Location: Gulu, Uganda
Hours: Regular Full-time, 40 hours per week; Not Eligible for Overtime
Location: Based in RHITES-N Acholi Activity Office in Gulu, Uganda with frequent travel to field sites
Salary: Commensurate with required experience and qualifications
Reports to: Chief of Party
University Research Co., LLC (URC)
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/).
Project Overview:
URC has implemented quality improvement and operations research programs in health care since 1981 and continues to be at the cutting edge of health care improvement work in countries around the world.
With the RHITES-N Acholi Project (Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services in Northern Uganda – Acholi), USAID will continue its support of the Government of Uganda’s (GOU) efforts to improve access to and use of health services in the country’s post-conflict northern region. RHITES-N Acholi Project activities will build on USAID investments and national advances to increase access to and use of high-quality integrated services that accelerate the ability and capacity to respond to the specific health needs of residents in the Acholi sub-region, leveraging the URC-ASSIST project successes.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The Anthropologist/BC/Marketing Specialist will oversee strategic planning and implementation of demand creations activities to expand health options, ensuring use of current data to inform planning and collaboration and knowledge sharing across the Activity team. This individual will be in charge of overseeing activities that address key demand side behaviors related to expanding health options. S/he will provide strategic, technical, and managerial guidance to the Chief of Party (COP).
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Direct the creation and implementation of effective communication strategies aimed at promoting health behaviors in collaboration with the District Health Teams and selected institutions/community based organization.
- Provide leadership and technical expertise to design, develop and monitor SBC strategies and production of BCC materials and job aids.
- Lead, coach and supervise staff to develop and implement evidence-based SBC strategies and campaigns at district, community and household levels through the engagement of multi stakeholders including district and community leaders, SBCC agents, health workers, Implementing Partners.
- Take the lead in the coordination and implementation of awareness-raising and educational campaigns to support the adoption of healthy behaviors.
- Guarantee quality assurance in all Marketing and Communication strategies, materials, and activities undertaken in the Activity, and ensure that they adhere to relevant Government of Uganda, USAID, and other stakeholder policies, guidelines and standards.
- Support the development of innovative new approaches to Social and Behavior Change (SBC), including use of Information and Communication Technology.
- Support design and implementation of SBC specific capacity building activities and oversee the training of community influencers, engaging media representatives, district health teams and with other stakeholders.
- Collaborate with partners to strengthen district health teams and human resource capacity to design, develop, deliver and monitor evidence-based SBC interventions
- Represent the project, as directed, in any working group, committee, or task force addressing SBC.
- Oversee preparation of SBC/marketing component of project annual and quarterly workplans
- Prepare quarterly and annual reports as required, detailing the performance of the SBC/marketing component of the Activity, including reports and others as directed
- Gather feedback on implementation of SBC strategies in pilot districts and provide technical support, when necessary.
- Integrate social marketing activities to ensure access and utilization of health services in the region.
Undertake any other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the supervisor.
Required work Experience and Qualification:
- Master’s Degree or its Equivalent – in Anthropology, Psychology, Communication, Marketing, Business, Economics, Social Sciences or other related degree; OR a Bachelor’s degree with at least 5 years of additional relevant experience (in addition to the below requirement of 5 years)
- A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated success in generating innovative and effective demand
generation or marketing solutions, preferably in Uganda
- At least 5 years’ relevant experience working in public health communication programming for development/humanitarian projects/programmes in a donor environment, in managing social behavior change interventions, and in monitoring public health SBC interventions of similar scope in a social marketing field
Desired Knowledge and Skills:
- Knowledge and implementation of behavior change theory
- Experience working with USAID programs will be an added advantage.
- Experience with social marketing, strategic communications, and health behavior change communications;
- Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Excel). Familiarity with the use of survey tools, analysis tools and web-based platforms for coordination.
- Training in quantitative and qualitative data collection, (knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, surveys, focus group discussions, etc.) is key.
- Knowledge of public health service delivery especially in Northern Uganda, community engagement and social marketing, and experience in working with community health-intervention programs and in dissemination of information through different communication channels is required.
- Possess excellent communication, interpersonal, analytical and result-oriented skills, and experience in managing objectives with the customer in mind.
- Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tactful, ability to plan, organize and measure outcomes of interventions.
- Exemplary and honest, with a high level of energy and integrity, and able to work under minimum supervision.
- Flexible, innovative, with good record keeping, communication, presentation, report-writing, and interpersonal skills.
- Team player with the ability to make positive contributions.
- Knowledge of the local language will be an added advantage.
- Experience working in public health a plus, but not required.
Please note: Only candidates who are eligible to work in Uganda for an indefinite period without a need for sponsorship will be considered for this position.
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, not later than 5:00 pm, Ugandan Time on 29th January 2021.
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.
URC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.We value and seek diversity in our workforce.