Senior Malaria Advisor, DOS LEAP Global - Sierra Leone

ZemiTek LLC•Bethesda, MD

About The Position

The Senior Malaria Advisor will support the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) service delivery in full alignment with the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives. The primary focus of the Advisor will be technical leadership to ensure the successful implementation of cost-effective, lifesaving direct service delivery for malaria prevention and treatment. The Senior Malaria Advisor will provide expert malaria technical guidance to the NMCP and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the design and management of in-country programs/projects/activities and in the development of host-country policies, reflecting best practices in malaria prevention and control. The jobholder will identify programmatic bottlenecks and facilitate solutions through coordinated technical expertise in support of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) implementation plan. The Senior Malaria Advisor will be based at the NMCP within the MOH. The Advisor will receive day-to-day direction from the NMCP Program Manager, who will serve as the onsite Manager/Supervisor. The Advisor will report to the U.S. Department of State on a weekly and monthly basis, as described below.

Requirements

Master’s degree or local equivalent from an accredited program in Public Health, International Development, Health, Social or Behavioral Sciences, Epidemiology, Biology, Infectious Disease, Medicine, Pharmacy, or immunization.
Minimum of 7 years’ experience in public health, with a strong focus on malaria, preferably in a similar setting.
Prior experience working with or for bilateral or multilateral donors/stakeholders such as the World Bank, the Global Fund, or national-level public sector projects and ensuring compliance with U.S. Government rules and regulations.
Demonstrated ability to review, analyze and advise all aspects of malaria programming at national and state level.
Up to date knowledge of ongoing and emerging issues in malaria, like epidemiology, international policy, evidence development and malaria control strategies, new drugs and new diagnostics.
Experience working with key stakeholders in malaria programming, preferably the national stakeholders and international donors.
Ability to manage a complex portfolio of laboratory network strengthening.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a cross-cultural work environment.
Excellent written and oral communication in English and report writing skills.
Good computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office Programs.
Excellent organizational, planning, negotiating and problem-solving skills.
Experience with DOS funded public health programs.

Responsibilities

Provide expert malaria technical guidance to advance planning and implementation of malaria control interventions.
Support the development of national malaria program strategies and work plans.
Coordinate the design, planning and implementation of malaria prevention and control activities consistent with the US government’s strategy and with the NMCP. This will include but is not limited to vector control, case management at facility and community level, chemoprevention, support for malaria vaccine implementation, malaria in pregnancy, procurement and delivery of life-saving commodities, and associated monitoring and surveillance to ensure accountability and track progress.
Provide limited expert maternal and child health guidance to the extent that it contributes to improved malaria outcomes.
Together with the host country partners, provide the technical and managerial expertise to MOH health districts and local communities to strengthen institutional capacity.
Keep abreast of current developments and successful interventions via regular engagement with malaria experts (domestic and international) and NMCP officials, ensuring proven strategies and interventions are integrated in national malaria programming.
Ensure that U.S. government resources are maximized towards achievement of sustained results in malaria in line with U.S. government laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to prevent fraud, waste and abuse.
Provide technical support to the Department of State implementing partners and managerial support as needed during the planning, design and implementation phases to ensure the quality of interventions and programmatic targets are met.
Recommend changes in strategic and/or implementation approaches, using analysis of program performance.
Work with partners (in country and global, as relevant) to ensure that programmatic commodities are purchased in a timely and cost-effective manner; and that absorptive capacity exists in implementation sites to receive, manage and distribute these items effectively. Participate in forecasting and quantification meetings to inform malaria commodity quantifications that will guide donor procurements. Troubleshoot bottlenecks in the ordering and delivery process.
Provide expert advice and practical experience in helping the MoH, the NMCP and other partners to monitor inputs, outputs and outcomes, and report on the program’s overall impact.
If not already in existence, work with the NMCP and other partners to develop and maintain a monitoring and evaluation plan to be implemented through existing MoH systems and existing USG supported mechanisms. Carry out monitoring and evaluation visits to implementation sites to ascertain all quantitative and qualitative data is collected properly, and programmatic quality and value for money are maintained.
Ensure effective communication and coordination between the NMCP, MoH and other partners related to malaria prevention and control; Global Fund partners including other departments in the host country; donor agencies; and other stakeholders working on malaria control in the host country, as appropriate.
Ensure malaria activities are integrated into overall U.S. Department of State-supported health activities and coordinate these activities with the NMCP and MoH to avoid duplication of effort and programming gaps.
Coordinate with other partners and support efforts to address malaria control delivery gaps and help build technical and managerial capacity within the NMCP at the national, district and lower levels.
Participate in and contribute to malaria related service delivery meetings hosted by the NMCP and others.
Regular conference calls with NMCP, partners, US Embassy and Washington to review progress, discuss activities and address emerging issues.
The Senior Malaria Advisor should provide information and avail him/herself for calls/meetings with the US Embassy as requested.
The Advisor will provide monthly reports to the US Embassy/U.S. Department of State.
The Senior Advisor will provide a detailed monthly report to the U.S. Department of State at the end of each month. Additionally, the Advisor may be required to submit additional reports at the discretion of the U.S. Department of State and LEAP Global. The format for reporting may be adjusted with concurrence from the COR.