Associate, Laboratory Systems at Clinton Health Access Initiative 72 views0 applications

Founded in 2002, by President William J. Clinton and Ira Magaziner, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (“CHAI”) is a global health organization committed to strengthening integrated health systems and expanding access to care and treatment in the developing world. CHAI’s solution-oriented approach focuses on improving market dynamics for medicines and diagnostics; lowering prices for treatment; accelerating access to lifesaving technologies; and helping governments build the capacity required for high-quality care and treatment programs. Since its inception, CHAI’s programs have helped more than 11.8 million people in more than 70 countries have access to CHAI-negotiated prices for HIV/AIDS medicines, saving the global health community billions of dollars.

The CHAI Zimbabwe Access Programs team works at a country level to address demand-side barriers to access of quality diagnostic services and to foster sustainable laboratory systems. The country team is an advisor to the national government (MoHCC) and works to contribute to an overarching goal of having the highest quality diagnostics available, with-in a good laboratory system environment, for all patients in the country.

The CHAI Zimbabwe Access Programs team wants to provide high quality technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Child care (MoHCC) in the national provision of quality diagnostic services. The Associate – Laboratory systems will be part of a CHAI team in Zimbabwe and will report to the Program Manager (PM), Access Programs. The associate will work in close partnership with the PM, the Global Laboratory Systems Program, Drug Access and Pediatric Programs and with the MoHCC.

The Associate is responsible for supporting the PM in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all program activities. The Associate is also responsible for managing all staff on the program reporting to him/her and for the budget and budget follow-up for the Laboratory Systems Program for CHAI in Zimbabwe.

The Associate, working with the PM, will define project documents, as well as plan for and assign the proper resources to each project, ensure that deadlines are met and is responsible for ensuring the quality of all work before it is delivered to its client (MoHCC).

The Associate is also responsible for managing all communication with external in country stakeholders relevant to the work, with the exception of donors and the Global Laboratory Systems Program (which are managed at a PM/ Country Director Level).

• Monitor and evaluate the program plan (objectives and strategies), and apply strategic and critical thinking to adjust as necessary depending on needs (new challenges to diagnostics, developing diagnostics landscape etc.). Develop program objectives and strategies together with the PM and Access team members, senior management and the MoHCC.
• Work to ensure access to diagnostic services to all clients in need through evidence based interventions.
• With a clear understanding of the national laboratory landscape, assist PM in the programmatic design of new initiatives.
• Support PM to ensure that quality improvement programs are established and maintained in order to assure the quality of HIV/AIDS and TB laboratory services.
• Conduct evidence data-based analysis leading to the identification of top laboratory system strengthening priorities.
• Facilitate the evaluation and introduction of new diagnostic technologies such as point of care (POC) diagnostics to improve access to HIV laboratory services and treatment
• Undertake core budgeting and performance target setting activities that will work to optimize service delivery designs.
• Develop data management tools to help MOHCC track key performance indicators and take operational decisions based on strong programmatic evidence
• Monitor the utilization patterns of pediatric and adult laboratory services and advise both MOHCC and PM of developing trends.
• Maintain an up to date overview of Zimbabwe’s Laboratory Program to share with PM, management and staff.
• Initiate ideas for new projects in line with the program objectives and the objectives of the MoHCC that will improve patients’ access to diagnostics.
• Liaise with other CHAI program managers, CHAI global teams, and other partners in order to share results, collaborate over certain projects etc.
• Budget for all activities and resources.
• Meet all internal reporting requirements
• Other responsibilities as needed

Ensure proper and realistic exit strategies (sustainability):

• Build/strengthen capacity for MoHCC and other partners to take over and CHAI to move to other projects). Negotiate and reach agreement with MoHCC.
• Ensure each activity’s adherence to program plan and its objectives and strategies.
• Negotiate and reach agreements on new assignments with the Directorate of laboratory Services, National HIV and TB programmes, as well as other directorates and units as relevant.
• Develop project documents with clear deliverables (objectively measurable indicators) and timelines.
• Plan for sufficient and qualified resources and allocate them efficiently to each assignment.
• Follow progress on each assignment/project with the analysts and support as necessary.

Quality-ensure all assignments:

• Interrogate data, methods, results, as well as presentation layout. Develop recommendations together with the analysts if necessary.
• Follow the diagnostic and public health landscape relevant for Zimbabwe and share with team and MoHCC all information that is necessary.
• Analyze budget expenditure and provide a monthly report to PM.

Human Resources Management:

• Support, motivate and assist the access team analyst members in all their assignments to ensure high quality output. Conduct regular performance evaluations of the access team analysts and ensure proper career development plans are in place for each team member.
• Provide a monthly situation report to the PM.
• Conduct bi-weekly team meetings with analyst to support the team, lay direction.
• Monthly update meetings with PM (informative, sharing).
• Any other report or task as agreed with the PM.
• Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences/Technology/Biomedical Sciences with a minimum 3 years working experience;
• Experience working in an HIV/AIDS environment
• Knowledge of health systems strengthening, and/or global healthcare systems;
• Strong analytical skills and advanced technical proficiency with MS Excel and PowerPoint (analytical skills and proficiency levels will be tested during recruiting process);
• Demonstrated strong analytical, organizational, leadership, and problem solving skills;
• Exceptional diplomatic and interpersonal skills, and able to build strong professional relationships with a range of stakeholders in a challenging, multi-cultural environment;
• Ability to work independently and effectively in high-pressure, fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks simultaneously whilst mentoring a team to perform consistently;
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to prepare compelling presentations;
• High levels of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet applications;
• English language fluency, both written and verbal;
• Flexibility and willingness to travel as required

Advantages:

• Experience managing demanding work plans and tight budgets
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex projects and solve challenging problems with limited structural or operational support;
• Strategically minded, able to think creatively around long-term programme objectives and the detailed steps necessary to achieve these goals;
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task, be effective in high-pressure situations and adapt to fast-paced and changing environments with a strong commitment to excellence, both internally and externally, and with limited-structural support;
• Experience working with Zimbabwe country government;
• Management consulting or other relevant private and public sector experience

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