Procurement and Supply Management Country Lead for USAID Global Health and Supply Chain project Full Time

SGS is looking for a country lead in Tanzania to strengthen the national supply chain for USAID’s Global Health and Supply Chain project.

Overall Description

The Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project is the primary vehicle through which USAID 1) procures and provides health commodities, 2) provides technical assistance to improve partner countries’ management of the supply chain, and 3) collaborates with key international stakeholders to support global health initiatives. There are four task orders for the project: TO1: HIV/AIDS; TO2: Malaria; TO3: Family Planning and Reproductive Health; and TO4: Maternal and Child Health and Zika.

The Procurement and Supply Management Country Lead shall be the primary and strategic interface on behalf of GHSC-PSM. As part of the role, the Procurement and Supply Management Country Lead will liaise with relevant partners including Tanzania Mainland entities (Ministry of Health, TMDA, TRA, TBS, MSD, etc.), Zanzibar entities (Ministry of Health, ZFDA, ZBS, ZMS, etc.), implementing partners (GHSC-TA TZ, NextGen, T-MARC, TVCA, etc.), USAID, as well as GHSC-PSM headquarters (PMU, procurement teams, deliver/return, etc.) to ensure that all stakeholders are informed of program requirements, procurement status, changes, challenges, etc. related to the procurement and delivery of GHSC-PSM-procured commodities. As part of their responsibilities, the Procurement and Supply Management Country Lead shall maintain communications protocols and roles and responsibilities matrices while looking for efficiencies in current procurement and delivery processes.

This position shall report to the GHSC-PSM Tanzania PMU Director and will work alongside several GHSC-PSM headquarters teams including: (a) Integrated Supply Chain Teams; (b) Forecast and Supply Planning Team; and (c) the GHSC-PSM Deliver Return Team.  Additionally, the Procurement and Supply Management Country Lead will coordinate closely with the GHSC-TA TZ (or NextGen) leadership, including the GHSC-TA TZ demand planning team, as well as NASHCoP’s lab advisor and HIV/AIDS supply chain advisor.

The Procurement and Supply Management Country Lead will oversee the Procurement and Logistics Manager and Commodity Logistics Associate coordinating and providing essential in-country support regarding all Tanzania stakeholder government relationships and managing their understanding of the GHSC-PSM project.

Specific Responsibilities:

Represent GHSC-PSM in Tanzania

• Liaise with and provide updates to the Activity Manager or his/her designee at the USAID Tanzania Mission, as well as serve as the key focal point for all Tanzanian ministries and bureaus with which GHSC-PSM interacts.
• Work to advance strategic priorities of GHSC-PSM in Tanzania, as directed by the GHSC-PSM leadership.
• Serve as the primary focal point for ARV and laboratory procurements in Tanzania, providing support to the Procurement and Logistics Manager for malaria, family planning/reproductive health, and VMMC procurements.
• Review, update, and revise procurement trackers for the relevant commodity categories.
• Participate in quantification, supply plan reviews, and supply chain stakeholder meetings for the relevant commodity categories.
• Provide direct management oversight to and support the Procurement and Logistics Manager and the Commodity Logistics Associate in the execution of their tasks, ensuing close coordination in support of efficient USG health commodity procurement and delivery.

Government Relations – Procurement 

• Ensure Ministry of Health vertical programs are aware of GHSC-PSM procurement processes, updates to processes, and answer high-level questions.
• Manage and monitor order changes post signature of the requisition order. Simultaneously, keep all health programs and USAID Tanzania abreast when GHSC-PSM is required to postpone or prepone an order, as well as its recommendations regarding splitting or staggering orders, unregistered product, etc.
• Facilitate remaining shelf life approvals and monitor the estimated delivery date of the consignments to ensure that they are delivered per the approvals.
• Provide inputs to regular commodity order reporting by GHSC-PSM headquarters to USAID Washington as needed.
• Work with GHSC-PSM headquarters to understand the commodity marketplace, including active product ingredient shortages and product availability writ large as it impacts Tanzania.
• Maintain an in-depth knowledge of GHSC-PSM standard procurement processes, lead times, and requirements for health commodity procurements.
• Maintain an advanced knowledge of health commodity products especially the components and specifications, including the main categories and types of health commodities GHSC-PSM procures.
• Closely coordinate with MSD and Ministry of Health programs and alert the Tanzania PSM PMU team about potential product or process-related issues (shortages, expiries, damaged products, shelf life issues) and recommend solutions. The oversight function includes the following tasks:
• Recommend and support corrective actions through follow-up with in-country responsible team/persons.

Government Relations – Importation 

• Advise GHSC-PSM on any waivers, import approvals or other processes required to ensure smooth and timely importation and delivery to final destination. This includes looking for efficiencies such as a blanket waiver—in coordination with USAID Tanzania.
• Regularly communicate with TMDA and TRA to ensure GHSC-PSM meets country import requirements for all procured commodities. [This may change based on ongoing conversations with USAID Tanzania]
• Advise GHSC-PSM on any changes or corrections required to shipping dates or shipping documents.

Miscellaneous:

• In the event of issues/incidents, collaborate closely with the relevant entity, GHSC-PSM headquarters (including PMU, continual improvement, procurement, and deliver/return) to identify solutions. Work with the relevant stakeholders to implement agreed solutions.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in procurement, supply chain, public health, or other relevant discipline desired.
• Minimum 8 years of health supply chain experience required.
• Experience working in the Government of Tanzania, specifically the Ministry of Health’s vertical programs (NASHCoP, NMCP, RCH).
• Extensive knowledge of viral load platforms, laboratory consumables for HIV/AIDS, and anti-retroviral regimens that are in use in Tanzania.
• Knowledge of Tanzanian importation rules and regulations as it relates to donor-procured commodities.
• Strong leadership qualities and experience supporting and managing staff in the execution of their duties.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills both written and oral. Proficiency in written and spoken English and Swahili required.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with a multitude of partners/stakeholders to achieve desired results.
• Ability to travel outside of Dar es Salaam on a regular basis required.