Strategic Purchasing Lead, USAID HERO at Kenyatta University

ROLE PURPOSE: The Strategic Purchasing lead will provide technical leadership in the development and delivery of work on strategic purchasing of health services and efficiency in provider payment mechanisms. The job holder will provide insights and guidance to the project on the planned transitioning to Social Health Insurance Agency for alignment of project intervention. The role will also liaise with other sector specialists more so Domestic Resource Mobilization(DRM) lead to ensure strategic purchasing takes into accountboth public and private sector as sources of purchasing.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

• Provide Technical Assistance (TA)to the National Hospital Insurance Fund(NHIF) and county governments on aggregate contracting, aligning with the Kenya Health Financing Strategy on making primary care networks(PCN) the main service delivery points.
• Provide TA to USAID HERO focus counties on service level design to implement primary care networks;
• Build the reputation of USAID HERO as a thought leader on strategic purchasing by undertaking research and publishing papers that provide innovative and cutting-edge insights.
• Provide TA to the MOH/NHIF to institutionalize the Health Technology Assessment to inform evidence-based priority-setting, including for the UHC benefit package.
• Provide TA to NHIF in the implementation of the recommendations of “The NHIF We Want” report.
• Lead in identifying design and implementation gaps, factors influencing purchasing performance and provide policy implications of the findings and changes needed to attain the desired set of purchasing activities.
• Assisting USAID HERO focus county governments to develop and implement county health financing policies.
• Support county governments to establish how best to engage and pay health providers care.
• Work with NHIF and county health sector purchasers to make more deliberate decisions about what services to cover, which providers to contract, and the payment methods and rates to use.
• Work with key stakeholders (including MOH at national and county levels, ministries involved in social protection, COG, Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, development partners, and civil society) on cross sectorial efforts.
• Provide TA to the NHIF to review and refine its empanelment tools for improved effectiveness and efficiency.
• Examine interventions to increase NHIF’s value proposition to support member retention, particularly for members with little (or no) healthcare utilization and who may have limited access to services.
• Work with the NHIF to ensure provider payment rates are based on actuarial and costing evidence and structured to account for the different cost structures across public and private healthcare facilities
• Engage providers in determining provider payment rates, and subsequently publicly availing information on how the rates are developed, making updated capitation lists available to healthcare facilities and to the public.
• Work with NHIF to develop a mechanism for rewarding quality, so that provider payment rates are adjusted for quality of care (i.e., performance-based payments).
• Provide TA to NHIF on how to evaluate and select healthcare providers based on quality of service, cost-effectiveness, and other performance indicators.
• Work with USAID HERO focus county to support coordinated facility certification and accreditation processes that are a prerequisite to contracting with the NHIF.
• Provide support in development of annual work plans, budgets, reports, success stories, and other deliverables.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master's degree in business administration, economics, public health or a related field.
• Additional certifications or training in strategic procurement or supply chain management for healthcare sector/industry preferred.
• Familiarity and experience workingand or supporting NHIF or social protection schemes
• Demonstrated experience supporting the Ministry of Health/NHIF in strengthening the health system OR experience supporting strategic purchasing initiatives in Kenya and/or East Africa is preferred.
• At least five years’ experience managing complex projects in the areas of HSS strategic purchasing is an added advantage
• Previous programmatic work with USAID-funded, or other large institutional donor, activities preferred.
• A strong understanding of the national health insurance system, regulations, and policies.
• Knowledge of the Kenya healthcare landscape, reimbursement systems, and payment models is highly desirable.
• Have the ability to analyze complex data, identify trends, and develop strategic plans for purchasing healthcare services and products. A strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make informed decisions based on data.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.
• Familiarity with procurement methods, procedures, and best practices in the purchasing of healthcare services and products. This includes knowledge of sourcing strategies, supplier selection, contract management, and performance evaluation.
• Strong leadership skills, the ability to motivate and guide others, and effective project management capabilities are essential for success in this role.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Exceptional communications and presentation skills (oral and written).
• Demonstrated team player with effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills.
• Ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior high-level county counterparts, donor representatives and senior-level staff.

Additional job responsibilities

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.