Senior Program Associate

Management Sciences for Health is currently seeking 01 (one) highly qualified Senior Program Associate, Training and Capacity Building for its SCMS Project, based in Hanoi.  MSH is a U.S. based NGO whose mission is saving lives and improving the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.  In Vietnam, MSH is the implementing partner for the Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) project, which is providing quality medicines for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, under the U.S. President’s Plan for Emergency AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  To learn more about the SCMS project, please visit www.scms.pfscm.org
                       
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Senior Program Associate, Training and Capacity Building supports SCMS technical activities in Vietnam. He or she works closely with the Senior Medicines Program Manager, in developing and implementing SCMS plans and activities that effectively address pharmaceutical and commodity related management priorities, to strengthen pharmaceutical management in support of the U.S. President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Government of Vietnam’s (GOV) National Strategy on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control.  The Senior Program Associate coordinates with key stakeholders from USAID implementing partners and local counterparts, including other Ministry of Health departments at Central and Provincial levels to ensure adequate coordination and synergy in the area of commodity management.  He or she collaborates with other MSH staff and partners to ensure an uninterrupted  supply of Anti-Retroviral (ARV), medicines for opportunistic infections (OIs), Methadone and other related commodities at target Anti-Retroviral Therapy(ART) and Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) program sites by providing and managing the  monitoring and training of appropriate dispensing, patient counseling, and rational use of these medicines.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Management of all annual training workshops for pharmacist dispensers on ARV, OIs and Methadone management at sites level; and provide internal training within MSH/SCMS project for new program associate and existing PAs to solve the identified problems and to build up capacity for PAC staff on ARV, OIs and Methadone management
2. Support the SCMS Professional Associates (PAs) with skills development for assessing readiness of new ARV and methadone treatment sites for ARV and Methadone management.
3. Collaborate with facility staff at ARV and methadone implementation sites and the PA responsible for the site to adapt training inputs to the individual conditions of the target site; work with site staff and management to adopt and formalize procedures, whenever required.
4. Facilitate the availability and dissemination of training materials and guidelines to treatment sites, all active partners, and institutions involved in the training of pharmacists and dispensers in Vietnam.
5. Collaborate with the PA responsible and staff at the target district and health center level to ensure that a management information system is established according to adopted SOPs and that the system of reporting to the district, provincial, and national levels functions properly.
6. Participate as an active member of the Working Group to assist all stakeholders in strengthening linkages and coordination with other departments of Ministry of Health from Central to Provincial and district levels.
7. Conduct  monitoring visits with PAs to build their capacity to assess implementation of recommendations for improvements from prior site visits.
8. Provide site staff and local counterparts in Provincial AIDS Centers (PACs) with on-the-job training, as needed, to address identified problems. Prepare a written report of these findings and share with dispensers and management of each treatment site, the PEPFAR partners that support the respective treatment sites, and other key partners.
9. Coordinate with the Senior Medicines Program Manager to ensure that representatives of the PEPFAR sites and the Vietnam Administration for AIDS Control (VAAC) are fully engaged in a commodity management supervision/feedback system.
10. Under the direction of the Senior Medicines Program Manager, coordinate with all relevant parties, especially CDC, Life Gap, FHI, Pact, WWO, Clinton Foundation and Central Pharmaceutical Company  (CPC) #1, to ensure that the distribution and reporting system process for ARVs/OIs , Methadone and related medicines operates smoothly and that all parties receive the necessary information in a timely manner. Participate in partner or donor coordination meetings on pharmaceutical management issues, as requested.
11. Coordinate with relevant representatives at all levels of the public health system to ensure that they are fully aware of all planned activities, that opportunities for their active participation and involvement is provided in all activities, and that necessary permissions, approvals and authorizations are obtained for all planned activities relating to ARVs, OIs, Methadone  and related medicines.

Develop and submit technical reports and training materials:
a. Working with PAs to gather data on consumption of ARVs, OIs, Methadone and related medicines in implementation sites for development of the monthly distribution plan and for reporting purposes
b. Monitor the medicine stock and usage levels and prepare regular monthly reports on the stock status and forecast usage scenarios
c. Prepare ARV, OI, Methadone and related medicines quantification reports for the USG supported implementation sites
d. Develop other appropriate reports, as requested

12. Participate in the development and implementation of pharmacy standard operating procedures:
a. Provide inputs relating to commodity management into the standard operating procedures (SOPs) development process for facilities supported by the program
b. Support pharmaceutical management staff at implementation sites in applying pharmaceutical SOPs to ensure effective ordering, storage, distribution, and use of pharmaceuticals and other commodities
c. Collaborate with Provincial counterparts and facility staff at implementation sites to adapt supply and distribution systems to the individual conditions of the site; work with staff to adopt and formalize procedures, whenever required
13. Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will have:
1. Master’s degree or other professional degree in a health related field required; or a combination of education and relevant experience in pharmaceutical and public health management.
2. Thorough knowledge of program management and institutional capacity building.
3. Extensive experience with designing, implementing and managing healthcare training and supportive supervision programs 
4. Proven communication skills and ability to work cooperatively with multiple stakeholders. (Government of Vietnam, international donors, NGOs, etc.)
5. Demonstrated problem solving and team building skills.
6. Past experience with working  in a deadline oriented organization 
7. Experience in quality improvement, monitoring and evaluation desirable
8. Demonstrated experience working within the public health sector in the management of the procurement, distribution, and use of medicines.
9. Experience and knowledge with management of pharmacy systems for ARVs, OIs, Methadone and related medicines desirable.
10. Long-term working resident experience in Vietnam with an understanding of the Vietnamese public health system.
11. Fluency in English, written and verbal communication is required
12. Demonstrated competency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Powerpoint, and Word
13. Ability and availability to travel throughout Vietnam as needed.

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled person.

To apply for this position (deadline: 15 September 2011), please send cover letter and CV via email, fax or regular mail to:
25 Bui Thi Xuan
Hanoi, Vietnam
Fax: + 84 4 3 945-4563
Email: [email protected]
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.