Employment opportunities

The USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project seeks to fill the position of Capacity Building and Field Support Director to support the GHSC-PSM project in Zambia.

The USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project will be the primary vehicle through which USAID will procure and provide health commodities, provide technical assistance to improve partner countries’ management of the supply chain and collaborate with key international stakeholders to support global health initiatives.

With 85+ staff across six offices around the country, this diverse and complex program sets out to strengthen the capacity of GRZ to develop sustainable systems that ensure the availability and security of vital and essential health commodities through (1) increased data availability and use for informed supply chain decision making, (2) improved quantification procurement planning and coordination processes, (3) provision of cost-effective, reliable international and local procurement services, (4) improved efficiency in warehousing and distribution by Zambia Medicines and Medical Supply Agency (ZAMMSA), and (5) increased strategic management and planning by the Ministry of Health for improved commodity security. The project seeks to recruit (on a one-year contract renewable) for the following positions:

Position Title: Capacity Building and Field Support Director

Reporting To: Deputy Country Director – Technical Services

Principal Duties and Responsibilities
The Capacity Building and Field Support Director will work with the Country Director and Deputy Country Director-Technical Services i) to lead in-country technical assistance for GHSC-PSM in Zambia to strengthen the ability of Ministry of Health (MOH) staff to implement and supervise logistics systems that promote commodity security by enhancing data collection, quality, and use for decision making; ii) to strengthen the capacity of the Zambian Government to enhance logistics systems that are sustainable to ensure availability and security of vital and essential health commodities by supporting MOH leadership, higher learning institutions and partners to develop and manage strategic plans for good governance of the supply chain and iii) supervise the provincial-based logistics systems strengthening (LSS) teams.
The Director will be responsible for developing technical strategies, setting standards, providing technical assistance, and monitoring the progress of implementation for components of the project focused on logistics system strengthening and capacity building, for improved and impactful commodity security.
The Director will also serve as a member of the senior management team and will work with the Country Director and Deputy Country Director-Technical Services to develop and communicate the vision and strategic direction of the project.

Specific Tasks

Technical Implementation

Capacity building

• Support full integration of supply chain management for pre-service education in the biomedical, nursing, and pharmacy schools by providing technical assistance to refine course material, train lecturers, promote adherence to curriculum and quality standards, and identify areas for targeted material support;
• Oversee in-service training portfolio to enhance logistics systems operation and commodity management capacity, including (a) conducting integrated logistics systems training for SDP staff in HIV/lab, malaria, FP, and MCH and (b) enhancing the capacity of district and provincial-level supervisors to oversee commodity management in their areas of responsibility;
• Promote supply chain management best practices and innovative knowledge sharing to improve logistic systems usage by (a) developing standardized tools to be used during pre-service and in-service training, (b) conducting a logistics management capacity gap assessment to define opportunities to better target capacity building initiatives, and (c) exploring the development and implementation of other initiatives such as mentorship programs and e-learning platforms;
• Encourage technical teams under his/her supervision to identify, experiment, and implement innovative supply chain solutions and best practices;
• Support and strengthen community-led logistics systems for improved data visibility and commodity accountability;

Provincial field support

• Lead and coordinate technical assistance activities to strengthen the ability of MOH staff to implement and supervise logistics systems that promote commodity security by enhancing data collection, quality, and use for decision-making;
• Promote enhanced facility-level data quality and reporting by overseeing approximately 20-person provincial team members providing remote project support to health facilities and targeted technical supportive supervision (TSS) visits;
• Strengthen provincial and district‐level supervision and use of data for decision‐making by overseeing provincial staff technical assistance in forums such as (a) on-the-job mentorship, (b) provincial and district integrated meetings, (c) MOH planning meetings, and (d) provincial-level performance assessments of districts and hospitals;
• Strengthen the utility and usability of eLMIS via collaboration with eSCMIS and ongoing technical assistance to MOH staff in system use.

Management

• Supervise the managers under his/her responsibility, develop roles and responsibilities, design and monitor professional development plans, conduct annual performance appraisals, develop SMART goals, and periodically monitor progress toward objectives;
• Provide oversight of a team of technical specialists to strengthen the ability of MOH staff to implement and supervise logistics systems that promote commodity security by enhancing data collection, quality, and use for decision-making;
• Develop scopes of work for short-term technical assistance (STTA) in collaboration with the PSM Zambia field team and HQ. Provide technical oversight of consultants and review associated outcomes and deliverables to ensure quality and timely submission to the client;
• Oversee implementation of work plan activities and ensure quality and timely submission of all contract deliverables within strategic planning and governance area;
• Represent PSM project at various technical meetings with collaborating partners, senior government officials, and/or donor agencies;
• Ensure that staff understand and adhere to established policies and procedures. Support quick and just resolution of any disciplinary issues that arise;
• Verify that USAID regulations, Chemonics policies, and quality management best practices are enforced consistently;
• Exhibit Chemonics values and build a culture of “Living our Values” within the team;
• Carry out additional responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time in consultation with the Country Director and Deputy Country Director.

Minimum Education Qualifications, Experience, and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, education, supply chain management, logistics, or a related field required;
• Master’s or other advanced degree preferred;
• Minimum ten (10) years of experience in technical assistance for supply chain and logistics management and capacity building required;
• Experience with capacity building, training, and workforce development methodologies preferred;
• Thorough knowledge of USAID funding and its contractual and reporting requirements required and experience managing USAID-funded health programs strongly preferred;
• Strong leadership and motivational ability;
• Strong written and oral communication skills;
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills;
• Ability to develop and manage operating and capital budgets;
• Written and spoken English fluency.

Location of Assignment
The assignment location is Lusaka, Zambia with intermittent travel throughout the country.