Senior Technical Advisor, GHSA Portfolio at Management Sciences For Health - MSH

Overview

The Senior Technical Advisor (STA) provides management support and technical assistance for the design and implementation of interventions related to Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) portfolio of MTaPS countries, specifically focusing on technical areas of infection prevention and control (IPC), water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). The STA provides support primarily to the MTaPS Country lead, the Portfolio Manager of GHSA/IPC/AMR portfolio and to the MTaPS Technical Strategy Lead, but also to other senior technical staff assigned to specific activities to ensure that the work is of the highest quality. As required, the STA also works with other MTaPS portfolios and technical staff on opportunities, new and existing tools, and headquarters-based and country implementation programs related to strengthening pharmaceutical management systems.

General

• The STA supports in-country teams in the design and implementation of technical activities, based on international technical guidance, ensuring their adequate contribution to achieving overarching MTaPS results. The STA is also responsible to collect, validate, and report indicator data and develop progress narratives as required by MTaPS and USAID.
• STA is also responsible for the implementation and evaluation of those designated field activities such as deployment of tools or implementation of facility and community-based interventions. Under guidance from the country director and technical lead, s/he provides support to activity planning and implementation, program quality reviews, activity reporting, and knowledge management activities.
• As required, other areas of work may include activities aimed at strengthening pharmaceutical systems, supply chain management or pharmaceutical services in developing countries. The STA will provide support to development of a multisectoral approach to the work, involving other sectors across the one health, including the animal health sector.

Technical Support

• Work closely with the GHSA/IPC/WASH/AMR Country project lead, portfolio manager, and country stakeholders and international counterparts to help develop, review, implement, and monitor technical approaches and strategies for strengthening response to GHSA antimicrobial resistance challenges, specifically focusing on IPC, WASH, and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), and on improving pharmaceutical management systems to support these technical areas as related to MTaPS deliverables, reporting, knowledge management and learning goals.
• Provide technical assistance to stakeholders and public and private facilities to support the design and implementation of core and country interventions to contain antimicrobial resistance by improving IPC, WASH, and AMS practices as outlined in GHSA and USAID AMR strategy. 
• Provide direct technical assistance to the National AMR secretariat, AMR Technical Committee and its subcommittees to foster multisectoral coordination in AMR containment strategies and policies
• Collaborate with stakeholders for the development, deployment and implementation of appropriate tools necessary to improve pharmaceutical management information systems and their appropriate use for decision making.
• Monitor achievement of key deliverables and identify the most important technical deliverables of the portfolio.
• As needed provide support to other MTaPS pharmaceutical systems strengthening and health elements portfolios in the development and implementation of strategies and work plans, technical activities and monitoring and reporting.
• Facilitate the planning, organization, and conduct of training courses and data collection/analysis covering AMR and pharmaceutical management technical areas for external audiences and MTaPS staff as required.
• Supervise technical staff as assigned.

Coordination

• Serve as MTaPS liaison with the GHSA Focal Point at the Health Office of the USAID Mission working in collaboration with the Home Office to ensure the client expectations are met or managed
• Coordinate with other MTaPS country project technical activities ensuring harmonized approach in line with MSH quality standards
• Coordinate assigned technical areas and activities with other USAID-funded and international projects in the country

Capacity Building

• Participate in human resource capacity assessments in the pharmaceutical sector and collaborate internally and externally to develop country-specific capacity building material, strategies and roll out plans.
• Assist Department of Health (DoH) and National Programs to design and review, policies, standards, guidelines, procedures and other relevant materials,
• Participate in the planning and delivery of Pharmaceutical system strengthening programs aimed at building the capacity of department of health, national programs, drug regulatory authority, other pharmaceutical cadres and training institutions.
• In conjunction with country counterparts, develop/revise required training packages and materials
• Design, develop training packages, and conduct ToT exercises related to pharmaceutical management
• Facilitate AMR trainings and other capacity building exercises as planned
• Collaborate with stakeholders for the development, deployment and implementation of appropriate tools necessary to improve pharmaceutical management information systems and their appropriate use for decision making

Monitoring & Evaluation

• In coordination with the M&E team, support project to establish mechanisms for collecting relevant data in accordance with established indicators. Also participate in program review activities and provide adequate recommendations.
• Support Technical Advisors and other project staff in the adequate documentation and dissemination of program results and lessons learned including the development and submission of abstracts and articles to scientific journals and conferences.

Team Management

• Supervise assigned Technical Advisors, volunteers and interns, ensuring the adequacy of their performance and their continuous professional development.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Postgraduate degree in a health-related field with specialized training and/or experience related to GHSA elements such as pharmaceutical and drug management, IPC, WASH and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS);

Preferred:

• Pharmacist, Physician nurse, or public health qualification preferred.

Experience

 Required:

• 7 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical management and pharmaceutical systems development and strengthening in developing country context.
• Experience in infection prevention and control activities is required, preferably including that at health facility level.
• Experience in other areas of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) containment such as WASH and antimicrobial stewardship highly desirable.

Preferred:

• Experience with public health programs in developing country context supported by bilateral agencies such as USAID, CDC and international agencies such as the Global Fund, UNITAID, WHO and World Bank preferred.
• Experience working on issues related to pharmaceutical governance including policy and regulation preferred
• Experience working with varied stakeholders in a multisectoral approach developing and implementing tools preferred

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English are essential.
• Languages of other USAID-supported countries is an asset.
• Strong computer skills; Excel, MS Word, MS Project, PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated competence to assess priorities and manage a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality.

Competencies

• Cultural sensitivity and diplomacy
• Ability to work independently and in Team
• Good judgment for decision making.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability in consensus building and constructively leading a team.