Community Engagement & PSS Officer

Job Overview

The Community Engagement & PSS Officer position at Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) is a full-time role based in Uganda supporting the Local Partner Health Services North & Southwest Activity. This initiative focuses on sustaining quality HIV and TB services across nine districts in the Acholi sub-region through community-based interventions. The officer will play a pivotal role in bridging facility-based care with community resources to improve service uptake and retention.

Working under the Local Partner Health Services framework, this role requires technical expertise in community mobilization, case finding, and psychosocial support integration. The position demands collaboration with diverse stakeholders including community health workers, local leaders, civil society organizations, and people living with HIV to achieve project objectives. Success in this role contributes directly to increasing access to life-saving treatments in underserved areas.

The ideal candidate possesses strong program implementation skills and a deep understanding of Uganda’s HIV/TB landscape. This role offers the opportunity to make measurable impact on public health outcomes while developing expertise in community-centered health programming. JCRC provides a supportive environment for professional growth within a respected research and service delivery organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Support facility teams to create line lists and maps of eligible clients for APN and ICT, including newly identified HIV-positive individuals on ART and those with unsuppressed viral load.
• Facilitate and oversee HIV case finding using high-yield methods such as OPD, IPD, YCC screening, APN/ICT, SNS, HIV self-testing, and caregiver testing while ensuring proper linkages to care.
• Track, mobilize, and supervise all planned community activities by site teams to guarantee implementation fidelity and timely completion of mobilization targets.
• Assist site teams in generating lists of clients completing three months on ART, HIV/TB co-infected individuals finishing treatment, and PMTCT clients three months post-natal for CHW assignment to initiate TB Preventive Therapy.
• Support site teams to ensure presumptive TB patients receive GeneXpert and HIV tests, including tracing contacts under five years old who meet TPT eligibility criteria to prevent active TB development.
• Compile lists of PBCs (including initial contacts and two-month follow-ups) for community health worker outreach to ensure continuity of care and timely interventions.
• Engage community resource persons, leaders, CBOs, CSOs, PLHIV groups, and other community structures to strengthen mobilization efforts and foster local ownership of health initiatives.
• Conduct regular supportive supervision visits to community structures and facility teams to mentor CHWs and address implementation challenges in real time.
• Document best practices, challenges, and lessons learned from community engagement activities to inform adaptive project management and reporting requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Community Development, Public Health, Nursing, or a related social science field from a recognized institution.
• Minimum three years of progressive experience in community engagement, HIV/TB program implementation, or psychosocial support roles within Ugandan NGOs or health projects.
• Proven track record in mobilizing communities for health services, including experience working with PLHIV networks, CBOs, and local leaders in rural settings.
• Demonstrated ability to train and supervise community health workers in case finding, contact tracing, and treatment support activities using standardized tools.
• Strong knowledge of Uganda’s HIV/TB policies, guidelines, and service delivery frameworks, particularly regarding APN, ICT, and TPT implementation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with fluency in English and at least one local language spoken in the Acholi sub-region (Luo, Acholi, or Alur).

Desirable

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, or Development Studies with focus on community health programming.
• Previous experience working with PEPFAR-funded projects or Global Fund initiatives in Uganda’s HIV/TB response.
• Familiarity with DHIS2 or other health management information systems for tracking community-based indicators.
• Experience in designing and implementing stigma reduction interventions within HIV/TB service delivery contexts.
• Knowledge of gender-responsive approaches and experience integrating GBV screening into community health programs.
• Certification in counseling, psychosocial support, or community-based rehabilitation from an accredited provider.

What the Role Offers

• Competitive monthly salary commensurate with experience and qualifications, paid regularly via bank transfer in Ugandan shillings.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage including inpatient and outpatient services for the employee and immediate dependents.
• Generous leave package including annual leave, sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, and public holidays in accordance with Ugandan labor laws.
• Professional development opportunities through access to JCRC training programs, workshops, and conference attendance relevant to role.
• Transport facilitation for field work including fuel allowances or vehicle access when conducting supervision visits to project sites.
• Meal subsidy during field duties and provision of necessary work tools such as mobile airtime for communication with teams and communities.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit an updated CV, copies of academic certificates and transcripts, professional certifications, and a one-page cover letter detailing suitability for the role. Please apply now by clicking the link below.

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