Senior Supply Chain Systems Advisor (SSCSA)

1. Position Title: Senior Supply Chain Systems Advisor (SSCSA) 2. Market Value: GS-14 - $87,263 to $113,444. Final compensation will be based upon the candidate past salary and work history, experience, and educational background of the successful candidate. 3. Place of Performance: Kampala, Uganda 4. Period of Performance: Two year contract with possible one year extension. 5. The U.S. Agency for International Development Mission in Uganda seeks to employ a U.S. (U.S. and Resident Aliens) offshore or resident in Uganda Personal Services Contractor to serves as the USAID Mission point of contact for all matters related to health commodities and supply chain systems (C/SC). S/he provides strategic leadership in identifying and applying innovative approaches and best practices to achieve USAID, USG and Government of Uganda (GOU) supply chain management goals. 6. Master's degree in a relevant field such as public health, international development, pharmacy, procurement and logistics, or a closely related degree required. 7. Work Experience: A minimum 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience working in the health, logistics or international development field. Experience in developing country settings is preferred; Five years of this experience should be in a managerial and/or operational position in the areas of design, implementation, monitoring and evaluating activities in the delivery of C/SC programs; Relevant experience working or collaborating with other donors, governments and international organizations is a must. 8. Knowledge (all required): State-of-the art, specialized knowledge of technical and programmatic approaches in health commodity procurement and supply planning and supply chain systems strengthening. This includes demonstrated knowledge of the various supply chain system components (forecasting, procurement, warehousing, distribution, inventory management, logistics management information systems etc.) and practical strategies for improving system efficiencies and performance to enhance availability, affordability, accessibility and equitable allocation of public health commodities in the health sector. Knowledge of global procurement and supply chain strengthening technical assistance programs including DELIVER, SCMS, the Global Fund, UNFPA, GAVI, and others. Significant knowledge of program management and monitoring and evaluation methods. 9. Skills and Abilities (all required): Demonstrated strategic thinking, decision-making and problem solving skills, as well as the ability to effectively manage stress and conflict; Must be able to work effectively with mid- and senior-level public and civil society officials from the GOU, other development partners and the private sector; Demonstrated ability to work and provide leadership in a team environment, coordinate well with others, and provide leadership in the areas of his/her competencies; Must be able to develop effective and collaborative managerial relationships with implementing partners; Diplomacy, tact, negotiation skills, cultural sensitivity, and team participation skills are required in order to establish and maintain effective working relationships within USAID and with the public and private sectors; Excellent organizational skills in order to multi-task and stay organized in a complex, ever- changing environment; Excellent writing and computer skills. 10. Security Clearance: Secret Level. Medical Clearance: STATE MED. 11. Applicants meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and obtained through reference checks. Additionally, interviews and writing samples may be requested only from the top scoring candidates. USAID reserves the right to conduct telephonic interviews with the most highly ranked applicants and make the interview a deciding factor in selection. This position requires a highly qualified and experienced individual with exceptional interpersonal skills, the ability to foster team work, strategic thinking, and also understand the technical requirements to support and achieve supply chain issues for PEPFAR as well as PMI and the Family Planning portfolio/goals in Uganda. Consensus building is a critical skill. The incumbent must be familiar with and be able to work well in an overseas environment and with a wide range of governmental and non-governmental counterparts. 12. Notice to Applicants: USAID reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant's past performance, technical knowledge, required skills, including teamwork and team-building experience and may consider such information in its evaluation. USAID/Uganda shall not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Introduction: The SSCSA serves as the USAID Mission point of contact for all matters related to health commodities and supply chain systems (C/SC). S/he provides strategic leadership in identifying and applying innovative approaches and best practices to achieve USAID, USG and Government of Uganda (GOU) supply chain management goals. The primary responsibilities focus on priority setting within a highly political environment, project management and senior-level technical advice on C/SC. S/he works to ensure technical and programmatic synergy within USAID/Uganda, USG interagency C/SC activities, and those of Government of Uganda (GOU) and other development partners and stakeholders by facilitating the exchange of technical information, guiding and managing USAID C/SC related activities and identifying and fostering opportunities for partnership on technical and programmatic activities. The SSCSA manages a complex, national and district level assistance activity of up to $30 million over five years designed to increase the availability, equitable access, and appropriate use of essential medicines and health supplies by building stronger, sustainable systems and local capacity. These responsibilities require specialized knowledge, skills and experience related to health commodities, supply chain management systems and health systems strengthening strategies. The SSCSA keeps abreast of current publications and information on C/SC and its programming in developing countries in order to advise the Mission. The SSCSA functions as part of a larger USAID Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) team to ensure more sustainable health programming, beyond C/SC. S/he will work with the members of the PEPFAR, HSS, PMI and C/SC technical working groups and other relevant fora in planning, coordinating and improving the USAID and USG portfolio on C/SC strengthening related projects and activities in the public and the private health sector of Uganda (both not-for-profit and for-profit) to improve institutional performance and sustainability. The SSCSA works on integrating a common approach to C/SC across all initiatives, such as common approaches to financing, product selection, commodity procurement, forecasting, quantification, warehousing, distribution, logistics management information systems, institutional capacity-building, quality assurance, and rational use of pharmaceuticals and health supplies. S/he will function as the focal point on HSS related issues when required. The SSCSA requires a positive and proactive attitude. Leadership and diplomacy skills are critical, as the position requires working with technical and senior officials in the Ministry of Health (MOH), other national institutions, all USAID Implementing Partners (IPs), other Health Development Partners, the private sector and civil society to foster GOU leadership on issues related to C/SC, resolve issues and further progress towards improving commodity availability and performance of the national supply chain. The SSCSA will work closely with Chiefs of Party and other technical staff of USAID/Uganda IPs (and other USAID and USG partners as appropriate) to guide them to adhere to USAID and USG policies and procedures for implementing C/SC activities and provide other support as needed to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential health medicines and supplies in USAID-supported sites. The SSCSA represents USAID in national-level technical, programmatic, and policy meetings, and in consultations with other donors, government officials, and IPs. Specific contacts include: the Mission Director and Deputy Director; the U.S. Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission; the Global Health Bureau in Washington; the US Mission in Kampala's Interagency Health Team; the Assistance Commissioner for Pharmacy of the MOH; the General Managers of National Medical Stores (NMS) and Joint Medical Store (JMS), and; the National Drug Authority (NDA). The SSCSA will be a member of a multi-disciplinary, 50-person team implementing USAID programs under the DO3 team for Health and HIV/AIDS. The SSCSA will serve as a senior member of the HSS Unit within the Health and HIV Office, and will report to the HSS Team Leader. While the incumbent will report to the HSS Team Leader, s/he is expected to work closely and collaboratively with all of DO3, with the PEPFAR and PMI interagency teams and GHI teams, and with other USAID/Uganda and interagency USG/Uganda staff and programs. The SSCSA will be expected to complete assigned duties with little direct supervision, exercising extensive independent judgment as he or she works extensively through diverse teams. Given the critical and politically sensitive nature of work in C/SC, the SSCSA will provide senior strategic advice to the U.S. Ambassador and USAID Mission Director on engagements related to C/SC issues in Uganda. This advice and engagement with U.S. Mission leadership will involve strong relationship-building skills with various stakeholders including the MOH, the NMS, JMS, and other development partners. The SSCSA's diplomacy and negotiation skills will be essential during U.S negotiation and development of plans with the GOU and the MOH to increase GOU ownership and leadership in C/SC. C. SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TECHNICAL GUIDANCE, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY IN HEALTH COMMODITY MANAGEMENT and SUPPLY CHAIN SYSTEM STRENGTHENING (35%) The SSCSA serves as principal advisor for all matters related to health C/SC, providing strategic leadership in identifying and applying innovative approaches and best practices to achieve USAID, USG, GOU C/SC and broader health systems goals. Specific duties include: 1. Serving as principal advisor to DO3 leadership, Mission Director and Deputy Mission Director on all issues related to C/SC including GOU policy, USAID commodity procurement and supply chain systems strengthening assistance to the public and private sectors. S/he will monitor the political environment and other donor activities to inform USAID/Uganda's funding and programmatic decisions. 2. Representing USAID/Uganda and its C/SC activities in technical and coordination meetings with the GOU, other donors and non-government and private sector organizations on C/SC. Proactively facilitate a collaborative approach with the MOH and development partners to define the technical, policy and program agenda as it relates to C/SC. Provide technical guidance as appropriate on the planning and mobilization of resources for commodities and local SC capacity building. 3. Providing technical advice and guidance regarding C/SC to the MOH, other donor partners and USAID/USG IPs in order to optimize financing, forecasting, procurement, quality assurance, warehousing and distribution, information management systems, monitoring, evaluation and reporting at the national and facility level. 4. Planning and improving the USAID and USG portfolio on HSS related projects and activities in the public and private health sector of Uganda, notably increasing USAID support in the private sector (not-for-profit and for-profit) through innovative approaches and partnerships to strengthen health services for improved affordability, access and long-term sustainability. 5. Providing technical contributions to USG thematic groups, program designs, budget allocations, strategic planning documents and reporting mechanisms. Thematic groups include: interagency working groups under GHI including PEPFAR and PMI as applicable. Program design work includes: preparation of documents for new and/or follow-on C/SC activities and technical review of other related awards. Budget allocations and strategic planning documents include: Mission Strategies, annual planning and budgeting under GHI, PEPFAR and PMI, as well as coordinated inputs to planning documents among the GOU and development partners. Reporting mechanisms include: U.S. Congressional, GOU or donor group requests; technical briefings; trip reports; site visit briefing documents; speeches; portfolio reviews; semi-annual and annual reports; quarterly financial reports; quality assessments; site monitoring reports; etc. 6. Keeping informed of national and international initiatives, policies and state-of-the-art developments related to C/SC; share information as appropriate with various counterparts. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (35%) The SSCSA is responsible for the managing a complex portfolio of C/SC including the direct management of several programs and serving as principal advisor on numerous others. Health commodity availability and access are lynchpins to the success of nearly every USG-funded activity in the health sector. This includes planning, implementation, management, monitoring, results reporting, advocacy and performance improvement of USAID's C/SC activities, coordinating these activities as needed with other USAID/USG implementing health programs. Specific duties include: 1. Serving as Contracting/Agreement Officer's Technical Representative (C/AOR), or activity manager for programs related to C/SC. Primary responsibility will be managing DO3's bilateral assistance activity of up to $30 million over five years to improve national policies and strategies to support cost-effective use of resources, strengthen country capacity for effective management and utilization of essential medicines and health supplies, and increase availability and access to life saving commodities among priority populations. As C/AOR, or activity manager the SSCSA will: ensure suitable monitoring and reporting systems are in place, providing technical input in the development of Performance Monitoring Plans; review, approve, and ensure compliance with IPs annual work plans and budgets; monitor expenditures and pipelines; provide appropriate and timely funding; conduct regular site visits to monitor activities and verify asset use; guide IPs to adhere to USAID and USG policies and procedures; review all written reports submitted by IPs and furnish feedback; maintain program files, and other duties and responsibilities as outlined in USAID rules, regulations, policies and other forms of appropriate guidance. 2. Coordinating with USAID procurement agents and the DO3 Project Management Specialist for Health Commodities to guide and oversee USAID procurement and distribution of approximately $49 million in medicines and health supplies annually. This includes the forecasting, quantification, procurement and distribution of USAID commodities including contraceptives, condoms, antiretroviral medicines, male circumcision kits, devices and supplies, HIV test kits, HIV related laboratory reagents and supplies, anti-malaria medicines and rapid diagnostic tests, bed-nets, and other medical/laboratory equipment as required for the implementation of HIV/AIDS and health programs. All procurement activities are implemented in compliance with relevant USAID, USG, PEPFAR and PMI guidelines, policies, regulations and procedures. 3. Providing significant technical assistance on C/SC activities across the Mission, PEPFAR, PMI, GHI, and where applicable, FTF. Ensure that all program activities are implemented in compliance with relevant USAID, USG, PEPFAR and PMI guidelines, policies, regulations and procedures. MULTI-AGENCY COORDINATION AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IN C/SC (20%) The SSCSA is the USAID focal point for coordination with various entities of the GOU, other donor agencies, the private sector and civil society on matters relating to C/SC. S/he works to ensure technical and programmatic synergy within USAID/Uganda, USG interagency health C/SC activities, and those of GOU and other development partners and stakeholders. S/he develops strategic partnerships with other donors on coordinated approaches to complex supply chain systems strengthening programs aimed to improve the functioning of the public and private health sector in Uganda, many of which include elements of C/SC. Specific duties include: 1. Representing USAID on all matters of health commodities and supply chain issues with senior level officials in the MOH and among senior donor community representatives. Regular fora include: the MOH Medicines Procurement and Management TWG and Commodity Security Group, HDPs and AIDS Development Partners. Regular partners include: USAID IPs, the MOH Pharmacy Division, NMS, JMS, NDA, Global Fund Field Coordination Office and others as applicable. 2. Providing USAID leadership in fostering strategic partnerships and coordinating commodity procurement and other C/SC support with other donor agencies in order to achieve a coordinated, effective donor response to health commodity and system strengthening requirements across various health programs in the public and private sector. These partnerships have the potential to leverage millions of U.S. Dollars for health systems and C/SC programs in Uganda for greater impact on health outcomes. This requires close collaboration with representatives of Global Fund, DFID, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, GAVI and World Bank as they provide essential support to health, HIV/AIDS and HSS activities. Other contacts for close collaboration include other appropriate non-governmental entities such as Clinton Foundation and others. S/he will also monitor the political environment and other donor activities to inform USAID/Uganda's funding and programmatic decisions. 3. Serving as member of the USAID HSS team and PEPFAR HSS and C/SC technical working groups and other relevant forums in planning and improving the USAID and USG portfolio on health systems strengthening related projects and activities in the public and private health sector of Uganda. S/he will function as the focal point on HSS related issues when required. 4. Providing leadership in developing relationships with the private sector in Uganda to strengthen their supply chain management capacity, performance and sustainability. OTHER (10%) The SSCSA is responsible for other duties related to C/SC and Mission priorities as assigned, including: 1. Participating in the design of new programs and in technical review committees for new and/or follow-on supply chain management and other related awards. 2. Preparing 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. 3. Contributing 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. 4. Keeping 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. 5. Organizing and participating in field visits by external parties that highlight USAID's supply chain management activities. 6. Participating in workshops, special committees, etc. as USAID/Uganda's technical advisor on logistics and supply chain management. 7. Making recommendations to the Mission on program directions and management. 8. Performing any other duties as assigned by the Health and HIV Office Director or his/her designee. Supervision: The SSCSA will be supervised by the HSS Team Leader. For detailed scope of work and evaluation criteria, please send email to gnakaddu@usaid.gov and copy aocen@usaid.gov