Rwanda: Project Director, Comprehensive HIV Services

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

1. Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Sciences or Medical degree from a recognized university, a relevant advanced degree in a related field is required.
2. Laboratory Scientist, Laboratory Technologist, Clinical Pathologist or Public Health professional, with at least ten (10) years post-qualification experience working in a laboratory setting of which five (5) years must have been in a senior laboratory management position.
3. Registration with the appropriate regulatory authority in Rwanda preferred.
4. Familiarity with and substantial experience of providing technical assistance to Ministries of Health and their laboratories supporting the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of HIV/AIDS in developing countries.
5. Ability to lead and guide strategy development with the MOH, manage technical implementation of proposed project initiatives, as well as ability to supervise, mentor and coach project and government staff.
6. Demonstrated leadership and management abilities.
7. Extensive experience working in Public Health Laboratory service delivery in Rwanda.
8. Understanding and working knowledge of the role of the laboratory in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, TB/HIV, TB DOTS, and PMDT in Rwanda.
9. Familiarity with and experience in implementing local and national laboratory quality assurance and accreditation systems, including the ISO accreditation standards and accreditation process.
10. Knowledge of and experience in laboratory capacity building, monitoring and supervision.
11. Knowledge and recent experience in management and evaluation of current and new technologies, with particular reference to those required for scale-up of HIV programs to reach the 90-90-90 targets to help end the epidemic.
12. Experience with setting up and implementing laboratory information systems.
13. Ability to lead and guide strategy development with the MOH, manage technical implementation of proposed project initiatives, as well as ability to supervise, mentor and coach project and government staff.
14. Knowledge of the health care delivery systems and structures in Rwanda.
15. 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.
16. Experience working with USAID, CDC, WHO, GFATM and other key agencies in Rwanda, an added advantage.
17. Excellent written and spoken communications skills in English and French are required.

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.

https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/9196/project-director%2c-laboratory-services/job