Overview:
The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI – formerly the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative) under the leadership of former President William Jefferson Clinton III, has worked since 2002 to reduce the pricing of HIV/AIDS medicines and tests, and to work with governments around the world to further turn the tide on the disease by building the systems needed to deliver care and treatment.
In 2006, CHAI signed an MOU with the Malawi government to strengthen health systems in the most challenged districts, provide national support to HIV/AIDS drug pricing and programmatic work, support the pilot and scale-up of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) initiatives, expand access to ART for children, strengthen Malawi’s lab system, and scale up an integrated nutrition program for children. CHAI’s support to Malawi has expanded to include Human Resources for Health, Vaccines, and Health Financing.
For more information, visit http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org.
Position Overview:
The Diagnostics Program Manager will lead efforts, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), to increase access to laboratory services in all health facilities. This will include efforts to identify, integrate, and scale-up new technologies as they become available and strengthen the existing laboratory system to provide timely and accurate results to as many patients as possible. The Program Manager will lead a small team focused broadly on improving diagnostics services in Malawi, within the context of the available funding, which currently includes HIV POC, viral load testing, and screening for opportunistic infections (OIs).
The POC project is a multi-year effort focused on the catalytic uptake of POC technologies for HIV including selecting, evaluating, and scaling-up new point-of-care (POC) technologies; creating sustainable mentorship, quality assurance, and supply chain systems; and identifying additional opportunities to strengthen diagnostics services in Malawi. The viral load works consists of supporting the rapid scale-up of viral load testing; increasing access to viral load testing, ensuring robust laboratory practices, and prompt return of result to patients. The OI initiative currently focuses on the evaluation of an algorithm using a POC lateral flow antigen (LFA) test to screen for cryptococcal in patients initiating on ART.
Based in Lilongwe, the Program Manager will work closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and development partners to help accelerate the uptake of new POC testing technologies in Malawi. Local travel will be required. The diagnostics program operates in close collaboration with other CHAI programs, mHealth and pediatric HIV in particular, to integrate diagnostics into the national health system including coordinating policies and strategies with the HTSS Diagnostics Department and the HIV Unit. The program manager will serve as a point person to coordinate efforts with other development partners active in the diagnostics landscape, including convening stakeholder meetings, sharing information on the laboratory system, and identifying strategies for continued improvement.
In 2006, CHAI signed an MOU with the Malawi government to strengthen health systems in the most challenged districts, provide national support to HIV/AIDS drug pricing and programmatic work, support the pilot and scale-up of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) initiatives, expand access to ART for children, strengthen Malawi’s lab system, and scale up an integrated nutrition program for children. CHAI’s support to Malawi has expanded to include Human Resources for Health, Vaccines, and Health Financing.
For more information, visit http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org.
Position Overview:
The Diagnostics Program Manager will lead efforts, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), to increase access to laboratory services in all health facilities. This will include efforts to identify, integrate, and scale-up new technologies as they become available and strengthen the existing laboratory system to provide timely and accurate results to as many patients as possible. The Program Manager will lead a small team focused broadly on improving diagnostics services in Malawi, within the context of the available funding, which currently includes HIV POC, viral load testing, and screening for opportunistic infections (OIs).
The POC project is a multi-year effort focused on the catalytic uptake of POC technologies for HIV including selecting, evaluating, and scaling-up new point-of-care (POC) technologies; creating sustainable mentorship, quality assurance, and supply chain systems; and identifying additional opportunities to strengthen diagnostics services in Malawi. The viral load works consists of supporting the rapid scale-up of viral load testing; increasing access to viral load testing, ensuring robust laboratory practices, and prompt return of result to patients. The OI initiative currently focuses on the evaluation of an algorithm using a POC lateral flow antigen (LFA) test to screen for cryptococcal in patients initiating on ART.
Based in Lilongwe, the Program Manager will work closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and development partners to help accelerate the uptake of new POC testing technologies in Malawi. Local travel will be required. The diagnostics program operates in close collaboration with other CHAI programs, mHealth and pediatric HIV in particular, to integrate diagnostics into the national health system including coordinating policies and strategies with the HTSS Diagnostics Department and the HIV Unit. The program manager will serve as a point person to coordinate efforts with other development partners active in the diagnostics landscape, including convening stakeholder meetings, sharing information on the laboratory system, and identifying strategies for continued improvement.
Responsibilities:
Working in close collaboration with MOH and Senior Program Manager, the Diagnostics Program Manager will:
- Oversee all aspects of CHAI’s Diagnostics program including planning, budgeting, implementation, and reporting;
- With the Senior Program Manager set program direction and goals, define targets and measure performance; establish aggressive operational milestones and achieve program objectives within ambitious timelines;
- Work with senior-level MOH staff and development partners on HIV and diagnostics-related initiatives in Malawi, participate actively in Technical Working Groups and support resource mobilization efforts on behalf of CHAI and the MOH;
- Oversee CHAI’s procurement of POC devices and related products valued at over $1 million per year;
- Conduct a select number of operational pilots to develop evidence on the impact and cost-effectiveness of POC products in an effort to encourage uptake;
- Work through existing technical and policy bodies to develop national plans and funding mechanisms for new products;
- Oversee the development of effective training programs, quality assurance and service and maintenance guidelines, and data management and supply chain tools to support accelerated product roll-out;
- Drive operational and policy changes to optimize clinic workflow and maximize impact of POC testing;
- Oversee the evaluation of an algorithm for the diagnosis of cryptoccus, including training, data collection, report-writing, and dissemination of results;
- Provide policy insights based on research results focused on implementing effective and cost-efficient public health interventions for screening patients presenting with OIs;
- Oversee efforts to support the MOH to increase access to viral load testing and provide accurate interpretation of results, including analyzing a complex system to identify bottle-necks and propose effective solutions to key problems;
- Work with laboratory partners including PEPFAR and Global Fund to ensure a sustainable system with a regular supply of laboratory commodities and high quality standards;
- Design monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems to measure the impact of diagnostic interventions;
- Provide technical advice and assistance to MOH HIV and Diagnostics departments to strengthen all aspects of the laboratory system;
- Develop work plans and budgets, and ensure all activities are conducted in line with them; and
- Provide regular reports to program staff, Senior Program Manager, and Country Director on progress of activities.
Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree from a well-recognized, high-caliber institution in a relevant field;
- A minimum of four years of experience in a private or public sector enterprise, with increasing levels of responsibility and experience managing individuals and teams;
- Strong knowledge of public health programs and approaches in resource-limited settings, strong knowledge of HIV will be a plus;
- Excellent program management skills, ability to handle multiple work streams and deliver against demanding timelines;
- Strong analytical skills and technical proficiency with MS Excel and PowerPoint, with experience developing quantitative models to inform decision-making and demonstrable results developing compelling presentations to stakeholders;
- Experience conceiving, planning and executing programs or projects with verifiable results and little external support;
- Ability to navigate complex government processes with multiple influencers, and at negotiating and achieving consensus;
- Ability to solve challenging problems without extensive structural or operational support;
- Able to adapt to fast-paced and changing environments, both internally and externally;
- Excellent business-oriented verbal, visual and written communication skills; and
- English language fluency, both written and verbal required.
- A Master's degree in Economics, Public Health, Business or a related field;
- Experience working in developing countries, particularly in the health sector.
