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About HJFMRI Tanzania Program

The Walter Reed Program Tanzania (WRP-T) is a collaborative effort that supports PEPFAR-funded HIV prevention and treatment activities in the Southern Highlands and within the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces (TPDF). HJF Medical Research International, Inc Tanzania (HJFMRI-T) is a local non-profit that has supported these efforts since 2004 for the Walter Reed Army institute of Research (WRAIR). PEPFAR activities are conducted in close collaboration with the Tanzania Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children; and the President’s Office of the Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG), through the Regional and Council Health Management Teams.

HJFMRI-T provides care and treatment to people affected by HIV/AIDS, and has been actively involved in HIV and AIDS programming, providing resources, personnel, and services to the Southern Highlands Zone. The program has expanded from supporting the Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital to becoming a hub for anti-retroviral treatment in the zone; to community support through decentralized services, with the overall objective of implementing research, clinical HIV, prevention, care, and treatment services. HJFMRI-T currently focuses specifically on four regions in the Southern Highlands zone, namely Mbeya, Rukwa, Katavi, Songwe and Ruvuma for VMMC services only. The program also supports TPDF to implement comprehensive HIV prevention care and treatment program in 21 sites throughout the country.

HJF Medical Research International, Inc. Tanzania (HJFMRI-T) is seeking qualified candidates to fill the positions listed below:

Job Title: Program Pharmacy Technical Advisor (PPTA)

Location: Mbeya

Duration: 12 Months (with an option to renew based on the availability of funding and need)

General overview

The Program Pharmacy Technical Advisor (PPTA) is the technical lead personnel responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating all supply chain activities for HJFMRI/WRP-T HIV/ AIDS programs. He or she works closely with the Associate Director of Clinical Services and the Logistic Management unit of the Ministry of Health Community Development Gender Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC), Medical stores Department (MSD), local partners and stakeholders for the development and implementation of supply chain procedures in support to adequate medicine quantification, procurement, warehousing, inventory management, ordering/issuing, and distribution.

The PPTA provides technical leadership and direction for developing and implementing innovative strategies and activities to support the strengthening of supply management systems in the Southern Highland Zone. The PPTA will also work with other WRP Regional teams to develop and deploy appropriate logistics management information systems that support the planning and monitoring of supply chain operations. He or she supports supply chain capacity-building efforts and ensures that systems and processes are in place to assure the continuous availability of key program commodities. The PPTA ensures activities are based on the annual HJFMRI-approved Supply chain work plan. The full-time position is at HJFMRI/WRP Office in Mbeya, Tanzania, with

40% and 5% Domestic and Foreign travel, respectively, and reports to the Associate Director of Clinical Services.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Associate Director of Clinical Services in the development of Supply Chain work plans and budgets as they relate to supply chain activities. Provide input into updating and implementing the annual work plan and budget for PEPFAR supported Medicine for Opportunistic Infections.
• Provide technical assistance to WRP Regional teams and local partners to quantify HIV/AIDS products and other key commodities, including establishing appropriate forecasting and supply planning mechanism and information systems to assure the availability of data necessary for adequate quantification.
• Collaborate with the WRP Regional Teams and local partners to ensure that effective and efficient warehousing and distribution systems are in place for HIV/AIDS medicines and other key commodities.
• Participate in identifying and prioritizing capacity development activities to strengthen national and regional level pharmaceutical supply chains, and build expertise in monitoring and supervision in collaboration with WRP Regional Teams and other relevant team members and partners. Develop and implement appropriate training and supervision programs.
• Provide technical assistance to WRP-SC team and other treatment partners on 01 medicine issues, including drug product quantification, procurement, and distribution.
• Represent the HJFMRI/WRP program at various technical meetings with other cooperating agencies, collaborating partners, senior government officials, and/or donor agencies in matters related to the supply chain.
• Provide technical assistance to assess current HIV/AIDS pharmaceutical management practices and develop action plans and recommendations to address priority issues to improve the related supply chain’s effectiveness.
• Provide TA to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for inventory management and other aspects of supply chain management that will assure the availability and quality of medicines and other commodities.
• Provide supervision to other SCM team members and be held accountable for their performance management (including regular results, check-ins, formal appraisals, supportive supervision, rewards, training, coaching, and career development support).
• Monitor and document progress of activities toward achieving results of the supply chain activities of the approved HJFMRI/WRP-T work plan through periodic measurements of indicators.
• Participate in developing regular quarterly and semi-annual reports on the work plan for Supply chain activities for HJFMRI/WRP HI/AIDS program as needed. The PPTA is also expected to draft regular activity progress reports, closely monitor activities assigned to the Regional SC team to meet results and budget targets.
• Provide technical assistance to WRP Regional team and other treatment partners in the area of Pharmacovigilance.
• Produce any other ad hoc reports or updates on activities, as required or requested by Donors.
• Make regular presentations of results and progress to stakeholders. Participate and make representations on relevant program work in technical meetings as needed.
• Facilitate the work of external consultants as required.
• Undertake other relevant activities as requested by the Associate Director of Clinical Services
• Organizing and Coordinating Commodity and Performance review meetings in Mbeya, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Songwe, and Katavi Regions.
• Assist the Regional teams in the development of Scope of works and budgeting of all activities related to supply chain, commodity management, and performance review meetings
• Organize for the necessary logistics involvement for teams to conduct the meetings.
• Liaise with Region Technical Coordinators to consolidate meeting resolutions (supply chain and commodity management) and share with teams of implementers
• In collaboration with Regional Technical Coordinators, R/CHMTs supervise implementations of all agreed resolutions (supply chain and commodity management) at the site level.
• Works with the various Departments Lab, M&E, Outreach, CQI, Contracts, and program teams (Advisors), for Identification and prioritization of Expectations and Core Essential activities for implementation by WRP Regional teams.

Knowledge and Qualifications

• A basic degree in pharmacy (Bachelor Pharmacy or it’s equivalent) with the added advantage of Masters of Public Health
• Five years of post-training experience as a practicing pharmacist
• Three of these should be in direct HIV/AIDS service provision.
• Three years’ experience in planning and budgeting pharmacy-related commodities
• Five years’ experience in logistics management information system
• Understanding of MOHCDGEC structure and operating system
• Understanding the policies and practices of the Tanzania national commodity management system
• Basic understanding of the USG commodity management system
• Basic training and experience in adherence counseling are preferred.
• Leadership and management experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior colleagues, particularly interacting with government agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and donor agencies
• Good communication skills
• Proficiency in the use of the English language, both oral and written
• Basic computer skills, including use of software-based recording and reporting of pharmacy services

HOW TO APPLY

Cover letters and resumes should be sent by mail through post/EMS/DHL/ or any reliable Courier to the Human Resources and Administration Manager, P.O. Box 6396, Mbeya, or sent through e-mail to recruitment@wrp.or.tz.

NOTE: To be considered, applicants must put the TITLE OF THE JOB in the SUBJECT LINE. “CVs should not include any reference to marital status, birthplace, or tribal or religious affiliations. Any CVs containing this information will not be considered for employment”. Applications that are hand-delivered will not be accepted.

The deadline for submitting the application is December 31, 2020. Those who do not meet the minimum requirements, as detailed in the job description above, will not be considered.