Improvement Associate - Community Systems Strengthening, Iringa, Morogoro, Njombe and Shinyanga, Tanzania

University Research Co., LLC (URC)URC is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With a non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 45 countries, including the United States.Established in 1965, URC offers a range of technical assistance to strengthen health and social systems and service quality by empowering communities and health workers to identify and scale up locally appropriate solutions to critical problems. Internationally, we expand access to and improve the quality of services addressing maternal, newborn, and child health; infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; reproductive health and family planning; food and nutrition; and vulnerable children and families. In the US, we focus on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.URC's mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide. Please join us in carrying out our mission (http://www.urc-chs.com/).BackgroundThe USAID Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems Project (ASSIST) is implemented by University Research Co; LLC through USAID funds. The project support the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) structures to improve a range of health care processes through the application of modern improvement methods to optimize the effectiveness, efficiency, client-centeredness, safety, accessibility and equity of the health care programs. In pursuance of these objectives, the project is recruiting additional staff as detailed below to support improvement activities countrywide. Suitable candidate eligible to work in Tanzania are invited to apply.Purpose of the PositionThe Improvement Associate will be posted to the regions but will report to the ASSIST Technical Advisor and will provide technical oversight, coaching and mentoring to facility service providers and community groups providing health care service in Iringa, or Njombe or Morogoro or Shinyanga, through increased participation, accountability and effective and transparent engagement between service users, providers at facility and stakeholders at community levels as well as local decision makers.Responsibilities1. Facilitate care improvement and harmonization

• Facilitate dialogue and build collective purpose among health care providers at the community and facilitate levels through joint planning and supervision.
• Facilitate development of care improvement infrastructure with defined leadership, coaches, improvement teams and clear targets.
• In collaboration with the community care improvement coaches, travel to villages to provide technical support to community improvement efforts.
• Attend monthly community care improvement team meetings
• Provide ongoing support to the Community care improvement team
• Work with Facility and Community care improvement teams to identify implementation gaps and suggest solutions
• Support facility and community QI teams on proper documentation to facilitate data collection analysis and use at site2. Capacity building and coordination
• In coordination with the ASSIST Quality Improvement Associates provides orientation training and technical support to community care improvement coaches
• Work closely with District and Ward Community Development officers to build their capacity on CHSS implementation
• Participate in community group meetings to provide support on inclusion of community HIV and AIDS agenda during group meetings
• Support community improvement coaches in orientation of village improvements teams
• Act as a liaison between the district, health facility and community groups.3. Monitoring and Evaluation
• Work closely with District and Ward Community Development Officers to provide quarterly updates to local government at district and community levels on progress of implementation of Community linkages activities
• Work closely with the health facilities to support community QI coaches with data collection, interpretation, reporting and utilization locally
• Attend facility QIT meetings
• Attends monthly reflection meeting s of community care improvement teams
• During the care improvement team meeting, assist community QI coaches with collecting and synthesizing data
• Ensure that the community QI coaches report monthly data to the health facilities , simplify and share the data during coaching
• Maintain a journal of improvement changes, best practices, and cases for case studiesRequirements:
• The candidate must live in Iringa or Morogoro or Njombe and Shinyanga regions
• Best if s/he has license to drive a motorcycle
• Must be comfortable riding a motorcycle in villages
• Eligible to live and work in TanzaniaQualifications, Skills and ExperiencesCompetencies (knowledge and skills):
• Understanding of the Community Health Systems Strengthening
• Knowledge on the methodology of care improvement
• Knowledge of community linkages objectives and indicators
• Knowledge of the reporting and communicating structure
• Knowledge of HIV care, treatment ,support and prevention servicesEducation and experience
• Certificate or diploma in community development or social welfare, health, social science, or a relevant field.
• At least 2- 3 years experience working in community healthTo Apply: For immediate consideration, please send your resume and cover letter to HRTanzania@urc-chs.com.