The Procurement and Supply Management project will be the primary vehicle through which USAID will provide technical assistance to improve partner countries’ management of the health commodities supply chain and collaborate with key international stakeholders to support global health initiatives. The project is currently recruiting for Commodity Security Lead. The Commodity Security Lead is responsible for ensuring availability of sufficient quantities of health commodities at the central and health facilities through quantification, regular stock status monitoring and procurement support. He/she is also responsible for capacity building and ensuring adoption of best practices related to quantification and procurement within SCMD. He/she is also responsible for ensuring that GHSC-PSM procurements are executed on time as per agreed national or partner supply plans and for facilitating smooth clearance and receipt of project procured commodities by recipients at the central level.
The position will be based in Maseru and embedded at the Ministry of Health SCMD. The position reports directly to the Country Director. Qualified applicants should submit a CV and cover letter to [email protected] not later than Monday March 28th, 2022. The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the set deadline. Please indicate in the subject line of your e-mail the position to which you are applying. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop, continuously review and update the national quantification approaches and operational plans and policies for all health commodities
- Ensure the availability of a functional national quantification team with the required knowledge, skills and tools to conduct quality national quantification exercises
- Assist in the development of the PSM/Lesotho annual work plan, ensuring the inclusion of relevant quantification related activities and Monitor project progress to ensure that quantification related activities are implemented as scheduled
- Collaborate with the M&E and Data Management team to ensure availability of data for quantifications, forecasting, supply planning exercises routine and stock status monitoring
- Collaborate with NDSO and SMC to ensure NDSO’s timely provision of monthly stock status information and oversee preparation of the monthly stock status report
- Work with MoH Quantification Coordinators/Manager and relevant stakeholders to develop, streamline and review the quantification tools for all commodities.
- Promote the use of state-of-the-art quantification software including PipeLine, Quantimed, Forlab software by MOH and NDSO staff ensuring that the various quantifications tools/data bases are routinely updated
- Develop and review the quantification protocol and schedule for all commodity quantifications.
- Support the implementation and monitor adherence to the use of the quantification protocol by the national quantification team.
- Develop quantification training tools and plans for the Central procurement structures and District Health Management Teams
- Advise on matters pertaining to all commodities’ quantification
- Support SCMD to plan and execute national quantification and quantification review exercises and ensure availability of quantification report and commodity budgets for all commodities for approval by the Ministry of Health
- Monitor and ensure a continuously full supply of commodities which are procured centrally i.e. ARV, RTKs, viral load reagents, etc.
- Participate in all procurement activities at NDSO and provide technical advice to ensure best practices.
- Support SCMD to Monitor and report on progress of procurement activities involving both government and Development Partners based on a health commodity procurement plan/supply plans developed after the national quantification exercise
- Provide guidance and ensure that procurement of health sector commodities is in line with the Financial Regulations and national standards eg WHO pre-qualification etc
- Establish and Monitor the performance of the procurement system.
- Monitor various consumption patterns and take corrective steps in forecasting on periodic basis.
- Liaise with Procurement department at MOH, NDSO and Districts to communicate global supply and demand changes (e.g. regimen changes, new formulations etc) and risks.
- Lead PSM procurement for USAID funded health commodities, ensuring that GHSC-PSM procurements are executed on time as per agreed national or partner supply plans, communicate with recipients on progress and facilitate smooth clearance and receipt of project procured commodities by recipients at the central level.
- Participate in central level distribution planning especially for new commodities or commodities in short supply ensuring equitable allocation of available commodities
Required Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required, preferably with public health or Information systems as a major subject
- At least 5 years of experience in Lesotho’s public health sector, including 2-3 years of forecasting and supply planning.
- Exposure to and awareness of various forecasting methodologies and quantification tools
- Basic knowledge of supply chain concepts a plus
- Advanced level computer competence in Microsoft Business suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
- Strong English language communication and presentation skills