Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is a global health nonprofit that makes foundational changes to health systems to protect people from diseases and improve their health. MSH collaborates with local partners, from the Ministry to the community, to strengthen and complement existing health systems. Since 1971, MSH has worked in more than 150 countries to help ensure sustainable, resilient, and equitable access to quality health care around the globe. 

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Regional Supply Chain Systems Strengthening Specialist provides technical assistance for the implementation of strategies and key interventions to strengthen the health commodity supply chain systems with a focus on Malaria at subnational level in Cameroon, in the PMI regions of the North and Far North. S/he leads and coordinates technical assistance activities to strengthen the supply chain functional areas including decentralized forecasting and supply planning, data validation, data quality, warehousing and inventory control, last mile distribution and transportation of health commodities at regional and district levels. Working under the supervision and guidance of the Supply Chain Advisor- Malaria, the Regional Supply Chain Systems Strengthening Specialist collaborates closely with government counterparts (RDPHs and RFHPs) and the RISE Cameroon team based in Yaoundé, Garoua and Maroua to facilitate the inception and implementation of various SC initiatives at regional and district levels.   

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES 

Overall Supply Chain Systems Assessment and Strategic Interventions including Stakeholders Coordination at Regional level (90%) 

• In coordination with the Supply Chain Advisor – Malaria and RDPHs, facilitate establishment of subnational Malaria Forecasting and Supply Planning (FASP) coordination and collaboration mechanisms 
• In collaboration with RISE-Cameroon Malaria team, DPML and RFHPs, facilitate the implementation of a localized FASP model for malaria that considers regional or demographic factors to cater to specific health product needs to improve the accuracy of local forecasts
• Coordinate and facilitate the training of Regional Quantification Coordination mechanism members and officers on Malaria FASP guidelines, processes, and tools, customized to the regional context. 
• Coordinate and facilitate annual regional malaria quantification and quarterly supply planning exercises and aggregation of demand and consumption data from subnational levels as required.
• Coordinate the regional level supply chain assessments including warehouse capacity optimization initiatives and support implementation of inventory management systems and good storage practices in collaboration with RFHPs and other regional stakeholders
• Support implementation of health commodity distribution strategies including dynamic safety stock optimization, delivery route optimization and collaborative distribution operations bridging between central and service delivery point in the assigned region 
• Support validation, data quality and data use of supply chain data 
• Provide technical assistance for the planning and organization of Malaria specific interventions including Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaigns
• As applicable, support the establishment and management of public-private partnership at regional level.
• In collaboration with the RISE Supply Chain Advisor – Malaria , facilitate training workshops and other supply chain capacity strengthening initiatives at regional level to sustain interventions
• Coordinate and support supportive supervision and mentorship to ensure effective implementation at sub national levels

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (10%) 

• Participate in regular project performance reviews and support the collection and validation of relevant data to report project indicators. 
• Participate in the documentation and dissemination of project results and lessons learned, including the development and submission of project’s mandatory reports, technical documents and reports, and abstracts and articles for scientific journals and conferences. 
• Participate in annual work planning and provide inputs for regular progress reports including quarterly reports, participate and contribute to project meetings, global meetings
• Issue agreements and negotiate rates for local services, per authorized delegation and according to established policy.
• Manage the vendor prequalification process to establish long-term agreements with prequalified vendors and hotels for recurring services
• Maintain an up-to -date electronic filing of all procurement files in SharePoint. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education 

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, medicine, public health, or related fields with 4-6 years of experience, or master’s degree and 2-4 years of experience, or doctorate degree with 1-2 years of experience.

Preferred: 

• Advanced degree
• Trainings in supply chain and/or pharmaceutical management Systems Strengthening preferred

Experience  

Required: 

• At least 4 to 6 years of professional experience in the management or implementation of international development activities related to one or more SC or PM areas for applicants with bachelor’s degree, 2-4 years of experience for applicants with master’s degree, or 1 to 2 years of experience for applicants with doctorate degree.

Preferred: 

• Experience in supply chain management, pharmaceutical management, use of technology; supply chain information systems, data management and data use for decision making. 
• Experience with malaria health programs including SMC and bed net campaigns
• Professional experience working in or interacting with subnational level supply chain stakeholders, including government and non-governmental organizations. 
• Experience working in partnership with U.S. Government agencies, international donors, or other multilateral agencies.
• Former MSH experience.

Knowledge and Skills 

• Knowledge of the Cameroon health system, particularly the health commodity supply chain systems and functions at regional, district and service delivery point level
• Experience in Cameroon’s various health programs such as Malaria, HIV, FP/RMNCH. 
• Excellent analytical skills, meticulous attention to details in planning and executing activities.
• Proven coordination, collaboration and interpersonal skills in building and coordinating among different supply chain stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work in autonomy with solid accountability mechanism 
• Proficiency in MS Suits particularly in MS-Excel, MS-PPT, PS-WORD and other software packages such as existing supply chain software and forecasting tools being used in the Cameroon health systems
• Fluency in French oral and written communication is required and bilingual in English is preferred. 
• An understanding of and experience in the in-country political-economic obstacles to reforms desirable.
• Demonstrated understanding of the challenges and opportunities for achieving self-reliance in Cameroon and other LMICs.
• Proven experience collaborating effectively in teams of skilled senior experts.