icddr,b is a Bangladesh-based international health research institute that strives to solve key public health problems through high-quality scientific research and innovation. As a values-based organization icddr,b encourages women and people with disabilities.

The Programme for HIV and AIDS under the Health Systems and Population Studies Division at icddr,b provides good quality HIV prevention services to vulnerable populations at risk of HIV infection, this has been made possible by working with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), donors, NGOs and CBOs. Program for HIV and AIDS has also taken an initiative to reach Hard-to reach community groups with an innovative service delivery approach, provide Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for high-risk groups, harm reduction services for chemsex to the males having sex with males (MSM), male sex workers (MSW), hijra.

Position Description:
The HIV Counseling Officer will report to the Program Manager, Programme for HIV and AIDS and will be responsible for providing psychological counselling, STI counselling, and mental health support to the key populations at risk of HIV infection such as MSM/MSW/Hijra and those who use drug among these groups of the population to enable intervention participants to ensure adherence to the services including PrEP medicine, to reduce the risk behaviours within the guidelines of the project/ study protocols and organizational values and guidelines. The position holder will require frequent travel to the field sites. S/he will be involved in –

• Project checklist and counselling guidelines provided by the PI;
• Obtain informed written consent from the participants;
• Provide pre-test information and post-test counseling;
• Counsel clients to ensure adherence to the services, and to reduce the risk behaviors.
• Provide psychological and mental health support to the clients; Refer STI-positive clients for further treatment, care, counselling etc.;
• Conduct group education sessions with the clients;
• Provide counselling and emotional support to patients and families of patients diagnosed with HIV;
• Refer positive patients within the professional network for further treatment, care, counselling, participation in self-help groups, etc.;
• Counsel clients to provide biological samples;
• Counsel clients for uptake of PrEP, PrEP adherence, harm reduction for Chemsex drugs, HIV testing, and risk behaviors.; Dispense PrEP to clients;
• Conduct a psychological assessment of key populations (KPs) at risk of HIV; Provides individual counseling to KPs; Conduct group psychoeducation sessions for KPs;
• Conduct routine supervisory visits to ensure the smooth running of the project activities
• Connect with organizations in similar and allied spaces regularly for self-development, maintaining professional relationships etc.;
• Support counselling initiatives sponsored by other organizations to assist those in need to cope with the stigma and reality.
• Maintain close liaison with the project staff like, physicians, laboratory technologists, local DIC management and relevant organizations;
• Guide and motivate the Peer Educators of the local DIC to implement the activity smoothly.
• Review the existing data periodically; maintain the confidentiality of the data and do basic analysis;
• Prepare monthly and quarterly reports regularly and share those with the PI.
• Maintain the clinic registers and the reporting tools.

Required qualifications and experience:

• Masters Degree in Psychology or Clinical Psychology with good academic recods;
• At least 3 years of experience in the relevant field of counselling or psychotherapy. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience working with key populations at risk of HIV, especially sexually and gender-diverse population groups;

Location: HIV field sites.

Contract Type and Duration:

• Short Term Contractual Service Agreement basis; duration will be 6 months with a possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and performance.

Salary & benefits:

• Tk.59,900/-per month (consolidated) inclusive of house rent and conveyance allowances;
• Festival bonus, income tax paid by icddr,b, and subsidized canteen; Transport and daycare facilities are subject to space availability.

Notes of attention:

• Only short-listed candidates shall be invited for written test /interview;
• The organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised;
• icddr,b does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

Interested candidates who fulfil the requirements should submit online applications using icddr,b website: career.icddrb.org by February 14, 2024.