Quality Improvement Specialist at Palladium Group

Job ID: req15083

Project Overview and Role

• In April 2019, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded the implementation of the Translating Data for Implementation (Data.FI) cooperative agreement to a consortium led by Palladium. Data.FI is a $180 million, 5-year project which serves as USAID's primary mechanism for data, technology, and health information systems to support HIV activities across strategic President's Emergency Program for AIDSRelief (PEPFAR) countries as part of a suite of large-scale global HIV programs representing the next generation of HIV/AIDS programs.
• The project plays a key role in USAID's goals of helping partner countries on their journey to self-reliance and transitioning local organizations to prime recipients of US Government funding.
• The project's overall goal is to improve in-depth global, regional, and national analyses of HIV epidemiologic and program data that can be directly applied to expedite the achievement of PEPFAR targets to attain and sustain control of the HIV epidemic. 

Purpose of Position

• Data.FI is seeking to employ a Quality Improvement (QI) specialist on a consultancy to support USAID’s Blended Performance Assessment Approach (BPAA) for continuous quality improvement consisting of data quality and Site Improvement Monitoring System (SIMS) assessments involving data collection, data entry, data analysis, and provision of quality improvement support to the project, facilities and USAID PEPFAR implementing partners’ (IPs’) staff.
• The specialist will actively participate in work planning, fieldwork monitoring, report writing and dissemination of key findings with stakeholders in USAID-supported States. (S)he will ensure that the data quality and validation protocols are followed and will actively engage in quality improvement and mentorship for USAID IPs.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance in conducting of SIMS and data quality assessments, reporting, capacity strengthening for data use and monitoring of continuous quality improvement (CQI) interventions in facilities supported by USAID IPs in the states. 
• Provide technical support in developing remediation plans and tracking results of progress to support decision-making and strengthening monitoring of key performance indicators by USAID IPs.
• Provide technical support in the development of BPAA (SIMS/DQA-CQI) data collection and validation tools on the Automated Partners Progress Reporting (APPR) platform.
• Provide support in facility prioritization for SIMS and DQA activities. 
• Engage with relevant stakeholders at the national and state level in line with the implementation of BPAA activities.
• Conduct SIMS and data quality assessments in facilities in the aforementioned states as agreed in collaboration with USAID Nigeria.  
• Provide support in the implementation of a field based CQI approach in SIMS/DQA assessments.
• Ensure timely reporting and submission of SIMS and DQA data into the APPR. 
• Provide technical support in analyzing DQA/SIMS results and support the development of data visualizations for BPAA dashboards in USAID/Nigeria’s Comprehensive Access Review Dashboard (CARD).
• Provide timely analysis of results as requested by USAID in response to performance management.
• Any other related duties assigned for this position.

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Health Informatics or a related field. A Master’s Degree in a relevant field is an added advantage.
• At least three years’ experience in supporting health systems for HIV/AIDS service delivery. Three to five years of demonstrated knowledge and experience in designing and implementing clinical quality improvement, DQAs, SIMS assessments, and supportive supervision systems (specific technical expertise in quality improvement models preferred).
• Experience working and familiarity with stakeholders in Borno, Kano, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara States preferred. 
• Demonstrated skills in monitoring and evaluation and clear understanding of HIV care and Treatment Indicators based MER 2.5 or 2.6 guidance.
• Proficient understating and expert knowledge of CQI approaches for HIV programming; developing quality improvement plans.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical skills with demonstrated proficiency in data analysis, data presentation and report writing. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office package, data analysis software such as SPSS, R or Stata or any business intelligence software such Tableau, Power-BI, etc.