Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, December 20 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Overview:
The Senior Supply Chain Advisor will primarily support the USAID Zambia Mission as an IBTCI Institutional Support Contractor (ISC). The Senior Supply Chain Advisor, in collaboration with the other Senior Supply Chain Advisor, advises USAID and other USG agencies on matters of health commodity management including procurement planning, pipeline management, and commodity distribution. The Advisor provides technical advice to resolve issues and ensure efficiency in the supply chain system. The Senior Advisor will work closely and collaboratively with key stakeholders in the supply chain system, offering technical guidance as needed and appropriate, providing transparency and coordination for US support to the supply chain system and electronic commodity management system. In addition, the Senior Advisor will work closely with key donor partners that support the supply chain in the health sector, including the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), the European Union, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UNICEF, the World Bank, and the Global Fund, as well as other stakeholders.
The overall goal of the Advisor’s work is to support the USG strategic plan for strengthening the health supply chain system. Anticipated results include:
• Strengthened public sector health commodity procurement capacity
• Improved use of medicines and more effective pharmaceutical services
• Strengthened Government Republic of Zambia (GRZ) strategic planning and management capacity
• Improved availability of commodities at facility level
• Improved logistics management information systems

The Senior Advisor will focus on technical guidance to USAID and its partners, the broader US Mission in Zambia and to the GRZ on priority supply chain and health commodity issues. Commodity supply, including forecasting, procurement and supply planning, is a critical component of the Zambian health system, rendering the position critical to the success of USG health assistance provided to Zambia through USAID, CDC, the State Department, the Department of Defense (DOD) and Peace Corps.

Responsibilities
Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:
Technical Leadership:
• Serving as an advisor to USAID and other USG agencies in-country for all matters related to health commodity and supply chain logistics.
• Providing technical advice to the GRZ, donors, and cooperating partners, and participating in technical coordination forums on matters related to supply chain and logistics in the health sector.
• Providing technical guidance to USAID and USG implementing partners, as well as policy advice to various departments in the MOH, including the Information Technology Unit, National Program Offices and Directorates (e.g., TB Control Programs, the Laboratory Unit, and the FP/RH and MCH Unit), the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), and the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA).
• Providing technical contributions to USG program designs, budget allocations, strategic planning documents, and reporting mechanisms.
• Supporting the strengthening of supply chain performance at all levels, with the goal of getting the right health commodities to arrive at the right places at the right times to the patients who need them, from central and district, to facility and community.
• Making recommendations, with appropriate counterparts, regarding commodity management and distribution programs and projects funded by USAID – particularly for PEPFAR or PMI-supported medicines or commodities, as well as coordinating and advising on commodity
management and distribution policy across USG health programs.
• Providing technical support for USAID projects related to supply chain and logistics. This includes USAID/Zambia’s technical assistance programs in supply chain strengthening, pharmaceutical services, and several other programs that manage the procurement of a wide variety of health commodities.
• Providing significant technical assistance and support for collaboration on commodity projects managed by other USG agencies, including PEPFAR and PMI.
• Providing activity management support to a) facilitate the increased use of effective monitoring and reporting systems; b) provide technical input for the development of Performance Monitoring Plans; and c) review and make recommendations for implementing partners’ annual work plans and budgets.
• Monitoring and providing guidance to orient USAID procurement and distribution of health supplies and commodities annually. Commodities procured and distributed under these activities may include contraceptives, condoms, antiretrovirals, HIV and malaria test kits, TB and anti-malaria drugs, FP/RH and MCH commodities and essential medicines, laboratory reagents and supplies, vaccine supplies and equipment, and other commodities required for the implementation of HIV/AIDS and health programs.
• Organizing and participating in field visits by external parties that highlight USAID and USG supply chain strengthening activities.

Multiagency Coordination and Strategic Partnerships in Supply Chain and Health Systems Strengthening:
• Providing technical advice on commodity management, procurement, and distribution that will be used to make recommendations to senior-level GRZ officials, and among senior donor community representatives, as well as with the private sector and civil society partners.
• Coordinating and/or supporting commodity procurement, technical assistance for systems reform, and other related support with other donor agencies, through the cooperating partners’ forum and/or Sector-wide Approach (SWAp) mechanism.
• Supporting the facilitation of technical and programmatic synergy within USAID/Zambia, USG interagency partners, and those of the GRZ and other development partners and stakeholders engaged in the SWAp, and serving as an active member in collaboration with the USAID/Zambia Supply Chain Management Advisors, on any supply chain technical working groups.
• Coordinating activities that foster significant collaboration and strategic partnerships among various donors supporting the sector, in particular UNDP, UNICEF, FCDO, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the Global Fund, and the World Bank, in an effort to improve commodity security.
• Supporting strategic planning and implementation for the National Supply Chain Plan, Procurement Plan, and commodity security in key USG focus areas.
• Supporting coordination efforts between USAID and USG supply chain implementing partners.
• Supporting the development of strategic partnerships with other donors and partners, to forge coordinated approaches to strengthen the national health system, with respect to the supply chain for essential medicines.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
• Master’s Degree with 10 years, Bachelor’s with 12 years, Associate’s degree with 14 years or High School with 16 years of relevant education and experience in Logistics, Business, Project Management, Public Health, International Development, or other related areas.
• Experience in supply chain management, logistics, or other related areas.
• Strategic planning experience in systems strengthening required.
• The incumbent must have in-depth professional-level knowledge of supply chain management, logistics, and commodity security principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to activities in developing countries, resource challenged settings, and/or complex environments.
• The incumbent must have strong writing, communication, organizational, and IT (proficiency in office programs and database managers–e.g. Microsoft Office) skills; ability to facilitate meetings and to make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials and partners in a multi-cultural context, along with the ability to produce concise, clear reports skills.
• Must have the ability to work independently with minimum supervision and within a team in a fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Fluency in English speaking, reading, and writing.
• Prior USAID work experience highly desirable.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Facility Access required.
• Open to Local Nationals.

Education: Master’s Degree, or higher in Operations, Logistics, Business, Project Management, Public Health, International Development, or other related areas.

Preferred Skills:
• Innovation: Employee takes initiative to propose new ideas/approaches, and demonstrates ability to find new and better ways to accomplish work.
• Customer Service: Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers, follows procedure to solve customer problems, understands company products and services, maintains pleasant and professional image.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of work responsibilities and holds high standards. Keeps commitments and takes appropriate actions to ensure obligations are met. Pursues efficiency and effectiveness and adheres to Organization policies and procedures.
• Interpersonal Skills: Employee demonstrates ability to work in cooperation with others and communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisors, subordinates, clients and other outside contacts.
• Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues professional development that is aligned with organizational role, contribution, and goals. Proactively shares knowledge with others to foster learning across the Organization.



Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 144

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

Job application procedure

Interested and qualified? Click here to apply


All Jobs

QUICK ALERT SUBSCRIPTION