Jobs at Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

• The incumbent will work with the Data Analytics and Digital Health Team lead to design and implement MSH’s data analytics strategy, integrating advancements such a machine learning and predictive analysis into our day-to-day data practice.
• The Data Scientist will lead the development of appropriate data outputs for MSH’s home office (HO) and project teams, in line with industry best practices. S/he will work across departments and teams, identifying opportunities to leverage data science and advanced analytics within specific technical areas, identifying appropriate and high-quality data sources, ensuring effective storage/maintenance of various data sets, supporting the preparation of data for advanced analysis, and developing and maintaining relevant information systems in collaboration with IS/IT Team. S/he will also provide technical assistance to projects in interpreting and using the results of advanced analyses.

Overall responsibilities:

• Proactively identify new data sources to support analysis requests, such as data sources related to climate and weather, road conditions, sociodemographic characteristics of key population, national survey data, etc.
• Develop data pipelines for preparing, ingesting, and mapping data to include in project or technical area analyses
• Engage with project teams to review HMIS, eLMIS, IHRIS and other data sources and make decisions on how to transform data, what approaches to apply when analyzing data, and recommendations for data cleaning and quality assurance.
• Lead the maintenance and development of machine learning models for technical use cases, such as supply chain stock out analyses or climate resilience analysis, ensuring both data sources and models are functioning properly, annotated, and used appropriately.
• Share data insights across teams and provide technical assistance in interpreting and using results from data analyses.
• Contribute to the knowledge products for data science by capturing, documenting, and sharing key successes, promising practices, and lessons learned.
• Participate in the training of the SI team members and other MSHers in advanced data sciences.

Specific responsibilities include:
Project management/Technical Assistance (50%)

• Manage complex information system and data analytical projects.
• Design and implement solutions to support interoperability across multiple data sources.
• Support design and build processes for evaluating and incorporating a variety of new incoming datasets.
• Partner with subject matter experts to develop and deliver robust and scalable solutions across a diverse set of low- and middle-income country scenarios. Solutions must take into account unique aspects of working with health data such as patient confidentiality and/or organizational privacy concerns.
• Provide architecture guidance and support to technical leads involved in data analytics activities.
• Perform ad-hoc exploratory statistics and data mining tasks on diverse datasets from small scale to big data.
• Implement approaches to harmonize unaligned datasets to support analysis and data-driven decision making.
• Process, clean, and verify the integrity of data used for analysis.
• Provide ad-hoc analysis and present results in a clear manner

DDH Data Governance (15%)

• Lead establishment and management of data governance structure, data security, confidentiality, coding, etc. to facilitate data analytics and use across analysis projects and initiatives.
• Co-lead development of DDH’s data analytical strategies and approaches in partnership with SI Technical Director and DDH Team lead
• Represent DDH in MSH wide initiatives and discussions around information systems and digital health.

Business Development Support (20%)

• Represent at technical meetings/conferences on relevant topics to increase visibility of MSH/DDH’s expertise and strategic approaches.
• Contribute to proposal development in the area of data analytics and use, health information management systems, and digital health.

Staff Management and Capacity Strengthening (15%)

• Supervise data analyst and visualization specialist and other relevant staff members and consultants as required
• Provide mentorship to junior and mid -level staff on data science and data visualization techniques

Qualifications
What do you need to apply?

• MSH employs people of passion, we seek those individuals who dream of a better world. We look for professionals who combine experience, local knowledge, and an understanding of international best practices.

MINIMUM EDUCATION

• Required: BS or master's in computer science, statistics, or data scienc
• Preferred: Master’s degree in mathematics, statistics, or data science

MINIMUM EXPEREINCE

• Minimum 5 years of work experience as a data scientist or data analyst
• Demonstrable experience with probability theory, and statistical inference
• Demonstrable programming experience with Python or R
• Demonstrable experience with machine learning algorithms and ability to solve complex data problems
• Demonstrable experience with data visualization software, like Power BI or GIS mapping software
• Preferred: Management of information system projects in low- and middle-income countries, including prioritization and management/completion of simultaneous projects.
• Experience with pharmaceutical information systems and health technologies is highly desirable.

Knowledge And Skills

• Superior analytical skills, inductive and deductive reasoning, with the ability to autonomously conduct evaluations and assessments.

COMPETENCIES
Core Job Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with professional colleagues from multiple units and within various socio-cultural contexts
• Demonstrated ability to build capacity of teams in LMICs and at the home office
• Demonstrated flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environment and working under tight deadlines
• Demonstrated competence to assess priorities and solve problems using innovative, evidence-based solutions
• Highly detail-oriented, meticulous, and consistent in the execution of his/her work
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and projects at a time
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify areas that need support and constructively come up with solutions to address these
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills
• Very strong written and oral communication skills, particularly in terms of communicating complex technical approaches to non-technical audiences
• Very strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Travel requirements: Availability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25% of the time as needed.

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About your role 

• Our Chiefs of Party (COP) lead and manage our projects and are accountable for project deliverables and results. They do this by ensuring the values of MSH: Respect, Accountability, Equity, and Impact, are embedded in all project activities. In this regard, they have full accountability and authority for the development, execution, and monitoring of the projects, including vision and technical strategy; project management; documentation and communication; client(s) stakeholder(s) relationships; and coordination and synergy with other MSH projects.  

How will YOU accomplish this? 

As the COP you will be expected to provide technical leadership and managerial oversight for, and ensure the efficient implementation of, all project strategies and activities. You will serve as the central focal point for the United States Government, the Government of Kenya, and all other donor partners and stakeholders, fostering an environment of mutual respect and a “can do” attitude. Specific areas of accountability could include: 

• Overseeing the implementation of program activities (which may include a combination of strategic plan development and execution, capacity building, management of information systems, warehousing and distribution, and private sector engagement). 
• Ensuring effective contract/agreement implementation in strict compliance with contract/agreement clauses, MSH and donor policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).  
• Promoting the MSH values of creating an equitable and respectful work environment, that fosters a sense of belonging for all. You will ensure project staffing, structure and reporting relationships are aligned with project needs, local context, and available resources.  
• Managing and mentoring the project team as per MSH policies and guidelines and implement an effective performance-management program including regular check-ins, annual appraisals, supportive supervision, training, and coaching to encourage our staff in their career development initiatives.  
• Fostering the growth of a data driven environment with a focus on impact. You will be required to develop a measurable technical strategy and execute a project results framework, performance monitoring plan, and a results and learning dissemination plan. These will be supported by annual work plans as per contract/agreement requirements, MSH technical frameworks and standards.  
• Nurturing our client and stakeholder relationships is a core focus of the COP position. Your emphasis will be on building and maintaining strong respectful working relations with all internal and external stakeholders, beneficiaries, prime and subcontractors, suppliers, and partners.  

This list is not exhaustive, and we would expect our COPs to be both innovative and strategic in suggesting and implementing new methods to achieve the outcomes and impact desired by our client and needed by the people the project aims to serve.  

QUALIFICATIONS

What do you need to apply? 

• MSH employs people of passion, we seek those individuals who dream of a better world. We look for professionals who combine experience, local knowledge, and an understanding of international best practices. Individuals who share our values of treating everyone with respect while being equitable and holding all of us accountable to make an impact. 

Specific requirements for this role are: 

• A dynamic leader, with proven credentials, able to meet project goals, convey learnings, entice stakeholder engagement, and be an active contributor to overall project success.
• Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in:  
• Pharmacovigilance and regulatory systems.  
• Pharmaceutical supply chains. 
• Procurement.
• Warehousing, and distribution. 
• A combination of the following: Fourth party logistics (4PL), and third-party logistics (3PL), including experience with information management systems such as Electronic Logistics Management Information Systems (eLMIS), WWMS (Warehouse Management System) Transport Management Systems (TMS) software. 
• Familiarity with USAID regulations and administrative procedures in the implementation of donor assisted projects.  
• A passion for building teams, coaching, and building capacity both internally and externally. 

From a practical point of view, you will have:  

• A bachelor’s degree or above (master’s preferred) in global public health, business, supply chain management, public administration, healthcare administration, or a related field. 
• A minimum of twelve (12) years’ progressively responsible experience in program design and implementation. 
• Fluency in English (required).  
• Prior authorization to work in Kenya is required.