Technical Advisor II: Supply Chain Management System Advisor

Supply Chain for Health Division, Office of HIV/AIDS, Bureau for Global Health,

United States Agency for International Development

Location: Washington, DC

Assignment: Two year fellowship

GHFP II-P1-048

 The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with CDC Development Solutions and Management Systems International. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

 GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by developing and increasing the capacity of health professionals with tailored development opportunities. This is accomplished through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels, and performance management and professional development activities aimed to enhance the technical and leadership skills of fellows.

BACKGROUND:

For people with HIV/AIDS in developing countries, cost-effective, reliable, secure and sustainable supply chains can save millions of lives. By the end of 2006, about 2 million people living with HIV/AIDS were receiving antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries-a dramatic 54 percent increase over the year before. Ensuring that essential medicines, HIV test kits, laboratory supplies and other health products are continuously available when they are needed is an ongoing imperative.

 Awarded in September 2005 as an indefinite quantity contract to the Partnership for Supply Chain Management, a nonprofit consortium, the Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) project is funded under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The purpose of SCMS is to establish and operate a safe, secure, reliable, and sustainable supply chain management system to procure pharmaceuticals and other products needed to provide care and treatment to persons with HIV/AIDS and related infections. Through creating and enhancing an uninterrupted supply of key commodities, SCMS is intended to support the rapid scale up of HIV/ AIDS prevention, treatment, and care. This includes ensuring the quality of drugs, test kits, and other supplies, and building capacity for long-term sustainable procurement and distribution. Project activities include supporting the purchase of lifesaving anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs (including low-cost generic ARVs approved or tentatively approved by the Food and Drug Administration); non-ARV drugs, including drugs for opportunistic infections, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and malaria; drugs for home and palliative care; quality laboratory materials such as rapid test kits; and supplies such as gowns, gloves, injection equipment, and cleaning and sterilization items.

INTRODUCTION:

Based within the Supply Chain for Health Division (SCH) of the Office of HIV/AIDS (OHA), the Supply Chain Management System Advisor’s (SCMS Advisor) primary objective is to provide scientific and technical assistance to the SCMS project. S/he will independently provide support services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of the OHA/SCH, which includes supporting a sustainable supply chain to procure and distribute pharmaceuticals and other commodities needed to provide care and treatment of persons with HIV/AIDS and related infections.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As a member of the Supply Chain for Health Division within OHA, the SCMS Advisor will provide scientific and technical assistance to accomplish PEPFAR and other HIV/AIDS program objectives and will have three primary responsibilities:

1. Serving as a scientific and technical expert and resource for OHA/SCH on HIV/AIDS and other public health issues and their impact on the SCMS project and activities (approximately 50%), including:

• Serving as part of the Country Support team in SCH responsible for backstopping countries and organizations on the full range of PEPFAR issues
• Coordinating with and advising USAID Missions, other USAID offices and other US Government agencies on technical and programmatic issues
• Assisting in the management and evaluation of the SCMS project with special emphasis on integrating technical and scientific concerns into the project, e.g., reviewing work plans and project management reviews for scientific and technical merit

2. Assisting and providing technical and programmatic guidance on issues related to laboratory commodity procurement, the quantification and forecasting of laboratory equipment, and the functioning of the supply chain. In addition, the SCMS Advisor will help manage and work with the interagency Laboratory Technical Working Group, and provide assistance to the USAID principal laboratory advisor (approximately 25%).

3. Assisting and providing technical and programmatic guidance on issues related to male circumcision (MC) commodity procurement, the quantification and forecasting of MC-related materials and the functioning of the MC supply chain (approximately 25%).

Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming need and/or (b) the Technical Advisor’s own interests.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in public health management or a related field
• Minimum five years’ experience in providing scientific and technical assistance to HIV/AIDS related or public health programs, with at least two years’ experience in an international or resource challenged setting
• Demonstrated ability in strategic planning, program management and implementation, especially within a developing country or resource challenged context
• Experience with USAID and PEPFAR policies and procedures, especially as related to commodity procurement
• Knowledge of the technical issues that arise in health commodity procurement and issues related to PEPFAR-specific procurement
• Experience with international health organizations’ operations (e.g., WHO, UNAIDS)
• High level of judgment, maturity, ingenuity and originality to develop strategies, and to analyze, develop, monitor, and evaluate program implementation
• Ability to work independently with light oversight
• Ability to recognize areas of weakness and willingness to learn
• Willingness to travel extensively to developing countries
• Ability to work within diverse teams
• Strong interpersonal communication and excellent oral presentation and writing skills
• Ability to speak French desirable
• US Citizenship required

Salary and Benefits:

Salary based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs http://www.ghfp.net/docs/2012_Benefits_Booklet_GHFP.pdf

 TO APPLY:

All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP-II’s online recruitment system at  https://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on June 29, 2012.