R -- Commodity and Logistics Specialist

Position Title: Commodity and Logistics Specialist. 2. Market Value: GS-13 Equivalent ($68,625- 89,217). Final compensation will be based upon the candidate past salary history and work experience. 3. Place of Performance: USAID/Uganda, Kampala. 4. Period of Performance: An initial two year contract with an option to extend for an additional year depending on USAID?s continued need for service, demonstrated performance and availability of funding. 5. The incumbent will be the lead policy, strategic planning, technical and management expert responsible for USAID/Uganda?s HIV/AIDS, malaria and other health commodity and supply chain services in Uganda. S/he will serve as CTO Activity Manager for USAID?s supply chain management implementing partners, and as such will be responsible for oversight of these partners? activities. The incumbent will strengthen and expand partnerships for commodity and supply chain improvement, engage actively in interagency and donor coordination activities, and work closely with Ministry of Health counterparts, direct attention to policy, institutional and other barriers to effective HIV/AIDS and health-related commodity supply, and identify and advocate innovations, best practices, reforms and training to remedy problems. Education: Masters level degree required. Master?s degree or equivalent in Public Health (MPH), Pharmacy (MSc), or international health is highly preferred. Post graduate training in logistics, procurement, or supplies management is highly preferred. 6. Prior work experience: Seven to ten years of progressive and responsible experience in public health, including experience in strategic planning, activity design, program planning and budgeting, and monitoring and evaluation is required. Minimum five years experience in pharmaceuticals management, health commodity logistics, supply chain capacity building and management in developing country contexts is required. Work with health systems and logistics management at the national and local (district/community/service facility) level is required. Experience managing HIV/AIDS and/or health related commodities programs, particularly in a decentralized context in the developing world is required. Experience in developing and implementing innovative approaches and best practices in health supply chain management is required. Experience in design, implementation and monitoring of logistics systems is required. Experience with PEPFAR, USAID health programs or health programs with other donors and collaborating partners is desirable. Familiarity with, and sensitivity to, socio-cultural and institutional factors affecting program development and implementation in Sub Saharan Africa, preferably in East Africa is desirable. 7. Knowledge and Skills: Understanding of public health supply chain management challenges in the Uganda context or comparable setting. Demonstrated knowledge of policy, technical and operational aspects of supply chain management; knowledge of basic issues, best practices and innovations in supply chain services. Ability to readily understand, analyze and discuss issues around supply chain management. Demonstrated ability to identify priority actions, generate and complete work plans within short time frames. Demonstrated excellent representation, liaison, and coordination abilities with all levels of counterparts. Demonstrated organizational, managerial and decision making abilities. Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to clearly communicate program and technical concepts, including the ability to make concise and effective oral and written presentations. Excellent computer skills, particularly with Microsoft Office software (word processing and spreadsheets), and databases (ACCESS or web-based ? preferred); ability to produce concise written reports in English. Ability to work effectively in a team situation, and to negotiate difficult issues and build consensus to achieve results with a wide range of program partners. Ability to work independently with little supervision. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with a wide range of partners in a complex cultural and bureaucratic environment. Notice to Applicants: The USAID reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant?s past performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. Introduction: USAID/Uganda requires the services of a Commodity and Logistics Specialist (CLS) to provide technical, management, and coordination services in all areas of supply chain management in support of USAID/Uganda?s programs in health and HIV/AIDS. This includes forecasting and quantification of USAID (and as appropriate assisting with U.S. Government and national) commodity needs, procurement, warehousing, distribution, information management, monitoring and reporting. The Specialist will be a member of a multi-disciplinary, 28-person team implementing U.S. Government (USG) programs under the Investing in People program area. The Specialist will work under the direction of the Health Sub Team Leader or his or her designee. She, he will develop a personal annual performance plan, in coordination with his her supervisor, and will be evaluated annually on the basis of the performance plan. The Specialist shall perform technical leader in HIV/AIDS and health commodity and supply chain management: 1. Guide supply chain management implementing partners to adhere to USAID and USG policies and procedures. 2. Provide strategic leadership in identifying and applying innovative approaches and best practices to achieve USAID, USG and Government of Uganda (GOU) supply chain management goals. 3. Assist the central Ministry of Health Pharmacy Unit, the National Medical Stores, Joint Medical Stores, Joint Clinical, and Research Council, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, District Health Management Teams, and individual facility managers to strengthen procurement planning and management, forecasting, distribution and storage of drugs and other commodity requirements. 4. Facilitate coordination between USAID?s contractors/grantees, other USG agencies, other donors, and the GOU to develop supply chain strategies and provide appropriate non-duplicative services that will ensure reliable procurement and distribution of essential HIV/AIDS, malaria and health medicines and related commodities, including Anti-Retrovirals (ARV), HIV test kits, condoms, TB and malaria drugs, vaccination supplies, contraceptives, micronutrients, laboratory supplies, and injection and blood safety equipment and supplies. 5. Lead USAID?s Implementing Partners to develop good logistics data management, forecasting and procurement planning capacities at the central level and well coordinated distribution at the district and facility level. 6. Represent USAID/Uganda in technical and coordination meetings with the GOU, other donors and non-government and private sector organizations on issues related to HIV/AIDS, malaria and other health supply chain management. 7. Contribute technical and management expertise to USG thematic groups in the development of Country Operating Plans outlining program strategies and budget allocations. 8. Participate in the design of new programs and in technical review committees for new and/or follow-on supply chain management and other related awards. 9. Prepare ad hoc reports as required for USAID/ Uganda, USAID/Washington, the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), donor coordination groups, and others. These reports include U.S. Congressional, GOU or donor group requests; technical briefings; trip reports; site visit briefing documents; speeches; etc. 10. Contribute to development of all mission reports, including Country Operational Plans for PEPFAR, PMI and other health; portfolio reviews; semi-annual and annual reports; quarterly financial reports; quality assessments; site monitoring reports; etc. 11. Keep informed of national and international initiatives and policies and state-of-the-art developments related to the provision of commodities and supplies for HIV/AIDS and health programs, share information as appropriate with various counterparts. Program Management: Serve as CTO/Activity Manager for USAID?s HIV/AIDS and health commodities and logistics contractors/grantees. Programmatic and financial oversight includes: 1. Ensure suitable monitoring and reporting systems are in place, providing technical input in the development of Performance Monitoring Plans (PMPs). 2. Review and approve Implementing Partner annual work plans and budgets; ensure partner compliance with approved work plans and budgets. 3. Monitor expenditures and pipelines; provide appropriate and timely funding. 4. Review and document implementing partner performance by conducting regular site visits to monitor activities and verify asset use; identify issues and recommend follow-up actions. 5. Review all written reports submitted by Implementing Partners and furnish feedback. 6. Maintain program files. 7. Assist with and conduct commodity demand forecasting. 8. Ensure that all program activities are implemented in compliance with relevant USAID, USG, PEPFAR and PMI guidelines, policies, regulations and procedures. Coordination: 1. Lead coordination efforts between USAID?s commodity and logistics implementing partners; facilitate coordination with other USG PEPFAR and PMI commodity and logistics implementing partners. 2. Represent USAID and proactively participate in coordination of commodity and logistics activities and issues with MOH, NMS, JMS, NDA, JCRC, IRCU, Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, other donor agencies, appropriate local public sector and non-governmental entities, GFATM, GAVI, GAIN, Clinton Foundation and others. 3. Proactively facilitate a collaborative approach to enhance supply chain management, including the development of a long-term Commodity Security Strategy and support for the GOU Procurement Plan. 4. Foster donor coordination to prioritize and enhance commodity and supply planning and procurement, particularly with respect to working with the MOH to support harmonization of national procurement of essential health commodities. 5. Represent USAID with multi-lateral donor coordination organizations and in defining the donor technical, policy and program agenda with the MOH and other Ministries. 6. Monitor the political environment and other donor activities to inform USAID/Uganda?s funding and programmatic decisions. Other: 1. Organize and participate in field visits by external parties that highlight USAID?s supply chain management activities. 2. Participate in workshops, special committees, etc. as USAID/Uganda?s technical advisor on logistics and supply chain management. 3. Make recommendations to the Mission on program directions and management. 4. Manage USAID/Uganda?s directory for commodities and supplies for HIV/AIDS, malaria and other health. 5. Perform any other duties as assigned by the Health Sub-Team Leader or his/her designee. 6. Reporting Requirements: The Commodities and Logistics Specialist will work under the direction of the Health Sub-Team Leader or his her designee. She he will develop a personal annual performance plan, in coordination with his her supervisor, and will be evaluated annually on the basis of the performance plan. The Specialist independently plans and carries out the work, selecting technical and managerial approaches and techniques to be used, and informs the supervisor of progress and significant challenges and remedies. Regular consultation with other members of USAID?s Investing in People Team, as well as USG PEPFAR and PMI Teams is expected. NOTE REGARDING GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS FOR THIS SOLICITATION. This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the application. Filling this position is contingent upon availability of funding and completion of final internal administrative approvals. For detailed scope of work and evaluation criteria, please send email to gnakaddu@usaid.gov, copy, rheller@usaid.gov