MSH seeks candidates for the position of Project Director for an anticipated CDC bid in Rwanda with the objective of institutionalizing sustainable national health, laboratory and strategic information (SI) systems by supporting the provision of technical assistance and strategic planning to the Rwandan Ministry of Health (MOH) and other partnering institutions.
The Project Director is responsible for achieving required project results through effective project planning and management, technical advising, administration and oversight, monitoring and evaluation and donor relationship management. S/he will be responsible for the overall management and implementation of the project and will work closely with the designated CDC staff, the home office based support staff, the MOH, and other local partners. S/he ensures project implementation progresses as planned, serves as the principal interlocutor with CDC and the Government of Rwanda and ensures the program meets stated goals and reporting requirements. S/he will lead a team comprising of four key personnel.
The Project Director serves as the representative of the Project and will be the point of contact in Rwanda for all purposes of this project, unless delegations of authority are presented to and agreed by the CDC CTO.
The Project Director also serves as lead technical advisor for the Laboratory Services component of the project. The objective of the Laboratory Services component will be to strengthen laboratory services to support an affordable, optimal, sustainable, quality and standardized national clinical services program in Rwanda. S/he will work towards improved linkages of children to HIV care and ability to monitor HIV patients VL suppression, increased accuracy and reliability of HIV diagnosis in country and increased quality laboratory practices and services by MOH staff.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Results:
- Oversees implementation of program activities and provides high quality technical and strategic leadership, managerial oversight, and administration of the project.
- Serves as the primary project liaison from MSH to the donor and is accountable for the achievement of results, ensuring quality of services is maintained at the highest standard, and that all project objectives and deliverables are met.
- Safeguard MSH’s reputation by ensuring that financial, contractual, technical, and political integrity is maintained and strengthened.
Technical Strategy and Vision:
- Develop (update and adapt as needed) and execute project results framework, performance monitoring plan, technical strategy, M&E plan and annual work plans as per contract/agreement requirements, MSH technical frameworks and standards, and RMS guidelines.
- Ensure appropriate and timely documentation and dissemination of key results and deliverables for maximum project impact and business development using a variety of communication strategies and media.
Project and People Management:
- Ensure effective contract/agreement implementation in strict compliance with contract/agreement clauses, MSH and donor policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Ensure project staffing, structure and reporting relationships are aligned with project needs, local context and available resources.
Client and other Stakeholder Relationships:
- Build and maintain strong working relations with key internal and external stakeholders, beneficiaries, prime and subcontractors, suppliers and partners. Provide effective and timely responses to inquiries and concerns.
Technical Coordination of Laboratory Services Component:
- Provide technical assistance to develop a plan for BLIS implementation and train staff to support laboratory information system in Rwanda medical laboratory network.
- Assess current lab practices and workflow for electronic data management.
- Customize and implement BLIS at selected sites especially those performing VL and EID testing by facilitating the collection, storage, analysis, and reporting of data.
- Ensure human resources training on the BLIS software using direct and train-the-trainer approaches.
- Evaluate BLIS implementation approach and experiences in each facility and propose way to optimize the performance.
- Provide technical assistance for RTQII site certification and rapid test kits post –marked surveillance.
- Develop a policy and procedures for RTQII site certification, competency assessment of the personnel performing HTC, lot-release testing for rapid test post-marketing surveillance to ensure quality of HIV testing services.
- Ensure training of RTQII human resources using training curricula with adequate hands-on sessions for HTC, interpretation, and troubleshooting.
- Develop an M&E plan for quality improvement of RTQII through proficiency testing, data capture, analyses, performance measure and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
- Conduct an audit of the Quality of HIV Rapid Testing in Rwanda.
- Develop and establish a strategy for a sustainable and regulated laboratory network.
- Develop a sustainability plan for NRL and Lab Network to transition PEPFAR funding by 2020 and update the regulatory framework of medical laboratories in Rwanda.
QUALIFICATIONS
- MPH, MBA or master's level degree in related field.
- Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in technical content relevant to the project.
- Demonstrated leadership and management abilities.
- Prior experience and success directing similar or larger international donor-funded projects.
- Familiarity with CDC regulations and administrative procedures in the implementation of donor assisted projects.
- Proven record of aligning diverse, multi-level teams with project mission and vision. Track record of strong commitment to sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing credit.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with government agencies, NGOs, private sector groups, USAID CAs, and donor organizations.
- Demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills.
- Understanding and working knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment.
- Min of 7 years’ experience working in clinical and public health laboratories in developing countries, with at least 3 years in a laboratory management position.
- Familiarity with and substantial experience of providing technical assistance to laboratories supporting the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of HIV/AIDS in developing countries.
- Experience working with USAID, CDC, WHO, GFATM and other key agencies in Rwanda, an added advantage.
- Fluency in English.
Reports To
Senior Manager
Background Information
Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. Since its founding in 1971, MSH has worked in over 150 countries with policy makers, health professionals, and health care consumers to improve the quality, availability and affordability of health services. Working with governments, donors, non governmental organizations, the private sector, and health agencies, MSH responds to priority health problems such as HIV & AIDS; tuberculosis; malaria; maternal, newborn and child health; family planning and reproductive health; and chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and lung and heart disease. Through strengthening capacity, investing in health systems innovation, building the evidence base, and advocating for sound public health policy, MSH is committed to making a lasting difference in global health.
EEO Statement
Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or veteran status.
