Health Procurement and Supply Chain Systems Advisor

 

Summary Statement

Operating in a challenging and dynamic environment and in close cooperation with the US Department of State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US Department of Defense (DOD), US Peace Corps, and the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ), USAID/Zambia has one of the largest Mission programs in Africa. The country is a focus, priority, pilot or emphasis country for nearly every US health initiative, as well as a number of international and multilateral initiatives. With the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) contributing nearly $306 million each year, the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) contributing $25 million and other health activities a further $25 million, the USAID/Zambia portion of the health and HIV/AIDS program is extremely robust.

 

The overall USAID/Zambia program is implemented by over 100 staff assigned to five technical offices, bolstered by four support offices. The Health Team, comprised of 18 staff, supports a multifaceted program addressing maternal and child health (MCH), reproductive health/family planning (RH/FP), infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria), health systems strengthening and human resources issues. Three approaches guide the overall program of improving health status of Zambians: Strengthening Health Systems and Accountability, Improving Health Service Delivery, and Improving Community Health Practices. Success is measured by achieving progress towards an AIDS free generation, making strategic investments in women, saving mothers and ending preventable childhood death.

 

The Health Team works closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Medical Stores Limited (MSL), and other cooperating partners (donors) and ministries in support of the National Health Strategic Plan and the National HIV/TB/STI Council (NAC) as it manages implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework. The Health Team also collaborates with the multisectoral HIV/AIDS, Education, Economic Growth and Democracy and Governance teams to implement integrated health programs across multiple sectors.

 

A key objective of the US Mission in Zambia is to support the GRZ in achieving Millennium Development Goals and other health objectives by reducing maternal and child mortality through an integrated package of primary health care services, supporting voluntary use of family planning, supporting treatment expansion for and prevention of HIV/AIDS, improving access to TB treatment services, increasing maternal and child survival, and preventing and treating malaria. To respond to these objectives, the USAID/Zambia’s Health Team manages and receives funding contributing to multiple presidential initiatives and priority health interventions, including the PEPFAR, PMI and Feed the Future. It is a Global Health Initiative (GHI) country and focuses on systems strengthening, maternal and neonatal and child health, governance and management capacity. Availability and access to priority health commodities and strengthening the pharmaceutical sector are integral to the United States Government (USG), USG programs, and the GRZ for achieving these objectives.

 

Job Requirements

The Health Procurement and Supply Chain Advisor will be based in Lusaka Zambia.

 

In line with the USAID/Zambia strategy and results framework for the supply chain and commodity sector, USAID will strengthen and expand supply chain support to improve efficiencies working in partnership with the MOH and MSL. As part of the Supply Chain Strengthening Team on the Health Systems Strengthening Division, the Health Procurement and Supply Chain Systems Advisor (Advisor) will coordinate across USG agencies to strengthen and support the health commodities sector. S/he is an essential advisor to the Health Team and GRZ, providing technical expertise relevant to USAID programs, and helping to guide the USG’s overall approach and strategy for supply chain issues.

 

The Advisor, in collaboration with the Senior Supply Chain Advisor, advises USAID and other USG agencies on matters of commodity supply including equipment, procurement planning, pipeline management and commodity distribution. The Advisor provides interface with senior officials in the GRZ, such as within the MOH or MSL, to resolve issues and ensure efficiencies in the supply chain system.

 

The Advisor will work closely and collaboratively with key stakeholders in the supply chain system, offering technical guidance as needed and appropriate and providing transparency and coordination for US support to the supply chain system and electronic commodity management system. In addition, the Advisor will work closely with key donor partners in the health and supply chain sector, including Department for International Development (DFID), European Union, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UNICEF, World Bank and the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB, as well as other stakeholders. 

 

The ultimate goal of the Advisor’s work is to support the USG strategic plan for the pharmaceutical sector. Anticipated results include:

1. Strengthened public sector medical/supply and commodity procurement capacity

2. Improved use of medicines and more effective pharmaceutical services

3. Strengthened GRZ strategic planning and management capacity

4. Improved availability of commodities including equipment at facility level

5. Improved logistics management information systems

 

The Advisor will focus on technical guidance to USAID and its partners, the broader US Mission in Zambia and to the GRZ on priority supply chain and health commodity issues. Commodity supply, including equipment, procurement planning and pipeline planning are critical components of the Zambian health system, rendering the position critical to the success of USG health assistance provided to Zambia through USAID, CDC, State Department, DOD and Peace Corps.

 

S/he will receive technical guidance from the Supply Chain Advisor, and general guidance from the Deputy Health Office Chief who will serve as his/her point of contact.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Health Procurement and Supply Chain Advisor will be responsible for

 

TECHNICAL GUIDANCE AND ADVOCACY IN HEALTH COMMODITY AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND HEALTH SYSTEMS

• Serving as an advisor to USAID and other USG agencies in country for all matters related to health commodity and supply chain logistics.
• Providing technical advice to the GRZ, donors and cooperating partners, and participating in technical coordination forums on matters related to supply chain and logistics in the health sector.
• Providing technical guidance to USAID and other USG implementing partners as well as policy advice to various departments in the MOH and MCDMCH, including the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority, Information Technology, and Procurement Unit, National Program Offices and Directorates (e.g., TB Control programs, Laboratory Unit and RH and MCH unit).
• Providing technical and management contributions to USG program designs, budget allocations, strategic planning documents, and reporting mechanisms.
• Supporting the strengthening of supply chain performance at all levels, with the goal of getting the right health commodities to arrive at the right places at the right times to the patients who need them, from central and district, to facility and community.

 

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Making recommendations, with appropriate counterparts, regarding commodity management and distribution programs and projects funded by USAID - particularly for PEPFAR or PMI supported medicines or commodities, such as treatment regimens, laboratory reagents, equipment, male circumcision (MC) kits and TB, as well as coordinating and advising on commodity management and distribution policy across USG health programs.
• Providing technical support for any USAID projects related to supply chain and logistics. This includes USAID/Zambia’s technical assistance programs in supply chain strengthening, pharmaceutical services and several other programs that manage the procurement of a wide variety of health commodities.
• Providing significant technical assistance and support for collaboration on commodity projects managed by other USG agencies, such as under PEPFAR and PMI.
• Providing activity management support to: facilitate the increased use of effective monitoring and reporting systems; provide technical input for the development of Performance Monitoring Plans; review and make recommendations for the implementing partners’ annual work plans and budgets.
• Monitoring and providing guidance to USAID procurement and distribution of health supplies and commodities annually. Commodities procured and distributed under these activities may include contraceptives, condoms, Anti-Retrovirals, HIV and malaria test kits, TB and anti-malaria drugs, MCH commodities and essential medicines, MC kits, laboratory reagents and supplies, vaccine supplies and equipment, and other commodities required for the implementation of HIV/AIDS and health programs.
• Organizing and participating in field visits by external parties that highlight USAID and USG supply chain strengthening activities.

 

MULTIAGENCY COORDINATION AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IN SUPPLY CHAIN AND HEALTH SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING

• Providing technical advice on commodity management, procurement and distribution that will be used to make recommendations to senior level officials in the GRZ, and among senior donor community representatives, with the private sector and civil society partners. Coordinating and/or supporting commodity procurement, technical assistance for systems reform, and other related support with other donor agencies through the cooperating partner’s forum and/or SWAP.
• Supporting the facilitation of technical and programmatic synergy within USAID/Zambia, USG interagency partners, and those of GRZ and other development partners and stakeholders engaged in the Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) and serving as an active member in collaboration with the Supply Chain Management Advisor on any supply chain technical working groups.
• Coordinating activities that foster significant collaboration and strategic partnerships among various donors supporting the sector, in particular UNDP, UNICEF, DFID, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Global Fund, and the World Bank, in an effort to improve commodity security for laboratory reagents, equipment, MC kits and TB.
• Supporting strategic planning and implementation for national supply chain plan, procurement plan, and commodity security in key USG focus areas.
• Supporting coordination efforts between USAID and USG supply chain implementing partners.
• Supporting the development of strategic partnerships with other donors and partners to forge coordinated approaches to strengthen the national health system, with respect to the supply chain for essential drugs.
• Participate in professional continuing education, skills training and professional meetings to enhance relevant technical skills and career development.
• Complete and execute an Individual Learning and Training Plan and Annual Work Plan.
• International and domestic travel approximately 15%.

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree with 5+ years relevant experience or Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years of relevant experience in a relevant field including pharmacy, logistics and supply chain management, leadership and strategic management, business administration, public health, or related degree.
• Progressively responsible and extensive professional experience working in the health or international development field, with three (3) years’ experience in an International or resource challenged setting, preferably Zambia or a similar developing country.
• At least 5 years of professional experience with two or more Backstops (BS) 50 technical disciplines (such as HIV/AIDS, Health System Strengthening & FP/RH); job duties/responsibilities specifically related to SOW requirements.
• Experience with management of activities for laboratory, pharmaceutical and public health supply chain; including designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating activities in the delivery of supply chain and pharmaceutical management programs.
• Relevant experience in the following areas:
  • Design and project management of programs to build national systems capacity required.
  • Procurement and supply chain management, or other relevant pharmacy or health commodities logistics sector.
  • Working with priority health programs (HIV, TB or malaria), as well as supply chain and pharmaceutical management systems specific to HIV, TB and/or malaria.
• Thorough knowledge in:
  • Technical and programmatic approaches in public health sector procurement and supply management required, including all aspects of supply chain and its role in health sector programming.
  • Procurement and supply management as it relates to and interacts with health systems strengthening approaches is required. This includes knowledge of procurement planning, pipeline monitoring, quantification, forecasting, warehousing, distribution, information management, district capacity-building, and commodity procurement practice.
  • Concepts, principles, techniques, and practices of health policies and programs in sub-Saharan African countries.
  • Priority health program areas, in particular managing commodities i.e., laboratory reagents, lab equipment, quality control programs, MC kits, HIV test kits, nutrition commodities and TB commodities.
  • Zambia’s economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics, and the history of development assistance, in particular as it relates to health programs in Zambia, including current trends and directions.
  • In-depth understanding of HIV/AIDS issues affecting less-developed countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as an exceptional ability to translate knowledge into practice for resource limited settings.
  • In-depth understanding of the issues affecting US Government HIV/AIDS programs, both bilateral and multilateral, as well as recognized internal decision-making structures/processes.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with multiple partners at different levels, including host country government counterparts, NGO representatives, other collaborating partners/bilateral donors, the US Embassy and other USG partners, and implementing partners.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to facilitate agreement among various partners to promote resolution of issues impeding successful implementation of a high-quality national programs.

• Demonstrated ability to work and provide guidance in a team environment, coordinate well with others and provide advice in the areas of his/her competencies.
• Ability to develop effective and collaborative managerial relationships with USG technical colleagues and implementing partners.
• Diplomacy, tact, cultural sensitivity and team participation skills are required, in order to establish and maintain effective working relationships within USAID, and with the public and private sectors.
• Excellent organizational skills in order to multitask and stay organized in a complex, frequently changing environment.
• Demonstrated analytical skills and problem solving, as well as the ability to effectively work in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated ability in strategic thinking and decision-making as well as technical analysis required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentation skills.
• Written and spoken fluency in English.
• Ability to obtain medical clearance to live and work in Zambia.
• US Citizenship or US Permanent Residency required.
• Facility Access-clearance required.
• Application closing date: 04/19/2019

Company Overview:



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Credence Management Solutions, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, status as protected veteran or disability.