Procurement and Supply Management Country Director | Lusaka, Zambia |2022 At Chemonics

Chemonics seeks a Country Director to support the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project in Zambia. The Country Director (CD) in Zambia will provide strategic guidance and overall management and direction of the technical team activities and program operations. This includes technical and operational implementation of the overall vision of the project, which enables GHSC-PSM to deliver critical health commodity supply chain technical assistance in country. The CD will work through a senior management team to ensure high quality implementation and reporting for PSM Zambia to USAID, HQ and external partners.

The USAID GHSC-PSM project is the primary vehicle through which USAID procures and provides health commodities and technical assistance to improve partner countries’ management of the supply chain in collaboration with key international stakeholders and in support of global health initiatives. Chemonics International Inc. is a US-based international development consulting company, operating in over 95 countries. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

With 120+ staff across eight offices around the country, this diverse and complex program sets out to strengthen capacity of GRZ to develop sustainable systems that promote availability and security of essential health commodities through:

1. Increased data availability and use for informed commodity management
2. Improved quantification, procurement planning, and coordination
3. Provision of cost-effective, reliable international and local procurement services
4. Improved efficiency in warehousing and distribution by the central medical store, Zambia Medicines, and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA)
5. Increased strategic management and planning by Ministry of Health (MOH) for improved commodity security approaches

Responsibilities:

Ensure technical implementation and resource management:

• Drive technical vision and strategic direction of GHSC-PSM in Zambia
• Develop annual workplans and budgets aimed to improve delivery of health commodity supply chain technical assistance that reflect the priorities of USAID, the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders and guide the senior management team (SMT) in effective work plan implementation
• Develop and implement management systems that support planning, reporting, performance management and tracking in collaboration with the home office
• Evaluate project progress periodically against the work plan and budget, identify issues and risks related to timely implementation, and undertake appropriate interventions to meet work plan objectives and client requests in collaboration with SMT members
• Engage and collaborate with local stakeholders to build the capacity and sustainability of national systems
• Support and oversee the design, development, quality control and completion of deliverables, including quantification reports, project work plan, monthly and quarterly reports
• Identify and promote the use of innovations and participate in project and international opportunities that improve supply chain performance
• Lead preparation for the transition of GHSC-PSM to NextGen, the new USAID-funded suite of projects
  • Ensure real-time handover of technical activities and staff as appropriate.
  • Ensure administrative close-out and final reporting of the country office.

Oversee operational compliance:

• Provide oversight to ensure contract management and mentor Senior Management Team (SMT) members to plan for and implement technical activities while ensuring contract compliance and adequate resourcing
• Oversee all finance, human resources administrative and subcontracts to ensure efficient and compliant systems and tools required to support program implementation, by working with the operations director
• Set standard policies and procedures for the organization by working with the home office project management unit and the field office SMT

Build and maintain relationships:

• Serve as the primary liaison with USAID, the Ministry of Health, and ZAMMSA with supply chain investments and components
• Represent GHSC-PSM in external forums including meetings with USAID, MOH, and ZAMMSA.
• Collaborate with local stakeholders to advocate for the harmonization of supply chain technical assistance activities
• Ensure positive and productive working relations and regular communications are maintained, both within the field offices and between the field and home offices

Provide management and mentorship:

• Identify challenges, obstacles, and difficulties affecting project implementation, develop strategies to solve these problems, and work with the SMT and USAID as needed to implement these strategies
• Enable technical teams to conceptualize and develop important technical documents including concept notes, documentation of lessons learned, and best practices identified during implementation
• Identify opportunities for the project to share technical knowledge (conferences, workshops, etc.)
• Mentor SMT to ensure continual professional development opportunities that support achievement of overall project goals
• Build capacity of local counterparts in supply chain management and oversight as appropriate.
• Performs other tasks as directed by the PMU Director, or designee

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in relevant field required (public health, health systems, project management, business administration, or another related field)
• Minimum 12 years of experience providing technical leadership in oversight and reporting for USAID-funded public health programs, including health supply chain such as managing commodities, warehousing and storage, or management information systems
• Minimum of five years’ experience in a senior management position such as chief of party or deputy chief of party for a USAID-funded program
• Demonstrated ability to apply supply chain management best practices and innovations to donor-funded programs
• Demonstrated experience in creating efficiencies and leading operational transformation in large complex public health programs
• Demonstrated ability in the development and progress of strategic work plans
• Willingness to live in Zambia full-time, and travel throughout the country up to 10 percent of the time
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Strong writing and editing in English and skills in analysis of data are required; a writing sample in English should be submitted with the application
• Advanced computer skills, especially in Microsoft Office
• Experience working with HIV/AIDS, malaria, family planning (FP), maternal and child health (MCH) and/or reproductive health commodities preferred
• Experience working in Southern Africa preferred