Chemonics International Inc.
JOB TITLE: Procurement and Supply Management (PSM) Technical Director
JOB LOCATION: Lilongwe, Malawi
REPORTS TO: Country Director
The purpose of the USAID Global Health Supply Chain program-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project is to ensure uninterrupted supplies of health commodities in support of USG-funded public health initiatives around the world. The project provides direct procurement and supply chain management support to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and Population and Reproductive Health. In supporting USG-funded global health activities, PSM will develop and manage a wide array of services for health commodity procurement and related systems strengthening technical assistance encompassing different elements of a comprehensive supply chain.
At the country level, GHSC-PSM supports country strategies and priorities that fall under the following three project objectives: Global Commodity Procurement and Logistics Systems Strengthening Technical Assistance Global Collaboration to Improve Long-Term Availability of Health Commodities.
Position Summary
The Procurement and Supply Management (PSM) Technical Director is the team lead of the Public Health Program Supply Chain Coordinators/Advisers/Specialists and the Capacity Building and Field Support team, which are responsible for improving central and facility level availability of health commodities, increasing the use of data and information for commodity-related decision- making, improving data quality at all levels of supply chain activity in country, building capacity of regional/district staff who supervise health facility commodity management, designing and rolling out innovations to increase reporting rates and increase access to information on key supply chain data, and supporting the streamlined roll-out of cross-cutting supply chain systems strengthening initiatives. The PSM Technical Director coordinates and provides technical and supervisory leadership to the Public Health Program Supply Chain Specialists (HIV, FP/RH, Malaria, MNCH, Lab) and the Regional Commodity Logistics officers (RCLOs) in implementing work plan activities. The PSM Technical Director will also be responsible for VMMC and quality assurance activities, ensuring that up-to-date quality assurance and quality control processes are in place and maintained throughout the supply chain and that appropriate corrective actions are taken when necessary.
As team lead for the Public Health Program Supply Chain Specialists and Capacity Building and Field Support teams and direct supervisor to eight staff- a total of 14 direct and indirect reports with six staff from the Capacity Building and Field Support team and eight of the Public Health Program Supply Chain Specialists – the PSM Technical Director has the responsibility for encouraging strong team performance by recognizing the unique roles of each member of the team and supporting them to meet the goals of the project while developing their talents to be leaders in their own right. He/she will also help obtain the needed capacity building resources to execute agreed tasks on time.
The PSM Technical Director, through the HIV supply chain adviser, is also responsible to oversee the project’s VMMC support activities to USAID-funded VMMC implementing partners and supports other HIV program activities as required. Additionally, the PSM Technical Director coordinates the quality assurance support for the project’s parallel supply chain activities, including liaising with the warehousing and distribution service providers and the Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Activity on matters of product registration and importation.
The PSM Technical Director’s overall success is measured by the success of the entire team in improving commodity availability at the last mile. As team leader, he/she is expected to work with the program-specific experts to define and prioritize activities, agree on performance metrics, and to continuously follow up and support team members to achieve agreed-upon goals. She/he must also build needed external and internal relationships with other collaborating bodies (Mission, MOH-HTSS, various Health programs), with the project’s seconded advisors, and with all other project teams for the needed synergies and coordination that will mutually benefit all members and initiatives of the team.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Advise the country director in overall strategy and success of the project, including development of project vision, technical strategy, work plans and budget.
- Work with team members to develop detailed quarterly implementation plans (ensuring data driven planning) and activity budgets, and monthly cash flow projection based on the annual work plan.
- Work with team members to identify and plan requirements (SOWs) for STTAS related to the team’s work plan activities, complete the needed preparatory steps with the in-country counterparts and support the TA providers once in-country to successfully implement the planned SOWS.
- Provide oversight to the planning and implementation of program-specific national quantification exercises, monthly stock status monitoring and pipeline updates and monthly distribution planning for health commodities.
- Lead/support implementation of cross-cutting strategic initiatives (strategic plan development, guidelines development/ revision…) in collaboration with MOH-seconded advisers and other technical teams.
- Conduct performance management activities with commodity security team members including regular progress and performance review meetings.
- In collaboration with the Country Director, MIS Director and Finance and Operations Director, participate in annual work plan development ensuring that team member suggestions and inputs are considered during the process.
- Ensures adequate technical assistance to USG VMMC IPs, liaising closely with the IPs to ensure sufficient availability of VMMC commodities.
- Provide oversight to the planning, procurement, and delivery of adequate VMMC commodities for effective VMMC program implementation.
- Ensure that Quality Assurance and Quality Control processes are in place, maintained throughout the supply chain, and reviewed/revisited periodically.
- Ensure all standard operating procedures reflect the most up-to-date, internationally accepted practices and ensure compliance with evolving innovations.
- Coordinate inspection, sampling, and laboratory testing of health commodities in accordance with defined requirements.
- Prepare and submit regular and timely progress reports on the collective activities of the team.
- Participate in the preparation and/or review of the project’s technical reports/documents, as requested by the Country Director.
Qualifications
- Advanced Degree in Pharmacy, Supply Chain, Logistics, Project Management, Public Health, or a related field.
- Minimum eight years providing technical assistance and leadership oversight for public health program management, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, and/or supply chain management systems.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and implement complex USAID public health project activities in Malawi.
- Ability to create efficiencies and lead the implementation of large complex public health programs, preferably with experience in medical procurement, logistics, or supply chain management.
- Demonstrated ability to build colleagues’ competencies in supply chain management.
- Proven ability to collaborate with Ministry of Health officials, USAID, and other key stakeholders in the Malawian health supply chain.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills; proven diplomatic and public relations skills.
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.
- Fluency in English required.
Method Of Application
Please send a cover letter, a full detailed Curriculum Vitae or Resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references to [email protected]. This application will close on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024. Please include “PSM Technical Director” in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.
Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis
of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic
information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.