Linkage Officer

The Institute of Health Programs and Systems (IHPS) is a South African non-profit company (NPC) born out of the PEPFAR CDC Track 1 transition of the ICAP, Columbia University, Multi-country AIDS Program (MCAP) in South Africa in 2010. The IHPS mission is “to strengthen health and development systems through program implementation and partnerships,” and the vision is “optimal and sustainable health and development outcomes”. Presently, IHPS is a Global Fund Subrecipient (SR) under Networking HIV and AIDS Community of Southern Africa (NACOSA), tasked to implement the “My Journey Adolescents and Young People (AYP) Programme”, in Mbombela Subdistrict, Mpumalanga Province, from January 2026 to March 2028. As such, IHPS seeks to recruit the position outlined below, based in Mbombela Subdistrict. 

Full Time
  • Contract Type: Fixed term contract
  • Start Date: February 2026
  • Remuneration: TBA
  • Level of Effort: 100%
  • Closing Date: 16 February 2026
Apply Now

Overall Responsibility

Under the supervision of the NIMART Professional Nurse, the Linkage Officer will ensure seamless linkage to care for AYP, provide adherence counselling, and strengthen referral pathways between the community and health facilities under the “My Journey” programme.

Key Performance Areas:

  • Support peer educators in mobilizing and recruiting AYP for clinical and psychosocial services.
  • Assist with HIV self-screening (HIVSS) demonstrations and distribution as per protocol.
  • Ensure same-day linkage to care and treatment initiation for all HIV-positive clients using the “handshake” approach.
  • Implement case management for clients returning to care and promote the “Welcome Back” strategy to improve retention.
  • Establish, manage, and strengthen a functional referral and patient navigation system between the community and health facilities.
  • Accompany clients to health facilities where necessary and facilitate smooth navigation of services.
  • Build and maintain strong working relationships with local health facilities to strengthen community–facility linkages.
  • Review the HTS register daily to track HIV-positive clients and ensure timely ART initiation.
  • Actively track and document clients who have been referred to, initiated on treatment, transferred, or returned to care.
  • Conduct follow-up visits and telephonic tracing to ensure continuity of care and treatment adherence
  • Accurately document referrals, linkage outcomes, and case management activities in programme tracking systems.
  • Support data collection, collation, verification, and reporting related to linkage and retention indicators.
  • Monitor linkage and retention targets, and prepare and submit daily, weekly, and monthly reports.
  • Participate in facility review meetings (bi-weekly and monthly) and contribute to quality improvement initiatives aimed at strengthening linkage and retention strategies.
  • Perform any other duties assigned by IHPS senior management

Qualifications

  • Grade 12 or equivalent NQF Level 4
  • HTS Certificate will be an added advantage

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

  • Knowledge of HIV, STIs and TB prevention approaches
  • Worked with / in primary health care facilities 
  • Worked with AYP in a community setting
  • Good interpersonal skills, including being a team player 
  • Ability to work non-traditional flexible hours which may include weekends from time to time
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Command of other official local languages (multilingual) would be an added advantage
  • Have a valid driver’s license

Employer’s Rights

This position description may not list all the duties of the job. If an offer is made, you will be presented with a detailed job description. Applicants will be evaluated based upon their demonstrated ability to perform the tasks listed above, their education and work experience. The employer reserves the right to revise this posting at any time.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should apply by e-mail only to HR@ihps-sa.org. Subject line should be the Position and Subdistrict you are applying for, and a cover letter and resume or curriculum vitae (CV) should be attached. Submissions which do not follow the above instructions will not be considered.

Due to the extremely high volume of CVs expected, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. NO PHONE CALLS about these positions will be accepted.

Closing Date: 16 February 2026