Quality Management Systems Coordinator x2 at John Snow Inc

Background

John Snow, Inc. (JSI) seeks highly qualified and accomplished public health leaders and providers for the awarded United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/PEPFAR-funded Supporting an AIDS-Free Era (SAFE) Project in Zambia. The five-year project which is led by JSI in partnership with Abt Associates, mothers2mothers, and the Catholic Medical Mission Board, works to reduce HIV mortality, morbidity and transmission, while improving nutrition outcomes and family planning integration in three provinces: Central, Copperbelt, and North-Western. USAID/PEPFAR SAFE works with the GRZ, private sector and civil society institutions at the national, provincial, and district level to increase access to ART for HIV positive adults and children, reduce the incidence of new infections, improve Nutritional Assessment, Counseling and Services (NACS) and family planning services, and increase the capacity of local health institutions to better serve affected populations.

Position Title: Quality Management Systems Coordinator (x2)

Position Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: (1) Kabwe and (1) Ndola

Job Summary

The SAFE PROJECT through a memorandum of understanding supports the Ministry of Health (MoH) strengthen laboratory systems at the different levels of health care in Zambia. SAFE, operates in the Copperbelt, Central, and North Western Provinces and provides focused interventions and technical assistance for laboratory improvement. As a partner to MoH, SAFE supports the implementation of Step Wise Laboratory Improvement Process Toward Accreditation (SLIPTA) through the introduction of Quality Management Systems (QMS) and works with identified labs to address specific improvement projects designed to bring about quality improvement and subsequent gains in SLIPTA star rating.

SAFE, therefore, seek the services of a qualified and experienced QMS expert to oversee quality improvement activities at viral load/EID hubs and laboratories to jointly with facility staff initiate improvement activities. The expert will work with facility staff on a very regular basis and will initially determine baseline status and collaboratively work with quality supervisors and general staff on ensuring quality activities are identified, documented, systematically implemented and measured using the WHO SLIPTA checklist.

Objectives.

1. To develop a quality roadmap in the form of a quality manual to guide the implementation of all quality activities across all 12 quality system essentials (QSE).

2. To use the WHO SLIPTA checklist as a tool to determine the status and implementation of QMS at baseline.

3. To train staff in the use of relevant and applicable quality improvement tools as guided by the national quality improvement approach i.e. PIA or PDCA.

4. To document all quality improvement activities and introduce tools to monitor and track improvement projects using measurable variables.

5. To use the prioritization model to identify critical challenges and work systematically in addressing quality concerns.

6. To use the WHO checklist as a self-audit checklist after prescribed intervals.

Qualifications and Experience:

1. Must be a fully qualified biomedical scientist (with at least five years’ experience at management level.

2. Proven track record of having worked in laboratories where quality improvement has been recorded.

3. Demonstrate familiarity with the SLIPTA checklist and its administration.

4. Must inspire the development of quality improvement activities using relevant tools such as PDCA or PIA.

5. Demonstrate significant knowledge of ISO 15189 and the translation of the standard into actual activities.

6. Ability to guide laboratory teams on the development of quality manuals as a fundamental tool to guide laboratory improvement.

7. Demonstrate the value of critical thinking and further demonstrate self-assessment as a critical approach to objectively addressing gaps.

Anticipated Long Term Outcomes.

1. Progressive acquisition of SLIPTA star rating, at least 2 stars in the first year of implementation and 5 stars by the third year.

2. Change in work culture and ethos of staff implementing improvement activities.

3. Sustained quality environment managed by the regular administration of SLIPTA checklist.

4. Integration of new quality approaches into routine life of the laboratory.

Accreditation.

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