Health Systems Strengthening Lead

Please submit Cover Letter and CV to Jeremy at jeo56@georgetown.edu

Background
The Health Systems Strengthening Lead – Zambia will be working at large on a project supporting the Zambian Ministry of Health (MOH) to achieve and sustain gains made in HIV prevention by supporting direct service delivery (DSD) in four CDC-supported provinces for comprehensive, quality, integrated HIV prevention services targeting key populations (KP) and adolescents and young persons (AYP). DSD support includes, but is not limited to, HIV testing services (HTS); linkage of HIV-positive KP/AYP to community and facility treatment services, retention and viral load (VL) suppression and other support; linkage of HIV-negative KP and AYP to biomedical and non-biomedical HIV prevention services including but not limited to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, STI screening and treatment, and harm reduction programs.

Purpose of the Position
The Health Systems Strengthening Lead will oversee initiatives across Zambia programs ensuring the sustainability of health systems. This includes but is not limited to health information systems, laboratory systems, and human resources for health. The Health Systems Strengthening Lead will work closely with program Principal Investigators, the Zambia Ministry of Health, and key population organizations. S/He will work with all stakeholders to maintain national-level health policy compliance. S/he will also support the management of the supply chain for health commodities and build the capacity of the district and facility teams to achieve effective and sustainable access to health commodities. S/He will develop measures of performance and coordinate all activity for health systems strengthening in Zambia. This position reports to the Country Director – in Zambia.

Specific Responsibilities (included but not limited to)
In your role as Health Systems Strengthening Lead – Zambia, you will:

  • Provide technical leadership and advisory services on Health Systems Strengthening
  • Support the Zambia Ministry of health at the national, provincial district, and facility levels to strengthen capacity and systems for the efficient delivery of essential health services, including planning and budgeting
  • Continuously assess facility needs in liaison with Principal Investigators and recommend solutions to achieve program objectives and technical needs
  • Coordinate capacity assessments for facilities and state and develop targeted capacity development plans.
  • Effectively source and manage a team to support health systems strengthening activities
  • Work closely with all Zambia colleagues despite department to ensure staff coherently understand strategies to deliver on health systems strengthening needs
  • Facilitate cross-learning for all program stakeholders
  • Ensure implementation of work plans and achievement of results across all programs in Zambia
  • Build strong partnerships with the Zambia Ministry of Health, and civil society organizations including those for key populations
  • Utilize innovative training methodologies, and adapt curricula to support training on relevant topics at facility, district, and provincial levels to improve health supply chain systems
  • Lead the development of strategies to improve the management of health products and technologies
  • Support the establishment of medicine and commodities security functions in the provinces
  • Guide, lead, mentor, and support related program staff
  • Manage related stakeholder relationships
  • Perform any other duties that may be assigned

Qualifications

  • Degree in public health, Pharmacy
  • Master of Public Health in Policy and Health Systems Management
  • Ph.D. in Health Systems Strengthening preferred

Experience & Skills

  • At least 8 years of experience in health systems strengthening
  • At least 5 years of experience working on the African continent, preferably in Zambia
  • Extensive knowledge and experience working with the government of the Republic of Zambia is a plus
  • Proven ability to establish strong working relationships with a variety of stakeholders including government representatives, non-profit associations, donors, media, academic and research institutes, and other stakeholders
  • Fluent in written and spoken English

Personal Qualities & Behavioural Competencies

  • Stakeholder centered mindset
  • Solutions-focused, open-minded, creative, and innovative while being extremely decisive, action and results-oriented
  • Strong sense of introspection, self-awareness, and ability to foster positive working relationships and work collaboratively across the organization to optimize the client experience
  • High adaptability and ability to endure failure, learn rapidly from it, get back on track, and meet targets
  • Socially and culturally respectful, aware, adaptable, and adept at finding acceptable and productive ways forward through complex constellations of stakeholders, interests, and agendas
  • Strong sense of maturity, discernment, and ability to maintain confidentiality when required