Senior Program Officer – TB (Bhubaneswar – Odisha; Bhopal – Madhya Pradesh; Raipur – Chhattisgarh; Shimla – Himachal Pradesh)

Jhpiego is an international, non-profit health organization and an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, dedicated to improving the health of women and families in developing countries. For over 50 years, it has focused on providing high-quality, low-cost health care solutions, training health workers, and strengthening health systems.

Jhpiego has been working in India since the 1980s in close partnership with national and state governments. With deep technical expertise and strong on-the-ground execution, Jhpiego helps design, test, and scale practical solutions and innovations that fit real-world systems across 11 thematic domains (Maternal and Newborn Health, Reproductive Health, Nutrition, Immunization, Comprehensive Primary Health Care, Human Resources for Health, TB and Infectious Diseases, Global Health Security, Women's Cancers, Non-Communicable Diseases, Digital Health).

About the Program

The Tuberculosis (TB) portfolio under Jhpiego supports the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) in implementing innovative, evidence-based strategies to accelerate TB case detection and improve treatment outcomes.

The Cough Syrup Sales Surveillance Initiative is a novel approach aimed at identifying presumptive TB cases through pharmacy-level monitoring of cough syrup purchases. The initiative strengthens early detection by linking individuals with prolonged cough symptoms to TB screening and diagnostic services through structured surveillance and referral mechanisms.

About the Position

The Senior Program Officer – TB will lead and support the implementation of the Cough Syrup Surveillance Initiative across selected states and districts. The role is responsible for operationalizing a pharmacy-based surveillance system to identify presumptive TB cases and ensure their linkage to diagnostic and treatment services under NTEP.

The position provides technical and managerial support to State TB Cells and district health teams for planning, implementation, monitoring, and scale-up of the intervention. The role requires close coordination with pharmacists, drug inspectors, chemist associations, and government stakeholders, along with strong oversight of data systems and field implementation.

Program Implementation & Surveillance Rollout

• Lead rollout of the cough syrup surveillance model across selected districts as per approved implementation plans
• Develop district/block-level micro plans including pharmacy mapping and onboarding
• Establish systems for routine tracking of cough syrup sales and identification of presumptive TB cases
• Support integration of surveillance data with NTEP systems (e.g., Ni-kshay) and referral mechanisms
• Ensure adherence to standard protocols for screening, referral, and follow-up

2. Stakeholder Engagement & Private Sector Coordination

• Engage pharmacists, chemist associations, and private drug retailers for active participation in surveillance
• Coordinate with State TB Cells, District TB Officers, and Drug Control Administration
• Conduct sensitization and advocacy meetings to promote adoption of the surveillance model

3. Capacity Building & Field Support

• Design and conduct trainings for pharmacists, frontline workers, and program staff
• Provide supportive supervision and on-ground handholding support
• Develop SOPs, job aids, IEC materials, and training tools

4. Monitoring, Data Management & Reporting

• Establish systems for data collection, validation, and reporting
• Support dashboard development and real-time monitoring mechanisms
• Conduct periodic data reviews and ensure data quality with MERL teams

5. Quality Assurance & Supportive Supervision

• Conduct field visits to monitor implementation quality
• Identify bottlenecks in surveillance, referral, and diagnostic pathways
• Strengthen continuum of care through technical support to districts

6. Innovation, Learning & Scale-up

• Identify operational challenges and propose adaptive solutions
• Document best practices, case studies, and success stories
• Generate evidence to support scale-up and policy integration

7. Knowledge Management & Documentation

• Maintain repository of program documents (reports, dashboards, training materials, SOPs, IEC tools, meeting minutes, field reports)
• Support donor reporting, technical briefs, and presentations

8. Other Responsibilities

• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor to support program and organizational goals

• Bachelor’s degree in MBBS / BDS / BAMS / BHMS / Pharmacy with MPH / MSW / Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health or related field
• 5–7 years of experience in public health program implementation
• Minimum 3 years of experience with the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) at state level
• Experience in surveillance systems, private sector engagement (pharmacies/chemists), or innovative TB case-finding approaches preferred
• Strong experience in data management, analysis, and reporting
• Familiarity with state health systems and stakeholders
• Experience working with NGOs/development sector preferred

Skills and Competencies

• Strong understanding of NTEP and TB case detection strategies
• Experience in private sector engagement, especially pharmacy-based interventions
• Strong program management and field implementation skills
• Analytical skills for data interpretation and decision-making
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Proficiency in MS Office and digital data systems
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently
• Willingness to undertake extensive field travel (70–80%)

Jhpiego is an equal opportunity employer and offers a highly dynamic and enabling work environment. The organization offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package. Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will receive a response from Jhpiego HR