University Research Co New Vacancy – Apply Now!

Posted on :

8 Jun, 2018

Category :

NGO Jobs in South Africa

University Research Co., LLC (URC) is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With a non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 45 countries, including the United States.

Established in 1965, URC offers a range of technical assistance to strengthen health and social systems and service quality by empowering communities and health workers to identify and scale up locally appropriate solutions to critical problems. Internationally, we expand access to and improve the quality of services addressing maternal, newborn, and child health; infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; reproductive health and family planning; food and nutrition; and vulnerable children and families. In the US, we focus on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.

URC’s mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide. Please join us in carrying out our mission (http://www.urc-chs.com/).

Job Title: Demand Creation Manager – VMMC Engagement, Campaigns and Advocacy
Project Name:   VMMC lll
Type: Regular/Full Time
Salary: Commensurate with required experience and qualifications
Reports to: Deputy Chief of Party
Location: Gauteng: Pretoria (Tshwane)

Project Overview:
The URC Quality & Performance Institute (QPI) is a division of URC which serves as an organizing force to bring together best practices, staff experience, partnerships, and documentation on improving health care at URC. QPI leads URC’s initiatives to improve health delivery and develop country capacity to strengthen health and human service delivery systems.

QPI’s work focuses on strengthening health systems to develop the capacity to continuously improve and achieve better outcomes. Through QPI, URC has implemented quality improvement and operations research programs in health care since 1981, in addition to our work in the following areas: community health; gender integration; health workforce development; HIV; knowledge management; maternal, newborn and child health/family planning; nutrition; research and evaluation; and vulnerable children and families.

QPI implements the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) Service Delivery III Project (Siyasoka) to scale up VMMC services in South Africa. The purpose of this activity is to provide direct service delivery to support high quality, high volume VMMC and related services in rural and urban areas of the country. Working at fixed, outreach, and mobile VMMC sites in rural and urban priority districts, the Siyasoka project aims to reach 80% coverage of the target population in order to prevent new HIV infections. We will also work to coordinate the forecasting, procurement, quality assurance, distribution, and storage of VMMC surgical kits and commodities.

Roles and Responsibilities
The Demand Creation Manager will be responsible for development, co-ordination and management of a diverse and vibrant demand creation and social mobilization team in 6 provinces. The successful incumbent will also be responsible for management of all relationships with stakeholders, donors and consultants, within this context.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Analysis of existing Demand Creation activities, with mapping of processes and existing gaps
  • Development of a vibrant, responsive and dynamic Demand Creation and Social Mobilization team
  • Management of all staff involved in Demand Creation and Social Mobilization
  • Oversee the implementation of the Demand Creation strategy at all levels
  • Manage engagement of key stakeholders, including partners and donors within the VMMC arena
  • Provide oversight of VMMC III Demand Creation consortium partners and VMMC ambassadors
  • Work closely with the Communications team and relevant Demand Creation consultants to develop appropriate print and electronic communication material.
  • Guide strategic planning, design and implementation of the Demand Creation and social mobilization in the 6 provinces.
  • Liaises closely with M&E team to ensure alignment of Demand Creation activities towards meeting targets
  • Consolidates and provides inputs for weekly monthly and quarterly reports to DOH, USAID and URC HQ.
  • Develop and implement campaigns, advocacy, and promotion of VMMC for key population members to all levels and segments of the population
  • In coordination with other Demand Creation advisors, measuring and monitoring the results and effectiveness of campaigns and advocacy strategies integrating and noting changes to demand of VMMC services related to members of the key population
  • Identify behavior change gaps and work closely with partners to develop and disseminate appropriate messages through suitable channels.
  • Promote the concepts of Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality, approaches in health (i.e. Equality and non-discriminations, accountability and legal protections, inclusiveness, and non-disclosures principles).
  • Facilitate and support the integration of key populations perspectives and challenges in various technical areas by providing direct technical support to various sector actors in order to improve service delivery outcomes.
  • When necessary, attend and/or represent the Project at meetings with funders, MOH officials, roundtables, working groups, conferences, and communities.
  • Participate in URC’s business development activities and perform other functions, as needed.
  • Any other related duties and relevant tasks assigned by supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications:

Required Experience & Qualifications 

  • Master’s Degree or higher in Public Health, Social Sciences, or other relevant discipline
  • At least six years of relevant experience working on social behavior change communication, demand creation, marketing and / or community organizing in the Southern Africa region, preferably in South Africa
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams essential
  • Excellent analytical and organizational skills
  • Valid Code 8 Drivers license
  • Experience and/or understanding of South African health systems and cultural/social context
  • Must have a proven record of and ability to document and interpret data and results
  • Demonstrated experience in maintaining strong relationships with partners, government counterparts, donors, implementing partners, private sector and other stakeholders
  • Proven record of excellent management, leadership, decision-making, and interpersonal skills to ensure internal coherence among diverse team members and sub-partners
  • Excellent English language skills and written and oral communication skills
  • Flexibility to changing work environments and conditions
  • Spend at least 50% of the time travelling to the districts
  • Proven ability to articulate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences

Desired Experience & Qualifications 

  • At least four years of successful experience working with district and local-level leadership in the Southern Africa region, preferably South Africa
  • Ability and willingness to travel to Travel

Please note: Only candidates who are eligible to work in South Africa for an indefinite period without a need for sponsorship will be considered for this position.

To Apply:       
For immediate consideration, please visit URC’s Career Opportunities page at www.urc-chs.com/careers

You must upload your CV/Résumé and your Cover Letter where indicated. Also, please complete your application form and attach a completed USAID Form 1420 Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet as well.

Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, only candidates who have met the required experience & qualifications for this position will be contacted. No phone calls please. However, since we are active around the world in the field of public health, we may wish to retain your CV in our database for other/future opportunities, unless you direct us otherwise. Thank you very much for your interest.

Interested, qualified candidates can also send their resumes to [email protected] on or before the 28 May 2018 Closing date for applications: 30 June 2018

URC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
We value and seek diversity in our workforce.


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