ZemiTek, LLC is a Woman-Owned, SBA-certified 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) based in the Washington, DC metro area. We have a strong record delivering innovative and high-quality solutions. Since 2007, ZemiTek has provided technical assistance, project management, information technology (IT), knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, training and learning development, and institutional support services.

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 Advisor/Team Lead will provide overall technical leadership to the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council (NAC) and support NAC in producing an integrated midterm review synthesis and a Revised National AIDS Strategic Framework (NASF) 2027–2029 in alignment with the Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives on life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) service delivery. The Team Lead will report to the U.S. Department of State on monthly basis, as detailed in the “Reporting” section. 

Work Location: Zambia

National AIDS Strategic Framework Review and Revision

• Review relevant national policy, strategic, and technical documents (National AIDS Strategic Framework NASF (2023-2027), operational plans, annual performance reports, program reviews, costing/financing analysis, and Global Fund guidance).
• Undertake a desk review of the latest policies, literature and regional evidence of effective communication strategies, approaches and mechanisms in HIV including areas of improving basic HIV/TB/STI knowledge.
• Conduct rapid consultations with key stakeholders (MOH, NAC, implementing partners, local organizations, community representatives, and technical partners).
• Review current in-country communication efforts, including mechanisms/platforms, channels of content, and outcome data, as well as capacity building needs and tracking, to determine efficiency of delivery.
• Develop a communication plan framework with indicators (to be incorporated within the NASF).
• Update and/or refine the strategic direction and prioritized interventions for the next three years, ensuring geographic and population prioritization.
• Strengthen the national results framework: indicators, baselines, targets, assumptions, data sources, and reporting responsibilities.
• Develop high-level costing and resource mapping for the three-year projection and articulate a feasible financing and sustainability narrative.
• Support a validation workshop (or equivalent process) and finalize deliverables incorporating stakeholder feedback.

Role-specific deliverables in relation to the revised NASF:

• Inception report and detailed workplan (team deliverable, led by the Lead Consultant).
• Midterm review synthesis notes and priority recommendations for the remaining NASF period.
• Draft three-year strategic projection document (integrated narrative) suitable for incorporation into the Global Fund grant submission.
• Final integrated package after validation: revised strategic projection, updated results framework, costing/resource mapping summary, and validation report.
• Slide deck for NAC leadership and partner engagement.

Strategic assistance to NAC to fufill its statutory mandate:

• Strengthen NAC’s coordination of HIV/TB/STI service delivery through mentorship, cohort monitoring, quality improvement tools, and enhanced supervisory arrangements. Including updating the NAC strategic plan.
• Support the expansion of HIV/TB/STI diagnosis and treatment services across additional sites in collaboration with NAC and partners.
• Ensure all HIV/TB/STI service delivery sites actively report adverse events.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to implementing partners and service delivery teams.
• Collaborate with NAC to guide national adoption and scale-up of a customized HIV/TB/STI comprehensive package.
• Support NAC in accelerating Global Fund–supported activities related to HIV/TB/STI programming.
• Strengthen NAC’s oversight of coordinated HIV/TB/STI programming nationwide, including standardized reporting, recording tools, and SOPs.

Specific responsibilities and tasks in relation to the Grant Cycle 8 Global Fund application:

• Lead the overall assignment design and implementation, including development of the inception report, methodology, and detailed workplan.
• Conduct a rapid desk review of the NASF 2023–2027 and relevant programmatic, policy, and technical documents; synthesize midterm progress, challenges, and priority actions.
• Oversee program management and operations, providing technical leadership and direction to the M&E Advisor and the Finance
• Plan and facilitate stakeholder consultations, ensuring inclusive participation of government, local organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership for the development of the three-year strategic projection, including prioritization rationale and implementation arrangements aligned with national priorities.
• Integrate inputs from the M&E and Finance consultants into a coherent set of deliverables; ensure alignment between narrative, results framework, targets, and financing assumptions.
• Facilitate at least one technical review meeting and one validation workshop; document feedback and incorporate it into final deliverables.
• Prepare a concise leadership slide deck summarizing key strategic priorities, targets, and financing considerations for the next three years.
• Ensure quality assurance, version control, and timely submission of all deliverables.

REPORTING

The Senior Advisor/Team Lead will submit monthly reports to the U.S. Department of State submitted by the 5th day of the following month. Reporting to and receiving technical guidance from the NAC Director General (DG) or his designate, the Senior Advisor will work closely with the U.S. Department of State (DoS)/Zambia and LEAP Global teams. Based at the NAC Secretariat in Lusaka, the Advisor will coordinate site visits and any extended off-site work with the NAC DG or designate and DoS/Zambia. Quarterly meetings will be held with DoS/Zambia to review progress and priorities.

• 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 10 years of progressively responsible experience in HIV strategic planning and/or national health sector strategy development in sub-Saharan Africa.
• At least 10 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 Zambia’s HIV/TB/STI 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, NAC, 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 Zambia is required.

ZemiTek is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, ZemiTek will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to accommodations@zemitek.com.