public health implementation. Experience engaging with the Ministry of Health, development partners, government officials, donors, and regulatory bodies is essential. A strong analytical background in modeling, data analysis, costing, or operational research is required, along with excellent communication, diplomacy, and documentation skills.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health or Social Sciences. A Master’s Degree in a related field is considered an advantage, indicating a higher level of expertise and understanding of public health issues and program implementation.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have 3–5 years of relevant experience in HIV programs, health systems strengthening, or public health implementation. This experience should include direct engagement with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, demonstrating the ability to navigate complex health systems and contribute to effective program delivery.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential for communication and documentation purposes. Knowledge of local languages may be beneficial for engaging with communities and stakeholders in Zambia.

Additional Notes:
The position is likely to be full-time, with a focus on program delivery in Zambia. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, CHAI is committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce. The organization values the contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences, which is essential for advancing its mission in global health.