Country Support Associate - Diagnostics

Country  Other City  Africa Based Type  Full-Time Paid Business Unit  Access Programs Additional Location Description  Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi

More information about this job:

Overview:

Founded in 2002 by President William J. Clinton, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) works to broaden access to life-saving treatment for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria patients in the poorest parts of the world. As part of this mission, CHAI’s “Access Programs” approach global public health challenges with market-based strategies, using simultaneous engagement on both the supply and demand sides of the market. On the supply side, CHAI engages with suppliers of essential drugs and diagnostics to improve access to products by lowering prices, accelerating new products to market, and sharing market intelligence. On the demand side, CHAI organizes and consolidates demand for health commodities by helping governments to scale up treatment programs, mobilize new resources, improve procurement processes, and enhance local human resource capacity. Working with over 30 governments and other partners, CHAI is focused on large-scale impact on many of the largest barriers to effective treatment and care. Within the Access Program, the Global Laboratory Services Team (LST) is a key source of support for Ministries of Health and CHAI country teams, and works to address barriers to access and foster a healthy competitive marketplace for essential diagnostic testing. LST plays the lead role in coordinating work globally on access to diagnostics, working closely with diagnostics manufacturers, governments, and multilateral organizations to lower prices, increase access to testing, and accelerate the entry and uptake of new innovative products. Position: The Diagnostics Associate will work with CHAI’s Global Laboratory Services Team (LST) to support the following work streams: Early Infant HIV Diagnosis and HIV System Strengthening: The Diagnostics Associate will support countries as they establish sustainable systems for HIV diagnostic commodities through more permanent funding sources and procurement mechanisms.  He/she will do this by playing a supporting role to LST in global issues relating the inclusion of HIV diagnostics as part of MOH procurement lists, assisting LST to achieve global pricing deals for optimized lab commodities, and supporting the development of policies and guidelines to improve access to diagnostic services. The Diagnostics Associate will focus on strengthening the capacity of governments and partners to manage in-country forecasting processes, procurement and supply management (PSM) systems, and sample referral networks for diagnostic products and tests.  The Diagnostics Associate will focus on Early HIV Infant Diagnosis (EID) in particular, given CHAI’s historical role in the scale-up of national EID programs and strong ongoing relationships with implementing partners and ministries of health. Integration of Centralized and Point of Care Testing: As new technologies become available, the Diagnostics Analyst will focus on advocating for their use with governments and other partners, and strengthening the capacity of governments to adopt POC technologies in the context of existing centralized testing networks. The Diagnostics Associate will help support countries to develop rational deployment models to balance the use of POC and centralized testing to optimize patient outcomes and health system efficiency. The Diagnostics Associate will also provide analysis to support LST in global negotiations with diagnostics manufacturers, and the development of new procurement strategies such as instrument rental deals and split tenders. In doing so, the Diagnostics Associate will develop strong relationships with various teams within CHAI, as well as Ministries of Health, diagnostics manufacturers, and other external partners in beneficiary countries. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with outstanding credentials, analytical ability, and communication skills. The Diagnostics Associate must be able to function independently and flexibly and have a strong commitment to excellence. CHAI places great value on relevant personal qualities: resourcefulness, responsibility, tenacity, independence, energy, and work ethic.

Responsibilities:

Assist LST with CHAI’s Early Infant Diagnosis testing program – including the development of policies and strategic plans, reporting and evaluation of country progress, and future planning for CHAI’s EID work. Assist countries to build HIV systems capacity on quantification of both centralized and POC laboratory related commodities – either through leadership in forecasting workshops, participation in technical working groups, or training on forecasting models – in order to avoid stock-outs, reduce waste and minimize costs Promote information sharing and collaborations between Ministries of Health Provide remote and in-country technical assistance to CHAI country teams in support of existing country-specific grants with a laboratory or diagnostics component, and assist in the creation of new grants for laboratory work Serve as a key advisor to CHAI country teams and in-country and global partners on capacity-building activities related to diagnostic testing and diagnostic products. Support and direct (where necessary) on-going optimization and rationalization projects for lab products Support and provide technical assistance to countries in their tendering and ordering processes Work with CHAI country teams, governments, and partners to map funding needs and available funds for HIV diagnostic products, align key stakeholders behind funding priorities, prepare documents and budgets for proposals for funding sources, such as PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and government funds

Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degree plus 2-5 years work experience High level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word Ability to learn on the job quickly Ability to think strategically, handle multiple work streams, handle ambiguity and work independently in a fast-paced, limited-structure, multicultural environment Available for 50% travel Detail-oriented with strong organization skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver compelling presentations Strong analytical, problem solving, and quantitative skills Advantages: Advanced degree in public health, business, health economics or related field Experience in management consulting, investment banking, or similar environment Experience in health economics or health policy fields Experience in global health sector – particularly HIV Experience with grant writing or other technical writing Experience with scientific writing/research Laboratory / pharmaceutical industry experience Experience living or working abroad, particularly in developing countries Previous CHAI experience Proficiency in French, Portuguese or other foreign languages Position will be based in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi. Work authorization is a requirement of employment. For more information go to https://careers-chai.icims.com/jobs