Laboratory and Supply Chain Advisor

Jhpiego is an international, non-profit health organization affiliated with The Johns Hopkins University. For 50 years and in over 155 countries, Jhpiego has worked to prevent the needless deaths of women and their families. Jhpiego Corporation has been providing technical support to the Ministries of Health in partner countries across the globe in a variety of technical areas including cervical cancer treatment and prevention, community health, HIV and AIDS, maternal and newborn health, health workforce capacity development family planning, malaria, and IPC/WASH. 

The RISE project is a five-year global USAID-funded project, with a period of performance from Apr. 15, 2019 – Dec. 30, 2027.  RISE supports countries to respond to the HIV epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic by providing technical assistance, service delivery, research, and cross-cutting health system innovations. RISE partners with ministries of health, local stakeholders, and nongovernmental organizations in more than 25 countries around the world to advance strategic and policy objectives to control the transmission of HIV and COVID-19. Working across the HIV prevention, care, and treatment cascade, RISE bridges country-led efforts to reach the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals by 2030. To address the COVID-19 pandemic, RISE provides short-term, emergency response aid, alongside longer-term health systems strengthening, to achieve pandemic preparedness. Targeted technical assistance includes strengthening health information systems, human resources for health, supply chain, and health financing. 

The RISE project is looking to hire a Laboratory and Supply Chain Advisor. The Laboratory and Supply Chain Advisor is focused on RISE project national, regional, and facility-level operations, with the responsibility of providing laboratory-related technical assistance in collaboration with the lead implementing lab partner, and ensuring uninterrupted supply of laboratory and pharmaceutical commodities and supplies. In collaboration with the Clinical Coordinators, the Laboratory and Supply Chain Advisor will provide technical and logistical oversight in the quantification and forecasting of laboratory and pharmaceutical commodities and supplies at national and facility levels.  

S/he will serve as the liaison between RISE and the Eswatini Health Laboratory Services on laboratory-related matters in supported facilities. The Laboratory and Supply Chain Advisor will work closely with Technical Advisors for Clinical Services to ensure result utilization (e.g., Viral Load, early infant diagnosis, CD4, TB, etc.) and improved coverage in supported facilities.

• Supports the Associate Director of Clinical Services in overseeing all laboratory activities under RISE to ensure they meet required standards
• Contributes to and participates in the Lab Technical Working Group (TWG) and task forces (e.g., viral load).
• Provides technical assistance to strengthen identified weak program areas by developing policies, guidelines, and other key strategic documents.
• Conducts proactive consultative meetings with the Chief and Regional Technologists to discuss and address implementation issues.
• Collaborates closely with the lab lead partner.
• Participates in national-level quantification and forecasting exercises for pharmaceutical and laboratory commodities to ensure adequate supply in supported facilities.
• Collaborates with national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, to review and update quantification and forecasting methodologies, ensuring alignment with national guidelines and best practices.
• Supports HCWs in the supported facilities to monitor stock levels of pharmaceutical and laboratory commodities and provides early warning of potential stockouts to facilitate timely action by relevant stakeholders.
• Participates in Regional Health Management Team (RHMT) meetings, providing quarterly lab updates on key performance indicators (e.g., results turnaround time, national sample transport system, stock levels, internal and external quality assessment/proficiency testing).
• Reviews programmatic data (e.g., HIV, Viral Load, Early Infant Diagnosis, TB, CD4, advanced HIV disease, Cervical Cancer, etc.), identifies gaps and opportunities for improvement in implementing sites, and collaborates with Technical Advisors to implement strategies for improvement using the Quality Improvement (QI) approaches.
• Develops program evaluation strategies, methodologies, and indicators for monitoring diagnostic services (e.g., HIV, Viral Load, Early Infant Diagnosis, TB, CD4, advanced HIV disease, Cervical Cancer, etc.) in supported facilities and prioritizes interventions with high impact potential.
• Identifies and communicates technical issues negatively impacting project implementation.
• Provides technical support to RISE clinical teams and healthcare workers for diagnostic services provision and designs evidence-based program interventions.
• Utilizes SIMS and baseline quality assessment data to ensure evidence-based information is integrated into the planning and implementation of Point-of-Care testing in supported health facilities.
• Conducts "action reviews" to consistently monitor the quality and appropriateness of technical assistance provided to healthcare workers.
• Conducts regular onsite mentorship visits to healthcare workers on supply chain management laboratory issues, including Quality Assurance (QA), in all supported sites, and facilitates/ coordinates training for healthcare workers.
• Provides technical assistance to RISE-supported facilities in supply chain management, including stock monitoring, storage, and distribution of pharmaceutical and laboratory commodities.
• Collaborates with facility staff to forecast pharmaceutical and laboratory commodity needs, ensure accurate quantification, and minimize stockouts.
• Strengthens the capacity of facility staff in supply chain management through mentoring and on-the-job training.

• Bachelor’s Degree in laboratory sciences
• A Master’s Degree in Public Health is an added advantage
• Demonstrated expertise in providing technical assistance for supply chain management, laboratory tests, and laboratory programs;
• At least 4 years working in a laboratory setting in Eswatini
• Self-motivated, self-starter who can work independently and collaborate with multiple teams
• Good interpersonal skills are essential
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to effectively manage others and work as part of a team
• Ability and willingness to work during weekends and after hours
• Ability and willingness to undertake frequent in-country travel
• Fluency in English and SiSwati is required
• Computer literacy, including use of basic Microsoft packages (Word, Excel & PowerPoint) and statistical packages

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Deadline for applications is 12th of August. Applications may close earlier as we are reviewing applications on a rolling basis.

Please apply at www.jobs-jhpiego.icims.com

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include: cover letter, resume, and references.

For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

“Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

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