Strengthening Public Health Laboratory Systems in the Republic
of Kenya under PEPFAR
Position Description
Title: Technical Director / Deputy
Project Director
Band: 7
Location: Kenya
Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is a nonprofit
international health organization founded in 1971. Our mission is to save lives
and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by
closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.
Together with our partners, we are helping managers and leaders
in developing countries to create stronger management systems that improve
health services for the greatest health impact.
The Project goal is to strengthen and expand public health
laboratory systems and develop indigenous capacity in Kenya to support HIV
prevention, treatment and care as part of the Presidents Emergency Plan for
AIDS relief.
Overall Responsibilities:
The Technical Director /Deputy Project Director will lead,
direct, mentor and monitor the team of local technical laboratory staff
carrying out approved activities to strengthen laboratory systems and services
in Kenya in order to support and improve HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
programs.
In collaboration with the Project Director, she will contribute
significantly to providing the overall vision, strategic direction and
state-of-the-art technical approaches for the project.
She willdetermine the scopes of work and will work closely with
the project’s M&E specialist in the negotiation of performance indicators
and targets to ensure that expectations and required results are fully
understood.
She will monitor the project’s technical progress against
benchmarks to ensure that project deliverables are met and supervise relevant
project support functions.
She will demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of technical skills
and utilization of effective, up-to-date methods of providing technical
assistance and building local capacity.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Lead
and supervise the project technical activities to ensure that the work is
technically and logistically sound, collaborative, timely, and is
conducted in line with the donor-approved project work plan and budget.
- Ensure
that technical work plans and budgets and individual staff action plans
are developed and implemented in a timely manner and that the various
activities and outputs are clearly linked to the overall project
performance monitoring plan.
- With
the Project Director, ensure that the project has adequate staff to carry
out high-quality work and that staff are recruited and hired in accordance
with project requirements.
- Supervise
the laboratory technical staff, as assigned. Supervisory responsibilities
include, but are not limited to regular meetings with supervisees to
discuss issues, track progress, provide guidance and support, and ensure
consistent quality of work performed; conducting Performance Planning and
Reviews; communicating, implementing and ensuring adherence to MSH
policies, guidelines and values; developing staff skills and knowledge;
approving time sheets; and facilitating supervisee success whenever
possible.
- Act
as the main point of contact for the subcontractor (AMREF) and short term
consultants and oversee their performance.
- Work
with the Project Director to prepare and present annual and quarterly
project progress and technical reports to MSH, CDC/USG, MOH and other
partners.
- In
partnership with the Project Director, meet regularly with senior
Government of Kenya officials, CDC, collaborating partners, and other
stakeholders to share progress, accomplishments and challenges and to
advocate and ensure technical assistance activities result in skills
transfer in sustainable ways. Consult frequently with CDC on the
current and future strategic direction of the project.
- Act
as the deputy to the Project Director and serve as a member of the Senior
Project Management Team.
- Perform
other duties as required.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Basic
medical or science degree from a recognized university, plus a higher
qualification (Doctoral or Master’s Degree) in clinical pathology, microbiology,
public health or related field essential
- Clinical
Pathologist,Laboratory Scientistor Public Health professional, with at
least 8 years’ experience at a senior level in managing clinical and
public health laboratories essential.
- Be
registered with the appropriate regulatory authority such as
the Kenya Medical Practitioners’ and Dentists Board , Kenya Medical
Laboratory Technicians’ and Technologists’ Board ( KMLTTB).
- Experience
in implementing and managing CDC, USAID, WHO, GFATM or other donor-funded
health projects related to laboratory systems development, preferred
- Ability
to guide strategy development, manage technical implementation of projects
and lead a team as well as ability to supervise, mentor and coach other
project staff.
- Experience
in monitoring and evaluating project outputs and ensuring timely
completion of project activities in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability
to work independently as well as in collaboration with colleagues and
partners.
- Strong
interpersonal communication skills and ability to advocate and bring about
consensus with senior government officials and numerous stakeholders.
- Computer
literacy; competency with Office, internet and email systems.
- Fluency
in English and Swahili is required, and ability to work in other local
languages is a plus.
- Willingness
and availability to travel extensively within Kenya and elsewhere as
required.
Please
apply by going to https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/5571/technical-director-deputy-project-director/job and sending Curriculum Vitea.