Job Title: Procurement & Supply Chain Advisor (NAC secondee)
Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
Posting Date: 02/24/2014
Deadline Date: Open until the position is filled.
Starting Date: 05/19/2014
Description: Overall Scope of Work: The purpose of this post is to assist NAC to develop tools and a tracking system to monitor the quantification, forecasting and management of the integrated ART/PMTCT and VMMC commodities - in liaison with the Ministry of Health.National AIDS Commission (NAC) was established in 2001 to lead and coordinate a multi-sectoral national response to HIV and AIDS in Malawi. NAC manages donor funds through a Pool Funding Mechanism supported by the Government of Malawi; the World Bank; the Department for International Development; and the GFATM. It is the Principal Recipient for the GFATM Single Stream Funding Grant and the Responsible Agency for component B of the World Bank's Nutrition, HIV and AIDS. In its role as PR and RA, NAC ensures quality financial management, timely procurement of supplies, and monitoring of service delivery. NAC also manages the Grants Facility that disburses financial resources to sub-recipients for program implementation, including procurement of goods and services. NAC has the overall responsibility of ensuring the uninterrupted supply of commodities for the HIV Programs in 600+ health facilities in the public and private sectors. The HIV Programs comprise the following services: HIV Testing and Counseling, Anti-retroviral therapy, Treatment of HIV Opportunistic Infections, PMTCT, Treatment of STIs, and VMMC.As the PR of the GFATM and RA of WB Grants supporting procurement of health products, NAC reports on the procurement, storage and distribution of these products to funding partners. To help ensure that NAC can report effectively on the progress of the integrated ART/PMTCT and VMMC programs, particularly the provision of health products and equipment, a Procurement and Supply Chain Management Adviser for Health products will be engaged to help NAC facilitate and coordinate the development of appropriate tools to assist in the quantification, forecasting and tracking of health products.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Procurement and Supply Chain Management (PSM) Advisor for Health Products will coordinate the procurement and supply chain management of pharmaceutical and health products and will be responsible for:
- Providing technical guidance to NAC in the procurement of medicines, medical products and/or quality control services.
- Providing technical assistance to the National AIDS Commission for pharmaceutical supply chain management.
- Assisting on the requirements and formulation of PSM Plans for medical products.
- Advising on 'best procurement practices' relevant to pharmaceutical supply chain management.
- Advising on best practice distribution plans for pharmaceutical products and best practice advise on storage systems.
- Providing support and capacity building to National AIDS Commission and Ministry of Health in the quantification and forecasting of health products.
- Reviewing test reports provided by quality control laboratories.
- Advising on intellectual property rights queries.
- Writing of guidance notes for the National AIDS Commission Office staff on the basics of quality assurance and quality control for pharmaceutical procurement.
- Conducting training on specific areas of PSM relating to health products and ensuring that NAC staff have the appropriate supply chain skills going forward.
- Liaising with the procurement agent and the Ministry of Health to follow up on the procurement, storage, inventory management and distribution of health products.
- Developing appropriate tools, systems and SOPs to assist NAC in tracking the procurement, storage, distribution and consumption of health products (in coordination with CMST and other supply chain stakeholders and partners).
- Any other activities that relate to quality assurance/quality control in the fore mentioned areas and within the area of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Masters degree in Pharmacy or related field is required
- At least seven years of professional experience in procurement and supply chain management of medicines;
- Experience in product selection, quantification, warehousing, and distribution of ARV drugs and related HIV/AIDS commodities;
- Knowledge and experience with WHO treatment guidelines, medicines selection and WHO Good Manufacturing Practices;
- Strong research and analytical skills in relation to developing tools, methods and approaches to support improved PSM practices;
- Strong negotiating skills;
- Familiarity with the GFATM and other donors' PSM quality assurance policies;
- Familiarity with procurement guidelines for donor funded projects, especially the World Bank;
- Excellent capacity building skills;
- Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to perform effective coaching, mentoring and facilitation roles; and,Willingness to work in a collaborative way with other stakeholders and partners, especially for tool selection/development processes.
Salary commensurate with experience.
Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online.
