Senior HIV Advisor - DOS Leap Global

LEAP Program Description

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

About the Position

The Senior HIV Advisor will support the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National HIV/AIDS Control Program in carrying out life-saving humanitarian Assistance (LHA) service delivery in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives.

The primary focus is providing technical leadership for the National HIV Surge Operational Strategic Plan and to accelerate progress toward the global 95-95-95 and national 98-98-98 targets, as well as to achieve elimination of maternal to child transmission of HIV.

The Advisor will serve as a high-level liaison between the Department of State (DOS), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. the MOH, and international donors to ensure a data-driven, decentralized response to the HIV epidemic in Sierra Leone. The Advisor will be based at the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) within the MOH.

Responsibilities

Support the National AIDS Control Program at National and District Level

• NSP Finalization: Assist NACP in finalization of NSP and planning its implementation.
• Clinical Guidance: Advise on relevant updates to national clinical guidelines for initiatives such as the introduction of dual HIV/Syphilis/HepB testing and the rollout of PrEP (including Lenacapavir) for high-risk pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Service Decentralization: Assist District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) with organization of monthly HIV data reviews amongst HIV stakeholders in each district. Facilitate targeted interventions based on data.
• Strengthen NACP’s coordination of HIV service delivery through mentorship, cohort monitoring, quality improvement tools, and enhanced supervisory arrangements.

• Support the expansion of HIV diagnosis and treatment services across additional sites in collaboration with NACP and partners.

Support HIV Surge and Elimination of Maternal to Child Transmission Initiatives

• Support Surge Coordination: Help coordinate monthly surge meetings for key HIV stakeholders at the national level.
• eMTCT Scale-up: Support the integration of HIV services into Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) platforms to reduce vertical transmission from 11.5% to below 5%. Ensure universal ANC1 testing in non-partner supported health facilities
• Strategic Planning: Assist program manager with technical oversight for the five pillars of the National HIV Surge Plan, focusing on expedited case identification using index testing and the "Back-to-Care" initiative to re-engage the 6,000–7,000 clients lost annually.
• Index Testing: Assist with scale up of index testing at all facilities across partners and non-partner supported sites.
• Viral Load: Assist with scale up of viral load testing at all facilities providing HIV care. Ensure that results are reverted to clients and supporting U=U messaging.

Support MOU Implementation under NACP G2G:

The Advisor will provide critical technical oversight for the implementation of the Government-to-Government (G2G) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Government and the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health/NACP. This involves ensuring that milestone-based programming aligns with accountability standards and national targets as direct G2G funding is increased.

• Milestone Verification: Monitor and verify the achievement of technical milestones linked to G2G funding, specifically those related to HIV Surge metrics and eMTCT validation.
• Financial & Technical Alignment: Work with the NACP leadership to ensure that G2G resources are strategically allocated to high-yield activities such as PITC, index testing, and pediatric ART expansion.
• Capacity Building: Provide mentorship to NACP staff to strengthen internal management systems required for sustainable G2G implementation and direct funding eligibility.
• Risk Mitigation: Identify potential bottlenecks in the implementation of the MOU and develop proactive solutions to ensure uninterrupted service delivery and compliance
• Joint Reviews: Lead the technical preparation for quarterly and annual G2G performance reviews, ensuring data integrity and alignment between national reporting and USG requirements.

Key Deliverables

The Senior HIV Advisor is responsible for the following deliverables, to be submitted in accordance with the LEAP Global reporting cycle:

• Updated Clinical SOPs: Technical guidance and Standard Operating Procedures for the introduction of dual HIV/Syphilis/HepB testing and the administration of Lenacapavir/PrEP for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• eMTCT Integration Plan: A detailed strategy for the institutionalization of HIV services within the RMNCAH platforms, specifically targeting universal ANC1 testing in non-partner health facilities.
• Monthly National Surge Coordination Summaries: Technical briefs from the national monthly surge meetings, highlighting progress across the five pillars and specific bottlenecks in case identification.
• Monthly District Surge Coordination Summaries: Technical briefs from the district monthly surge meetings, highlighting progress across the five pillars and specific bottlenecks in case identification.
• "Back-to-Care" Performance Reports: Quarterly analysis of re-engagement efforts for the 6,000–7,000 clients lost to follow-up, including retention trends.
• Index Testing & Viral Load Scale-up Trackers: Monthly facility-level data reports monitoring the expansion of index testing and Viral Load (VL) testing coverage, including results turnaround times and U=U messaging uptake.
• G2G Milestone Verification Reports: Formal quarterly reports verifying the achievement of technical milestones linked to Government-to-Government funding.
• NACP Capacity Building Plan: A mentorship and training log documenting efforts to strengthen NACP’s internal management systems for direct funding eligibility.
• G2G Quarterly Performance Review Packages: Integrated data packages for joint USG/MOH reviews, ensuring alignment between national reporting and PEPFAR/DOS accountability standards.
• Weekly Success Calls/Bullet Points: Brief weekly updates to DoS/Sierra Leone and CDC/Sierra Leone on key wins and immediate challenges.
• Comprehensive Monthly Technical Report: A detailed narrative report submitted by the 5th of each month, summarizing all technical assistance provided and progress against the work plan.

REPORTING

The Senior HIV Advisor will submit monthly reports to the Senior Foreign Assistance Specialist at the U.S. Embassy, Freetown and the PEPFAR Program Director at the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Freetown, submitted by the 5th day of the following month. Reporting to and receiving technical guidance from the NACP Program Manager (PM) or his designate, the Senior HIV Advisor will work closely with the U.S. Department of State (DoS)/Sierra Leone, CDC/Sierra Leone, and LEAP Global teams. Based at the NACP Office in Freetown, the Advisor will coordinate site visits and any extended off-site work with the NACP PM or designate, DoS/Sierra Leone and CDC/Sierra Leone. Quarterly meetings will be held with DoS/Sierra Leone and CDC/ Sierra Leone to review progress and priorities.

Qualifications

• Medical degree required (e.g., MBChB, MBBS, MD, or equivalent).
• Master’s degree preferred: Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, or related fields) or Master of Public Health.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in HIV/TB/STI strategic planning and/or national health sector strategy development in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience with national HIV/TB/STI program reviews, sustainability planning, and domestic resource mobilization.
• Familiarity with Sierra Leone’s HIV/TB response architecture and strategic documents (advantage).
• Proven team leadership and mentorship skills.
• Demonstrated experience aligning work to results and performance frameworks.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, including working with government, local organizations, and community representatives.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and synthesis skills, with demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight timelines.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, and problem-solving skills.
• At least five years of experience with, or strong knowledge of, Global Fund operating procedures and financial management processes.
• Understanding of USG rules and regulations preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with a broad range of MOH, NACP, and USG personnel and partners.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to achieve consensus on policy, program, and administrative matters.
• Strong communication skills for both health and non-health audiences.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English, both orally and in writing.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, tact, and diplomacy to build sustainable working relationships with public and private organizations.
• Excellent written communication skills for preparing reports, documentation, and briefing papers.
• Strong computer skills for implementing, analyzing, monitoring, and managing activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements.
• Experience in teaching, training, and capacity building.
• Experience working with key stakeholders in HIV/TB/STI programming, preferably national stakeholders and international donors.
• Work authorization in Sierra Leone is required.