Network Support Officer - Cape Town

Job Summary
Under the direction of the Community Development Manager, and in close collaboration with other programme staff, the Network Support Officer is responsible for engagement with and ensuring GNP+ reflects the needs of regional and national network/groups of people living with HIV. The Network Support Officer is also responsible to provide and/or mobilise support in addressing the need for technical assistance and organizational capacity development of regional and national networks/groups of people living with HIV.

The ideal candidate will be highly self-motivated, competent in at least one HIV thematic area, well organised, collegial and able to work quickly and well under pressure both independently and as a member of a team. S/he must have a demonstrated commitment to working to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV and strengthening the level of meaningful engagement of people living with HIV in the design and implementation of policies and programmes.

Key Responsibilities
•To provide networking support with regional & national PLHIV networks/groups, particularly in Southern African region, South East and South Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean Region
•To assist the Community Development Manager in managing sub-grantees’ performance, particularly in ensuring that regional and national project partners included in the Robert Carr Network Fund grants, MaxART Project and NORAD grants, implement activities according to work plans & budgets
•To provide technical support for the development of a network assessment tool and establishment of GNP+ network development database
•To support regional & national PLHIV networks/groups to conduct network development assessments
•To support the Community Development Manager to analyse the findings & results of the network development assessments
•To work with the GNP+ Knowledge Management Unit to establish, promote and ensure the effective use of the network development database
•To assist the Community Development Manager in mobilizing resources & establishing local partnerships to address technical capacity gaps and organizational capacity needs in regional and national PLHIV networks/groups
•To work with regional and national PLHIV networks/groups on issues around GFATM country/regional applications; and implement GFATM policies related to communities, key populations and human rights
•To conduct regular on-the-ground monitoring & evaluation activities to measure programmatic success of community development related programs
•To collaborate with other members of the management team: with the Knowledge Management Manager to establish partnerships and provide technical support for evidence-generation at regional and national levels; with the Global Advocacy Manager to ensure that the advocacy priorities of GNP+ remain relevant to the needs of the community; and with the Finance Manager to develop accurate project budgets and ensure that all current and future projects perform efficiently against approved budgets.
•To represent GNP+ in events, meetings or workshops that are related to Community Development or as otherwise required

Education and Experience
The desired candidate should have a minimum of 7 years work experience in the field of HIV and be able to demonstrate consistent engagement with community-based organizations/networks (working in/with community based organizations or networks)

Required skills and qualifications
The candidate must be able to demonstrate the following:
•Direct experience of working with regional and national networks particularly in Southern and Sub-Saharan Africa.
•Direct experience around strengthening technical capacity and governance of community-based organizations. Experience working with constituency-based networks is desirable.
•Direct and consistent work experience on one of the thematic areas described in the GNP+ Global Advocacy Agenda.
•Knowledge and experience around GFATM funding models and policies, particularly around communities and key population engagements.

•Experience in developing and maintaining monitoring and evaluation systems; or small scale research/studies.
•Minimum 3 years’ experience of regional or national level programme implementation that particularly engages with and for communities or key populations living with HIV;
•Ability to prepare clear, concise and informative reports, correspondence and other written materials. A good knowledge of proposal writing and budgeting;
•Ability to plan and coordinate multiple programmes & budgets in an effective and timely manner;
•Knowledge of global policies & guidelines on issues surrounding PLHIV and key affected populations (such as treatment access, stigma & discrimination, etc.);
•Vision, creativity and strategic planning skills. Ability to contribute meaningfully to GNP+ strategic direction;
•Excellent interpersonal, organisational, writing and communication skills;
•Ability to work independently as well as part of a team; must be able to work with a minimum of supervision in the conceptualisation, planning, management and implementation of programme activities;
•Proficiency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of a second language from an African region will be an additional advantage.

Remuneration/Contract
Based on professional background and experience, the indicative annual salary is negotiable, depending on qualifications and experience and subject to deductions of contributions to the Pension and Health Insurance Schemes. Other benefits include a generous benefit package and a flexible work environment. The initial contract is for a fixed term of one year, with possibility of negotiating an extension.
GNP+ reserves the right, at its discretion, not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, in particular, if the selected candidate has less than the qualifications required or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for a shorter duration than indicated above. GNP+ reserves the right to undertake correspondence only with short-listed candidates.


How to apply for this position:
1.Please read this document fully.
2.For further information about GNP+ www.gnpplus.net
3.Please provide the following:
a.One page about you. This should include as a minimum your full name, address, gender, nationality, age, eligibilty to work within the Netherlands and EU, current and previous relevant work experience, education, and availability for telephone interview and when, if successful, you could take up this post;
b.No more than four pages detailing how you meet the expertise and competencies required of this post as well as how you would deliver on the key duties and responsibilities expected of you.
Please send your application to: GNP+, Human Resources, P.O. Box 11726, 1001 GS Amsterdam. Tel: +31 20 4234114 Fax: +31 20 4234224. E-mail: rjones@gnpplus.net