Closing date: 28 Aug 2009 -- (CLOSED)
Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo (the) - Kinshasa
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Center for Pharmaceutical Management
Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems (SPS) Program
TITLE: SPS/DRC Country Team Leader
BAND: 6
REPORTS TO: SPS/DRC Country Program Manager, Arlington
LOCATION: Kinshasa, DR Congo
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES
The SPS/DRC Country Team Leader is responsible for coordinating and managing all field-based activities for the Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems (SPS) Program in DR Congo. He or she is the primary liaison between SPS and the USAID/DRC Health Team, the Ministry of Health, stakeholders, and partners involved with pharmaceutical management activities and/or USAID implementing partners in DRC. The Country Team Leader manages the SPS/DRC office, and works closely with SPS/Arlington and other MSH projects in DRC to ensure that MSH/CPM/SPS plans and activities effectively address priority pharmaceutical and commodity management needs. As the lead person for the SPS team in DRC, he or she supervises staff and coordinates closely with the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) to ensure the timely and coordinated delivery of SPS products and activities.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Maintain all verbal and written communications with the USAID health team and represent SPS in meetings with external partners including the USAID Mission, CDC office, the Ministry of Public Health, the Global Fund, other collaborating agencies and MSH projects in DRC. He or she collaborates closely with the STA for the identification and coordination of commodity management priorities in DRC.
2. Develop country plans and budgets for SPS technical assistance to DRC in coordination with the DRC Senior Technical Advisor and the SPS Arlington-based Country Program Manager.
3. Maintain close interaction with SPS Country Program Manager based in Arlington to ensure adequate support to the country program and the implementation of work plans in a timely fashion and within set budgets. The Team Leader closely coordinates with the SPS/DRC Senior Technical Advisor on technical activity progress and needs. He or she also ensures that plan adjustments are made as necessary.
4. Collaborate with appropriate partners, CPM/SPS staff in Arlington and Kinshasa, other MSH projects in DRC, especially the LMS project in Kinshasa, and Cambridge to ensure the adequate support for the procurement of pharmaceuticals and commodities under funding mandates of other MSH projects in DRC.
5. Oversee the implementation of SPS activities at the national, provincial, health zone, and facility levels ensuring that all activities are adequately implemented in a timely manner, and that they adequately address pharmaceutical and commodity management needs at the different levels of the system.
6. In close collaboration with the Senior Technical Advisor, oversee the adequate functioning of the pharmaceutical management information system in USAID-assisted health zones ensuring that USAID implementing partners receive sufficient support from SPS provincial staff and that pharmaceutical data are collected and analyzed with reports and recommendations appropriately disseminated among partners in a timely manner.
7. In close collaboration with the Senior Technical Advisor, monitor SPS training and on-site technical assistance activities, ensuring the development of local capacity amongst MOH and USAID implementing partners (service delivery and HIV/AIDS partners) to maintain adequate pharmaceutical management systems.
8. Ensure the development of regular activity updates (monthly or quarterly) and their timely submission to the USAID/DRC team, and develop quarterly reports to be submitted to the SPS database system in Arlington.
9. In close collaboration with the Senior Technical Advisor, coordinate regularly with other MSH projects and activities in DRC, especially the LMS/DRC technical staff to ensure adequate SPS support for pharmaceutical management activities conducted in other projects’ health zones.
10. Manage day-to-day country office operations and serve as a liaison with the home office to ensure that logistics, contracts, letters of agreement, and any approvals are adequately in place in support of program activities. Also, ensure adherence to office management and accounting procedures.
11. Coordinate with MSH DRC operations staff in DRC for the effective implementation of the “One MSH” policy and operations platform and to ensure that all SPS operational and financial needs are adequately addressed.
12. Supervise staff as assigned. Supervisory responsibilities include but are not limited to: regularly meeting with supervisees to discuss issues, track work progress, provide guidance and support, and ensure consistent quality of work performed; conducting Performance Plans and Reviews; communicating, implementing, and ensuring adherence to MSH policies, guidelines, and values; developing staff skills and knowledge; approving time sheets; and facilitating supervisee success whenever possible.
13. Coordinate with CPM HR Partner and DRC HR Manager to identify and recommend local staffing needs and ensure that MSH administrative procedures for hiring are adequately adhered to.
14. Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
1. Advanced degree in a health related field including medicine, pharmacy, public health, health management or other related discipline is required.
2. Demonstrated experience in managing a similar project field office/field activities.
3. Demonstrated managerial and organizational skills in a developmental setting with flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.
4. Familiar with public health systems in Africa, especially francophone Africa, with a good understanding of key pharmaceutical management issues is strongly preferred.
5. Experience working with USAID-funded programs is desirable
6. Demonstrated experience coordinating with programs supported by international agencies such as WHO, World Bank, the Global Fund and bilateral agencies such as USAID.
7. Excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to interact professionally with a culturally diverse staff, clients, and consultants.
8. Proficiency in French and English, including reading, writing, and speaking skills, with ability to write lucid technical reports and documents in both French and English is required.
9. Demonstrated intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
10. Ability and availability to travel within DRC and internationally as needed.
Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Reference Code: RW_7TTPPM-20
