International Technical Advisor, Infection Prevention and Control, Global Health Security Project
Tracking Code: 7684
Job Description
PATH is an international organization that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations—that harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health. Working in Vietnam since the early 1980s, PATH established a permanent office in Hanoi in 1997 and an office in Ho Chi Minh City in 2014.
In a new partnership aimed at ensuring and securing health for all, PATH recently joined the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other organizations to help advance the US government’s pledge to support, assist, and empower poor countries in anticipating, preventing, and overcoming infectious disease outbreaks. PATH’s Global Health Security (GHS) partnership, a 5-year effort funded by the CDC, will strengthen public health systems in Vietnam, Senegal, and Tanzania, building capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to emergencies of public health importance.
PATH seeks an International Technical Advisor (ITA) to manage the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) section of the GHS project in Vietnam. The ITA will provide technical assistance to the Vietnam Ministry of Health (MOH) involving IPC activities. In addition, the International Technical Advisor will provide day-to-day support, working closely with national and regional partners, and international agencies concerning infection prevention and control.
This position will be based in Hanoi under supervision and direction of the Project Director in Hanoi, Vietnam, with support from technical experts from other Mekong region staff, the US-based Project Director, and CDC.
Responsibilities:
General Leadership, Management and Oversight
- Serve as focal contact for the IPC component of GHS
- Lead planning, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of project activities
- Oversee coordination between national partners, CDC Hanoi office, World Health Organization (WHO), and local partners to develop the annual work plan and budget
- Provide technical assistance and oversight to project staff, consultants, and partners in Vietnam working on IPC
- Collaborate with health officials engaged in IPC related departments of the MOH, and select public national and provincial hospitals, for project design, implementation, and monitoring
- Work with staff and project partners to identify challenges and develop strategies for effective implementation of work plan activities
- Ensure completion of project milestones including the annual work plan, within the bounds of donor guidelines and budget
- Serve as the PATH representative to donor, MOH, collaborating institutions, and other partners in Vietnam regarding IPC related isssues
- Represent PATH on national technical work groups as appropriate, maintaining contacts with other organizations engaged in IPC
- Oversee preparation of required IPC related deliverables and reports, coordinating review and submission with PATH headquarters
- Directly supervise and collaborate with project staff and consultants to ensure: administrative and financial procedures are completed in a timely manner; sub agreements and sub-contracts are developed and approved efficiently; consultant contracts are approved in a timely manner; and financial management is compliant with donor and PATH regulations while monitoring expenditure trends
Specific technical roles and responsibility:
- Support MOH IPC Unit
- Provide technical expertise on IPC as needed for MOH to successfully carry out national IPC initiatives
- Revision/development of national IPC technical guidelines
- Support the core group of national IPC leaders in the revision and development of evidence-based technical IPC guidelines appropriate for Vietnam
- Organize and support IPC leaders to develop and deliver training on revised IPC technical guidelines to other hospital IPC professionals
- Development of national hospital-based HAI surveillance
- Provide technical expertise for national healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance protocol and database development, and give in-hospital support for execution of HAI surveillance and reporting
- Enhance clinical IPC performance through in-hospital mentorship
- Provide extended periods of onsite clinical mentoring to IPC departments in select hospitals
- Directed IPC component improvement (“model” IPC practices)
- Provide on- and offsite support to participating IPC departments for the optimization of selected aspect of the IPC program (e.g., hand hygiene, multi drug resistant organism (MDRO) response and control)
Required Experience
- Advanced degree in medicine, nursing, biology, public health or related field.
- Excellent written and spoken English; Vietnamese language skills also highly desired.
- Demonstrated report writing and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated project management and leadership skills.
- Demonstrated leadership qualities at high-management level.
- Proven interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team.
- At least 5 years of experience working in a clinical IPC role.
- Experience working effectively with Vietnam government counterparts, particularly at national and regional levels.
- Experience working in hospital management, and health system strengthening.
- Work experience in communicable diseases is required; knowledge in vaccine preventable diseases preferred.
- Experience in disease surveillance and/or epidemiology preferred.
- Strong experience with donor relations, particularly US government.
- Strong experience in working with international partners, and international technical experts/consultants.
PATH is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued.
PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Job Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Company Location: Vietnam, Hanoi
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular
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