Locations: Addis Ababa
Organization: Management Sciences for Health (MSH)
Job Description
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES:
The SCS Activity Supply Chain Program Manager for Malaria and MNCH is responsible for providing technical assistance in demand planning, procurement, and logistics for Malaria and MNCH -related health commodities. The manager works closely with government stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS), to ensure an efficient and responsive supply chain system for Malaria and MNCH products. This role focuses on optimizing the supply chain by evaluating processes to minimize waste, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency.
The manager ensures proper storage, distribution, and quality assurance of Malaria and MNCH commodities, supporting both public and private sector counterparts in strengthening supply chain operations. By ensuring data-driven decision-making and alignment with national health programs, the advisor contributes to a sustainable and resilient health supply chain, ultimately improving access to Malaria and MNCH commodities. Additionally, the manager plays a key role in capacity-building efforts, transferring critical knowledge and skills to MOH and EPSS teams to enhance long-term supply chain management capabilities.
SPECIFIC RESPONIBILITIES:
Under supervision of the Supply Chain Management Lead and in close collaboration with technical teams in SCS Activity, the Malaria and MNCH Program Manager will carry out the following responsibilities:
- Provide strategic support in developing pharmaceutical supply chain strategies, projects, and action plans while advising EPSS leadership on initiatives to enhance Malaria and MNCH supply chain efficiency and effectiveness.
- Collaborate with the National malaria commodities Ministry of Health (MoH), Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service (EPSS), USAID, USAID Malaria and MNCH program units and partners, and other stakeholders to monitor the Malaria and MNCH commodity supply chain, ensuring the quantification, procurement and availability of the right quantities of the commodities at all levels of the supply chain system.
- Provide expert guidance to SCS management and staff on Malaria and MNCH -related health policies, strategies, interventions, and innovations.
- Work with public and private sector partners to implement Malaria and MNCH supply chain activities across the country, ensuring alignment with national health program objectives.
- Collaborate with the SCS team, EPSS, and other key stakeholders to design and implement supply chain strengthening strategies, tools, and approaches to improve Malaria and MNCH commodity availability while conducting and supporting supply management assessments to evaluate and enhance supply chain operations.
- Provide technical assistance to MoH, EPSS, and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) in translating national policies into regional and woreda-level implementation guidelines.
- Provide technical leadership on Malaria prevention and management, particularly highly malaria areas, supporting the effective distribution and utilization of essential health commodities.
- Compile, evaluate, and maintain an evidence base on Malaria and MNCH -related supply chain challenges and best practices to inform advocacy, policy dialogue, and planning efforts with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs), Woreda health teams, and implementing partners.
- Collaborate with SCS team, EPSS, and other key stakeholders to design and implement supply chain strengthening strategies, tools, and approaches to improve Malaria and MNCH commodity availability.
- Serve as a liaison between cooperating agencies and regional and woreda-level supply chain actors to enhance coordination and problem-solving.
- Support forecasting and supply planning for Malaria and MNCH commodities, including new pediatric formulations, ensuring an uninterrupted supply of Malaria and MNCH products.
- Ensure timely collection, analysis, and submission of data required for USAID reporting, adhering to contract-specified deadlines.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation of Malaria and MNCH supply chain activities, progress, challenges, and mitigation plans, providing regular reports to key stakeholders.
- Monitor stock levels of Malaria and MNCH commodities at EPSS warehouses and health facilities, collaborating with relevant partners to recommend appropriate supply chain responses.
- Track the progress of Malaria and MNCH supply chain activities against established key performance indicators (KPIs) and propose corrective actions as needed.
- Train and mentor pharmacists and health workers on Malaria and MNCH commodity quantification, ordering processes, and best practices.
- Assess MOH and EPSS technical staff training needs, provide onsite technical support and organize capacity-building initiatives to enhance supply chain management skills.
- Collaborate with EPSS leadership at different levels to forecast resource needs, plan for timely provisions, and facilitate necessary management approvals.
- Ensure compliance with USAID regulations, MSH policies, and industry best practices in supply chain and quality management.
- Promote the institutionalization and sustainability of supply chain strengthening initiatives through engagement, capacity-building, thorough documentation, and effective communication of achievements.
- Perform additional responsibilities assigned by the supervisor in alignment with the overall objectives of the role.
QUALIFICATIONS
A) EDUCATION/TRAINING: Advanced degree in Pharmacy, Supply Chain Management, Public Health or a closely related field; or a commensurate combination of education and professional experience.
B) EXPERIENCE: Minimum of seven (7) years of pharmaceutical supply chain professional experience, with at least three (3) years of specialized experience supply chain management of Malaria and MNCH commodities and other public health commodities.
Preferred experience with international development organizations.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience working on a U.S. government or other donor-funded project, or with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the procurement of health products, is preferred.
C) KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
- Deep understanding of the operational and programmatic aspects of major public health programs, such as Malaria, and MNCH, including their specific commodity requirements in Ethiopia.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the Ethiopian pharmaceutical supply chain sector and related regulations, especially the supply management of health program commodities.
- Demonstrated ability to work with other implementing partners in implementing complex programs.
- Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.
- Hands-on skill on supply chain data generation, data analysis and report writing
- Strong organizational abilities and proven capacity to collaborate effectively within a team-oriented environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and effective communication abilities, with a demonstrated capacity to identify and resolve operational challenges.
- Demonstrated flexibility and the ability to prioritize and manage a wide range of tasks and activities.
- In-depth knowledge of the Ethiopian public health sector and prior work experience in Ethiopia is highly preferred. Especially, the ability to analyze and interpret public health policies related to SCM of Malaria and MNCH is preferred.
- Strong leadership, mentoring, management, planning, analytical and organizational skills. These will be demonstrated in the ability to work both independently and within a team, assess priorities, and manage a variety of activities with attention to detail.
D) CORE JOB COMPETENCIES:
- Results seeker – Proactive, meets deadlines, identifies actions, and achieves goals.
- Innovator – thinks creatively, anticipates changes, and produces solutions.
- Adaptor – stays calm under pressure and handles constructive criticism well.
- Complier – follows procedures and encourages others to do as well.
MSH is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, religion, creed, citizenship, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job requirements. MSH will take affirmative action to ensure that qualified applicants are employed and that employees are treated without regard to their race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran and disability status.
