Senior Medical Clinical Officer X 1-

**Location**: East London ( Buffalo City Metropolitan)

**Type of Contract**: Fixed term ending 31 March 2026

received after the submission deadline

**Main purpose of the job**

The **Senior Medical Clinical Officer (SMCO)** will hold overall responsibility for all technical aspects of programme management, clinical implementation, performance monitoring, and technical oversight of the ASHTEC KwaZulu Natal Activity. The incumbent will serve as the key technical expert and lead for the design, implementation, and quality assurance of all clinical and service delivery interventions, ensuring they are technically sound, evidence-based, and fully aligned with the **PEPFAR Waiver Framework** and the **America First Global Health Security Strategy**.

The SMCO will lead the delivery of life-saving treatment and care activities and provide strategic guidance to strengthen clinical systems, enhance access to essential services, and ensure that all clinical interventions reach targeted populations across the supported districts. The post holder will work closely with the **Chief of Party (COP)** to oversee implementation of the programme’s clinical activities by all partners, sub-awardees, and stakeholders.

As the principal clinical contact for the project, the SMCO will oversee all service delivery modalities, including HIV, TB, and integrated health services, ensuring alignment with national priorities and local health systems. S/he will also provide technical support to provincial and district health teams, ensuring quality, efficiency, and sustainability in service delivery. The role demands an individual with deep expertise in public health and clinical management, as well as strong leadership, analytical, and partnership skills to advance health outcomes and strengthen systems resilience.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Provide overall **technical and clinical leadership** for all aspects of programme implementation, ensuring that service delivery models are patient-centred, efficient, and of the highest quality.
- Serve as the **key project contact** for all clinical and service delivery components, representing the project at technical, operational, and policy coordination forums.
- Lead the planning, roll-out, and supervision of all clinical activities, ensuring that implementation meets PEPFAR, GoSA, and donor standards.
- Support the COP in the **strategic management and coordination** of programme activities, including technical planning, reporting, and adaptive implementation.
- Guide the implementation of **evidence-based interventions** for HIV, TB, NCDs, and integrated health services at national, provincial, district, and facility levels.
- Strengthen collaboration with the **National, Provincial, and District Departments of Health**, ensuring harmonisation of project activities within government systems.
- Ensure compliance with **national clinical guidelines** and PEPFAR standards, including ART optimisation, TB preventive therapy, DR-TB management, and differentiated service delivery.
- Oversee clinical quality assurance, infection prevention and control (IPC), antimicrobial stewardship, and pharmacovigilance systems at supported facilities.
- Support implementation of innovative approaches for **early case detection, patient retention, adherence, and continuity of care**.
- Provide technical mentorship and capacity building to clinicians, nurses, counsellors, and other health workers across supported sites.
- Promote effective **data use and performance monitoring**, ensuring integration of routine data into clinical decision-making and reporting.
- Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team to track clinical performance indicators and support data-driven programme improvements.
- Contribute to the **development of clinical SOPs, guidelines, and operational tools** to standardise service delivery and strengthen programme sustainability.
- Prepare high-quality clinical reports, technical briefs, and inputs for donor reporting and stakeholder dissemination.
- Support the COP in managing partnerships and maintaining strong relationships with other implementing partners, NGOs, FBOs, and community-based organisations.

**Minimum Qualifications and Experience**
- **Medical degree (MBChB or equivalent)** from a recognised institution;
- Registration with the **Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)** is required.
- A minimum of **seven years’ experience** with progressively increasing responsibility in designing, implementing, and managing large, complex public health activities involving multiple partners in developing-country contexts.
- At least **five years’ experience** expanding access to comprehensive HIV and AIDS services in resource-limited settings.
- **Specialised knowledge and demonstrated clinical expertise** in comprehensive HIV, TB, and related services at national, provincial, district, and facility levels.
- Strong **technical and administrative understandi