Principal Technical Advisor (Regional) at Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

Overview

The Principal Technical Advisor (PTA) provides technical leadership and advice for the design and implementation of innovative strategies and programs to strengthen pharmaceutical systems and bring forward Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) in MTaPS countries. The PTA supports pharmaceutical management (PM) and GHSA activities of the country and contributes to the MTaPS GHSA strategies and work plans. The PTA works with MSH Country Director, the Ministry of Health and country partners and stakeholders on the development of PM and GHSA strategies based on country evidence, MSH standards and best international practices to achieve sustainable results. The PTA provides guidance to technical staff assigned to specific activities to ensure that the work is of the highest quality. The PTA works closely with other Principal Technical Advisors and Portfolio and Health Element Managers to identify opportunities to use new and existing tools, to coordinate technical work, and to ensure that global (core-funded) initiatives are based on and informed by country-level needs and priorities.

Specific Responsibilities

• Technical Support (30%)
  • Provide technical leadership and support to MSH Country Director, MoH and national counterparts on the development of country strategies, interventions, and results metrics related to the MTaPS PM and GHSA portfolio, which may involve work in regulatory system strengthening, pharmaceutical services, governance, pharmacovigilance, disease control, antimicrobial resistance, infection control, and performance monitoring.
  • Provide technical leadership and manage country technical teams as needed.
  • Ensure regular reporting on MTaPS interventions, performance and results in accordance with the M&E plan, objectives, and USAID requirements.
  • Provide guidance to Portfolio Managers for pharmaceutical management work and facilitate the coordination of MTaPS pharmaceutical management initiatives with partners and collaborators.
  • Help develop and review operations research protocols and facilitate country and multi-country studies on common technical areas; facilitate sharing of technical approaches across MTaPS countries.
  • Plan, organize, and conduct training courses covering pharmaceutical management and GHSA technical areas for national and external audiences, and MTaPS staff.
  • Maintain liaison with MOH, other Government counterparts, USAID Mission, international implementing organizations, donor agencies, foundations, universities, and voluntary organizations; seek opportunities for dissemination of lessons learned, research, publications, and other development and communications activities.
  • Support implementation of the MTaPS M&E strategy in collaboration with the Performance M&E Specialist.
  • Supervise technical staff as assigned.
• Coordination (20%)
  • Coordinate with , MOH, national disease control programs and technical/implementing partners in the development and implementation of pharmaceutical system strengthening interventions;
  • Coordinate with other MTaPS staff in other countries on activities ensuring harmonization and collaboration with all aspects of the program in country.
• Capacity Building (20%)
  • Participate in human resource capacity assessments in the pharmaceutical sector and collaborate internally and externally to develop country-specific capacity building material, strategies and roll out plans.
  • Assist Ministries of Health (MoH) and National Programs to design and review policies, standards, guidelines, procedures and other relevant materials
  • Participate in the planning and delivery of Pharmaceutical system strengthening programs aimed at building the capacity of ministries of health, national programs, drug regulatory authority, other pharmaceutical cadres and training institutions.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders for the development, deployment and implementation of appropriate tools necessary to improve pharmaceutical management information systems and their appropriate use for decision making.
• Monitoring & Evaluation (20%)
  • In coordination with the M&E team, support program in the establishment of mechanisms for collecting relevant data on selected indicators. Also participate in program review activities and provide adequate recommendations.
  • Support Technical Advisors and other program staff in the adequate documentation and dissemination of program results and lessons learned including the development and submission of abstracts and articles to scientific journals and conferences.
• Performance Management (10%)
  • Supervise assigned Technical Advisors ensuring the adequacy of their performance and their continuous professional development.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

Required:

Graduate degree in a health-related field with specialized training and/or experience relating to pharmaceutical management required

Preferred:

Physician, nurse, or pharmacist qualification preferred

Experience:

Required:

8 plus years of relevant experience or equivalent in international and/or field public health programs and activities, particularly in the implementation of GHSA/AMR and Infection Prevention and Control, reproductive health, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB prevention, care, and treatment in developing countries.
Interest in and experience managing and supervising technical staff

Preferred:

• Significant relevant experience, including demonstrated expertise, in at least three technical areas of pharmaceutical management such as forecasting and quantification, procurement and supply management systems, health and pharmaceutical management information systems (HMIS and PMIS), pharmaceutical services, pharmacovigilance, regulatory system strengthening, governance and organizational systems for pharmaceutical management, antimicrobial stewardship, and infection prevention and control.
• Experience with public health programs supported by bilateral agencies such as USAID, DfID and international agencies such as the Global Fund, UNITAID, WHO and World Bank preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated managerial and supervisory skills.
• Fluent English; ability to speak a second language preferred.
• Strong computer skills; Excel, MS Word, MS Project, PowerPoint.
• Demonstrates competence to assess priorities and manage a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality.
• Excellent native-level writing and presentation skills in English
• Proficiency in languages of other USAID-supported countries is an asset.

Competencies:

• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Good judgment for decision making.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability in consensus building and constructively leading a team.

Physical Demands:

Ability to travel internationally and domestically up to 30% of time as required to support the progress of program activities.