Senior Technical Advisor

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) founded in 1971, is a non-profit organization with a mission to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. Together with our partners, we are helping managers and leaders in developing and transitional countries to create stronger management systems that improve health services for the greatest health impact. Headquartered in the United States, we have operations in more than 30 countries and employ more than 2,000 people from over 73 nations.

BACKGROUND

Global Tuberculosis control is at a critical juncture. The need for a joint and dynamic approach has never been more urgent. The disease threatens the poorest and most marginalized groups, disrupts the social fabric of society, and undermines gains in economic development. The global resurgence of TB of the past few decades is being fueled by decreasing investments in public health systems, emerging drug resistance, and increasing HIV/ AIDS prevalence. New challenges, such as TB/HIV and multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), call for innovative and strategic approaches and for more efficient and cost-effective TB programs.

USAID Bureau for Global Health awarded two (TB CARE I and TB CARE II) mechanisms to build and expand upon previous successful TB control programs over the last eleven years, particularly its Tuberculosis Control Assistance Program (TB CAP). TB CARE is one of the main global mechanisms for implementing USAID’s TB strategy as well as contributing to TB/HIV activities under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). TB CARE collaborates with other national and international initiatives in providing global leadership and support to National TB control efforts.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Technical Advisor’s role encompasses drug supply planning, TB supply chain strategy development and supporting the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in cross cutting commodity management activities. Broad areas that need to be addressed include:

- Provide technical support to NTP for TB supply chain strategy development
- Support NTP to conduct supply chain assessment for TB related pharmaceuticals and supplies
- To provide support to NTP in supply chain planning of TB control commodities (drugs and GenXpert related supplies)
- To participate in NTP commodity management related assessment at all levels (central, provincial and site)
- To conduct regular support supervision mission to provinces and sites to mentor health workers on TB pharmaceuticals and GenXpert supplies management.
- Capacity building on pharmaceutical supply chain management

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

a.Supply Chain Planning

- Coordinate with NTP to ensure the data availability and quality from site, regional and central ware houses for supply chain planning related activities.
- Coordinate with key stakeholders to develop supply chain plan i.e. forecasting& Quantification , annual planning & budgeting, order planning, distribution planning for TB control  pharmaceuticals and and laboratory supplies including GeneXpert supplies
- Support the NTP to ensure that the supply chain plans are approved by MOH and implemented adequately and timely to maintain the continuous supply of MDR TB pharmaceuticals and GeneXpert supplies from central to regional warehouses, regional ware houses to site level and site level to patient level.

b.Supply chain monitoring

- Provide support to NTP for in country importation, clearance and transportation process for MDR TB pharmaceuticals and GeneXpert supplies under the Green Light Committee (GLC) and  FIND mechanism.
- Provide support to NTP for efficient in-country storage and distribution of MDR TB Pharmaceuticals and GenXpert supplies at central, regional and site levels.

c.System Strengthening

- Assist the  Deputy Director and other senior team members to coordinate with all stake holders i.e. NTP, Drug Authority of Vietnam (DAV), MoH, KNCV, WHO, USAID etc. to design an efficient  supply chain system for TB Pharmaceuticals and GeneXpert supplies that can be integrated with the supply chain system of other TB related pharmaceuticals and supplies.
- Provide help to senior management and PMDT team of NTP to assess the supply chain system of NTP for MDR TB pharmaceuticals and GeneXpert supplies at different levels.
- Coordinate with all internal & external stakeholders for designing policies, procedures and framework for supply chain management i.e. selection, procurement, distribution and use of MDR TB related pharmaceuticals and GeneXpert supplies at different levels;
- Assist PMDT, NTP to improve the required infrastructure for supply chain of TB related pharmaceuticals and supplies generally and MDR TB Pharmaceutical and GenXpert supplies in particular at central and regional warehouses and MDR TB and GenXpert sites.
- Assist management to coordinate with NTP and other stake holders to develop roll out strategies for different components of MDR TB pharmaceuticals and GeneXpert equipment and reagent’s supply chain system.

d.Capacity Building

- Coordinate with relevant teams and stakeholders to develop the operational and training manuals for different components of MDR TB and GeneXpert equipment and reagent’s supply chain system.
- Participate and support training at different levels of TB health care system to develop the capacity of individuals and organization to manage the TB supplies generally and MDR TB Pharmaceutical and GenXpert supplies in particular.
- Provide on-the-Job coaching and mentoring to NTP staff on MDR TB and GeneXpert sites to supervise and support the supply chain system implementation.

e.Coordination

- Establish or strengthen a DR-TB commodity management sub-committee to coordinate with the government departments, partners and donors to facilitate smooth flow of the supply chain management activities as per the annual work plan.
- Participate in key forums (meetings, workshops and seminars)  to align the supply chain management and system strengthening activities with government and organizational, plans, policies and procedures.

f.Communication

- Facilitate communication with internal and external members, partners, donors and government agencies according to the management direction, organizational policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Share supply chain management activities-related reports with internal and external stakeholders for necessary approvals and according to standard policies and procedure.

g.Others
- Conduct all other duties assigned by program management on time to time and need basis.

Qualification

-Master’s degree in pharmacy, medicine, supply chain management or related field  with 5 years or more  of public health experience preferably in Vietnam or developing countries;
-Significant experience in Supply chain system strengthening i.e. Assessment, Policy & procedure development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation regarding Selection, Procurement, - - - - -Distribution, Use, Pharmaceutical supply chain management information system etc.
-Knowledge of US Government-funded programs and experience managing relationships with USAID missions preferred
-Proven programmatic, technical, and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with professional colleagues in a broad range of governmental organizations and Implementing Partners
-Strong interpersonal, teamwork and partnering abilities
-Demonstrate excellent Vietnamese & English language skills (both written and oral) with the ability to conduct business
-Demonstrated computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Power Point
-Willing to travel across the country (40% of work time)

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 person.

To apply for this position (deadline: 24 January 2013), please submit applications at [email protected] or send cover letter and CV via email, fax or regular mail to:

MSH/TBCARE Project – Senior Technical Advisor Position
25 Bui Thi Xuan
Hanoi, Vietnam
Fax: + 84 4 3 945-4563
Or email [email protected]