Laboratory Logistics Advisor-- Maputo, Mozambique

Deadline Date: 10/17/2012
Description:
The Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PSCM) is implementing the global Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) contract for the United States Agency for International Development as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The purpose of the contract is to establish and operate a safe, secure, reliable and sustainable supply chain management system to procure pharmaceuticals, laboratory supplies and other products needed to provide care and treatment of persons with HIV/AIDS and related infections.

In the area of Laboratory Logistics, SCMS works to:

• Assist PEPFAR-supported labs working at Ministry of Health sites to:

- Quantify and procure lab reagents, consumables, equipment for routine re-supply to lab sites including equipment for testing platforms in CD4, hematology, biochemistry, microbiology, rapid test devices, and expanding to include point-of-care testing devices as well as handheld devices like hemoglobinometers.
- Quantify and procure the same for surveillance testing and other special studies.
- Collect and analyze data in order to ensure distribution of appropriate quantities of commodities to each lab site.
- Build and maintain a database of equipment and work with vendors to provide preventative maintenance and service to machines.

• Support CMAM´s Zimpeto Central Warehouse for laboratory supplies by building capacity, especially in application of the Warehouse Management Software (WMS) for lab supplies used by non-PEFPAR-supported sites and good storage practices.
• Assist CMAM in the distribution of rapid test kits (RTKs) for HIV and collecting data on their use to drive quantification and routine distribution decisions.
• Support the Clinical Laboratories Section (SLC) of the Ministry of Health (MOH) by building capacity in laboratory logistics, particularly by applying lessons learned from the PEFPAR-supported labs.
• Support the TB Reference Lab and Maputo Central Hospital in supply chain management.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Lead process for defining monthly and quarterly lab vendor order quantities and site resupply quantities by providing timely, quality management information to the Procurement Manager.

2. Ensure HIV test kit and laboratory commodity security by participating in and supervising the preparation and presentation of the following:

- monthly LMIS data collection for the re-supply of SCMS-supplied reagents and consumables to PEPFAR-supported sites.
- monthly rapid HIV test kit distribution planning
- annual test kit and consumables quantifications and procurement plans including at least quarterly updates for SCMS, MOH and external donors’ (e.g. Global Fund) purposes;

3. Lead and supervise the daily work of Laboratory Team and directly supervise members of the team to ensure that the team’s work is (1) technically and logistically sound, (2) collaborative with key Mozambican stakeholders and partners, and (3) timely, based on project work plans;

4. Produce routine reports of lab statistics, preferably including GIS-based presentation of the data to be used by PEFPAR and MOH in allocating resources including new equipment.

5. Serve as a member of the Senior Management Team. Contribute to providing the overall vision and annual workplans for the project to ensure that SCMS workplan activities related to laboratory logistics support the annual plan of action (POA) of the SLC and CMAM. Contribute routine progress reports on the same, including submitting data for the project monitoring plan (PMP).

6. Lead SCMS efforts to build capacity of SCMS, MOH and other PEPFAR partner staff in laboratory logistics by (1) participating in the development of training strategies and plans for national and provincial logistics system implementation activities with relevant team members and partners, (2) providing formal and on-the-job training, (3) staying current with advances and issues in the field of laboratory logistics and lab technology at a global and local level, (4) contributing to the development of the Pharmaceutical Logistics Master Plan (PLMP) and implementation in the area of lab logistics, and (5) participating in supply chain logistics capacity-building activities such as assessments, design workshops, data collection, analysis, and reporting as needed.

7. Assist the MOH with the design, testing, and implementation of sustainable supply chains and laboratory-specific logistics management information systems (LMIS) that collect timely, quality essential logistics data to inform lab resupply decisions and quantification updates and assure proper equipment maintenance.

8. Work in close coordination with lab stakeholders supporting MOH efforts on harmonization and standardization to ensure that procurement and logistics management considerations of reagents, consumables and maintenance of automated testing machines are taken into consideration.

9. Support the CMAM Central Warehouse Laboratory Team in all aspects of warehousing:
- organization of the stock
- appropriate use of the WMS software
- distribution of stock

10. Represent SCMS at technical meetings with USAID, CDC, collaborating partners, senior government officials and/or donor agencies. Participate in the laboratory technical working group, and others, as required.

11. Carry out additional responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time in consultation with the Country Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

The incumbent for this position should possess the following minimum qualifications:

• Logistician, Laboratory Scientist or Technician, or Public Health professional with at least ten (10) years experience working in a supply chain, clinical or laboratory setting.
• At least five (5) years of project management experience, supervisory experience or equivalent leadership/management experience;
• High level of demonstrated proficiency in the use of MS Excel
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of MS Word and Power Point
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to advocate and bring about consensus with senior government officials and numerous stakeholders;
• Fluency in English and excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills in Portuguese/Spanish strongly preferred;
• Ability to travel to the field

The ideal candidate will additionally have the following experience and skills:

• Experience working in HIV/AIDS programs;
• Experience in logistics/supply chain management and/or public health commodities, especially laboratory commodities;
• Experience working on a project in the health sector, funded by USAID;
• Ability to learn new software tools for forecasting and supply planning, data management, and warehouse management.

SUPERVISION AND REPORTING: The Laboratory Logistics Advisor will work under the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Country Director.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online by 10/17/2012.
Laboratory Logistics Advisor-- Maputo, Mozambique