Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Closing date: 30 Jun 2010
Location: Uganda - Kampala
Location: Uganda - Kampala
10 077
Job Background/Summary:
CRS is the consortium lead for AIDSRelief program that provides access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) to persons with HIV/AIDS. The project is funded by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). As the lead agency, CRS has the responsibility of managing and coordinating the activities of five consortium members, as well as tracking and reporting on these activities to the donor. The AIDSRelief Uganda program is a multi-year, multi-million dollar project that delivers high quality, durable anti-retroviral therapy (ART) to 25,000 Ugandans. During the second phase, AIDSRelief program requires a more in-depth focus on health systems strengthening and transitioning to indigenous organizations to ensure quality and sustainable health service provision.
The Program Manager II / Health Systems Strengthening (PM/HSS) will lead the process of transitioning the AIDSRelief program oversight to an indigenous organization while overseeing the capacity assessment and development of the Local Transition Partner(s) (LTP) as well as the Local Partner Treatment Facilities (LPTF). This will include but not be limited to governance and leadership, organizational management in strategic planning, health workforce and HR management systems, quality health service delivery, program and financial management systems, strategic information and medical products and technologies. The PM/HSS will work with CRS/AIDSRelief program, program support and technical teams (supply chain and lab) on coordinating the HSS and transition activity planning, implementation and monitoring. The PM/HSS will also work as part of a team within the other AIDSRelief consortium members, which includes medical technical advisors, medical doctors, nurses, laboratory specialists, and the strategic information and IT staff, ensuring the above areas are properly supported. This will require understanding of operational capacities and needs of the Local Partner Treatment Facilities (hospital and clinic) as well as the Local Transition Partner(s). The PM/HSS must have a strong working knowledge of the interdependent roles and relationships within the AR consortium, the donor and AIDSRelief guidelines on transitioning, the country PEPFAR Partnership Framework, and the MOH and other government policies and initiatives.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Health Systems Strengthening of Local Partner Treatment Facilities (approximately 60%):
a. With the support from AIDSRelief consortium members, lead the development, implementation and monitoring of the health systems strengthening framework and implementation strategies.
b. Oversee the design and effective implementation of tools that will help LPTFs improve goal setting, internal communication, cross-departmental cooperation, clarify roles and responsibilities within the institution.
c. Ensure that all HSS initiatives are in compliance with donor and national guidelines and policies and have the necessary support from the key stakeholders throughout the transition process.
d. Oversee the design and effective implementation of tools that will strengthen areas of governance and leadership as well as HR management systems including performance measurement.
e. Work with consortium members and LPTFs to develop systems for continuous quality improvements, with a focus on sustainable systems that will allow institutions to manage future operational challenges.
f. Work with consortium members to assist facilities in developing a plan for integration of HIV clinic services and systems into the wider health system structure of the health facility.
g. Work with regional Performance Based Funding (PBF) team to explore options for the integration of PBF within the AIDSRelief Uganda program.
h. Actively contribute to strategic decision-making, goal setting, and problem solving as a member of the senior management team within AR Uganda and CRS Uganda.
i. Identify other programs focusing on health systems improvement and build linkages with such programs as a way of gaining access to key resources needed to supplement AIDSRelief work in this field.
j. Assist LPTFs and the Local Partner(s) in developing capacity to solicit additional resources for program sustainability.
k. Develop a monitoring and evaluation system for health systems capacity strengthening and transition to local partners.
2. Transitioning to Local Partner(s) (approximately 40%):
a. Lead the Transition Working Group in the development and implementation of a detailed three-year transition plan for AIDSRelief Uganda.
b. Liaise with CDC Uganda, MOH, other key stakeholders and participate in all working groups established for transition.
c. Work in close conjunction with the AIDSRelief Global Sustainability Advisor, ensuring AIDSRelief Uganda transition plans are based on the best practices and lessons learned from other AIDSRelief countries.
d. Work in close conjunction with the Church owners of the LPTFs and their existing faith based health network institutions, and existing local technical organizations to ensure high levels of coordination, communication and ownership in throughout the transition process.
e. Establish a consultative process among AIDSRelief consortium members on identifying local site management partners and technical organizations and establish strong working relations among them.
f. Identify roles and responsibilities that promote stewardship by balancing the strategic and management responsibilities of the local partners with the technical assistance responsibilities of the local technical organizations.
g. Formalize the working relationship among local partner(s) and local technical organization(s) with mutually agreed terms for provision of technical assistance to the sites through sub granting arrangements, or with MOUs.
h. Ensure the smooth and effective transfer of required managerial skills to the local partner(s) in accordance with the agreed upon roles assumed by the local partner(s) in providing overall management of the AIDSRelief program.
i. Coordinate the development and implementation of performance indicators and self-assessment tools to track the progress of the local partner(s) towards transition and to track the LPTFs progress towards greater sustainability.
3. Other duties as assigned:
a. Perform other duties as assigned in liaison with the AR Uganda COP.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Program Manager, Program Support Manager, other CRS AIDSRelief staff, EARO and HQ Health Systems Strengthening team.
External: AIDSRelief Consortium Members, LPTFs, UCMB, UPMB, JMS, Donor and Government representatives.
World Health Organization Building Blocks of an Effective Health Delivery System:
Service delivery - Good health services are those which deliver effective, safe, quality personal and non-personal health interventions to those that need them, when and where needed, with minimum waste of resources.
Medical products, vaccines and technologies - a well-functioning health system ensures equitable access to essential medical products, vaccines and technologies of assured quality, safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness, and their scientifically sound and cost-effective use.
Health workforce - a well-performing health workforce is one that works in ways that are responsive, fair and efficient to achieve the best health outcomes possible, given available resources and circumstances (i.e. there are sufficient staff, fairly distributed; they are competent, responsive and productive).
Health systems financing - a good health financing system raises adequate funds for health, in ways that ensure people can use needed services, and are protected from financial catastrophe or impoverishment associated with having to pay for them. It provides incentives for providers and users to be efficient.
Health information system - a well-functioning health information system is one that ensures the production, analysis, dissemination and use of reliable and timely information on health determinants, health system performance and health status.
Leadership and governance - Leadership and governance involves ensuring strategic policy frameworks exist and are combined with effective oversight, coalition-building, regulation, attention to system-design and accountability.
Qualifications:
1. Masters Degree in Public Health, International Development or a related field; hospital administration experience preferred.
2. Minimum five years overseas development work, substantial involvement of HIV programming preferred.
3. Two to three years of program management and health systems strengthening experience; direct experience working with health service organizations preferred.
4. Proven ability to effectively manage people and to build teams; a track record in capacity building of local partner organizations preferred.
5. Capacity to work closely with, understand, and support local Church partners.
6. Demonstrated work experience in the following areas: organizational policy development; strategic planning; budget planning and monitoring; proposal-development.
7. Experience in implementing US Government-funded projects (PEPFAR preferred).
8. Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge through formal and informal training.
9. Excellent communication and writing skills (fluency in English required).
10. High level of computer proficiency (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); knowledge of HMIS systems preferred.
Personal Skills:
1. Exemplary inter-personal and diplomatic skills; experience working with a consortium a plus.
2. Flexible and able to build consensus; can both build and coordinate a team.
3. Strong analytical and organizational skills.
4. Highly pro-active and self-disciplined.
5. Ability to travel nationally – up to 35% of the time.
EOE/M/F/D/V
How to apply
Please visit, www.crs.org/about/careersReference Code: RW_84XJ23-59