JOB DESCRIPTION. Department: Global Length of contract: An initial period of 12 months with the possibility of renewal.

Transcription

1 JOB DESCRIPTION Job title: Regional Technical Specialist Location: Bangkok, Thailand Department: Global Length of contract: An initial period of 12 months with the possibility of renewal. Role type: International Grade: 10 Travel involved: Frequent travel within the GMS region (30%), some international travel Child safeguarding level: TBC Reporting to: Senior Vector Control Specialist Direct reports: None Organisational background Established in 2003, Malaria Consortium is one of the world s leading specialist non-profit organisations. Our mission is to improve lives in Africa and Asia through sustainable, evidencebased programmes that combat targeted diseases and promote child and maternal health. We work with partners, including all levels of government, to improve the lives of all, especially the poorest and marginalised, in Africa and Asia. We target key health burdens, including malaria, pneumonia, dengue and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), along with other factors that impact child and maternal health. We achieve our goals by: Designing and conduct cutting-edge implementation research, surveillance and monitoring and evaluation Selectively scaling up and deliver sustainable, evidence-based health programmes Providing technical assistance and consulting services that shape and strengthen national and international health policies, strategies and systems and build local capacity, and Seeking to ensure our experience, thought leadership, practical findings and research results are effectively communicated and contribute to the coordinated improvement of access to and quality of healthcare. 1

2 Country and project background The Malaria Consortium (MC) is an international non-government organization dedicated to improving the delivery of prevention and treatment to combat malaria and other communicable diseases in Africa and Asia. MC works with communities, health systems, government and nongovernment agencies, academic institutions, and local and international organization, to ensure good evidence supports the delivery of effective services, particular by providing technical support for monitoring and evaluating programs, and operations research activities for evidence-based decisionmaking and strategic planning. The Asia Regional Office based in Bangkok also serves as Country Office for Thailand and supports and supervises the field Office in Cambodia and Myanmar and activities across the Greater Mekong Sub-region (Vietnam, Laos and Bangladesh). Job purpose As part of the Asia regional technical team, the Regional Technical Specialist will be responsible for supporting the Senior Vector Control Advisor and the technical teams served by the MC Asia region offices to design and deliver effective vector control policies and programs in Asia through projects on malaria, dengue and other communicable diseases working with Ministries of Health, academic partners and the entire Malaria Consortium team in Asia. S/he will also be involved in evaluation design, monitoring, surveys, quality assurance and surveillance and will lead the development as well as implementation of MC s performance framework for organisational SM&E strengthening. Key accountabilities (percent of time spent on each area) In his/her capacity as a Regional Technical Specialist, the incumbent will: 1. Project Management 40% Support Senior VC Specialist to partner with the UCSF Global Health Group and APLMA/APMEN joint Secretariat to engage critical regional and international partners in the work of the VCWG. Support Senior VC Specialist to partner with UCSF Global Health Group and other APMEN partners to develop an entomology and vector control research agenda and funding proposals. Collaborate with the APMEN Program Assistant at the Mahidol Vivax Research Unit who is responsible for all logistics and administration for these activities. Support the development of the VCWG annual workplan for endorsement by country members at the July 2017 VCWG meeting in collaboration with the APLMA/APMEN Secretariat, Mahidol Vivax Research Center, VCWG Co-Chairs, and Country Partners with support by the UCSF Global Health Group and other Partner Institutions. Track workplan milestones and ensure successful implementation of workplan activities. Support the activities of the APMEN s Vector Control Working Group (VCWG), ensuring they are completed in line with APMEN s strategic and work plans, in collaboration and under the oversight of the Mahidol Vivax Research Unit as the Host of the VCWG and in coordination with the APMEN Director. 2. Technical Contributions 30% As requested by Senior VC Specialist, make available relevant global guidance and research to NMCPs and support development of tailored vector control strategies, including those to combat outdoor biting and residual malaria transmission, and link entomology with a regional Plasmodium vivax elimination strategy. 2

3 Support the development of and manage the APMEN entomology and vector control Clearinghouse Framework for technical assistance and resources (to be developed in 2017) and provide direct technical assistance as needed and as capacity allows. Provide technical support on malaria entomology and vector control to the APMEN/APLMA Secretariat as needed in consultation with WHO offices in the regions and countries. Support the coordination with the APLMA/APMEN Joint Secretariat and support the APMEN Director in developing APMEN strategy. Support the development of an APMEN VCWG research agenda and contribute to funding proposals as needed. Provide technical and coordination support to key APMEN VCWG activities, including annual VCWG meetings, annual capacity building trainings, and two fellowships per year. Develop meeting agendas, training curricula, and fellowship topics and arrangements in coordination with the VCWG. Liaise with the APMEN Vivax and Surveillance Response Working Groups to ensure crosspollination and/or integration of ideas, strategies and implementation efforts. Assist in processing and monitoring ethics applications in the region as required 3. Technical performance management and Quality Assurance 10% Lead in evaluation design, monitoring, surveys, quality assurance and surveillance programs of Malaria Consortium in the region by evaluating national health surveillance systems design and performance; upgrading national health surveillance systems in terms of software, data, and processes; analysing routine data from national surveillance systems; training government staff in M&E; refining national M&E plans; Lead programmatic M&E of MC programs in S.E. Asia Region in particular with respect to performance framework development and support MC core functions by contributing to organisational SM&E strengthening and external representation Perform data management and check the quality of data, analysis and reports from lab and field studies for reporting to donors Routinely assess the performance of national malaria control programmes and their partners in malaria control/elimination and recommend strategies to improve M&E/surveillance activities. 4. Reporting and Documentation 10% Document the process, issues, challenges and recommendations for improving/scaling up vector control and community mobilization interventions in the region Collect information within and outside the organization that will be used in communicating news, lessons learned, best practices and research findings to reach relevant audiences 5. Finance and Administration 10% Monitor reports and expenditure of implemented projects Support financial management and effective administration of implemented projects Key working relationships Senior Vector Control Specialist, Asia Director, Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), South East Asia region governments, donor agencies, technical staff, research institutions, private sector and civil society. 3

4 Person specification Qualifications and experience: Advanced degree in public health (e.g. entomology, vector control, epidemiology, infectious diseases, epidemiology) or a pertinent social science, such as demography Essential: MSc in entomology or related field with an emphasis or strong interest on vector control, a PhD or interest in acquiring a PhD would be an added advantage Minimum of five (5) years of experience in malaria, preferably vector control; experience working on malaria elimination programs would be an added advantage Strong analytical skills and extensive experience in Vector Control and M&E of projects and programmes. Demonstrated experience in survey design, implementation, analysis, and report-writing Demonstrated experience of working in a team of experts delivering specialized TA services Skilled in using STATA and other statistical packages such as EpiData, SAS, and SPSS. Previous public health sector experience in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam working with government departments, WHO and/ or local/international NGOs Desirable: Experience in entomological data analysis and interpretation Research experience in malaria, an added advantage would be published work in peer reviewed journals Experience in project management including but not limited to any formal training in project design, management, monitoring and evaluation Understanding of the culture and working system / structure of the public health sector in Thailand Experience in capacity-building/skills transfer Work-based skills: Essential: Sound technical knowledge and skills in malaria vector control Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively on a team, particularly with Ministries of Health and/or other government sectors and partners Proven ability in transferring skills, particularly working with government and nongovernment colleagues Demonstrated verbal and written communication and presentation skills Strong analytical ability Excellent personal and time management skills Attention to detail Problem solving Team player 4

5 Core competencies: Delivering results LEVEL D-Inspires wider teams to achieve outstanding results and to manage risks Proactively improves effectiveness and performance of other senior staff to increase ability to meet objectives, acquiring new skills when appropriate Encourages mitigating risks amongst the teams/groups they work with/ manage. Ensures the quality of all internal/external work of own and others Analysis and use of information LEVEL D- Analyses the external environment confidently Generates a range of policy options and appraises them based on the internal and external evidence Develops ways of applying new knowledge and ensures lesson-learning with self and wider team Analyses the significance of external events and situations for Malaria Consortium Interpersonal and communications LEVEL D- Communicates complex technical and/or sensitive/high risk information effectively Communicates complex operational, technical and strategic issues clearly and credibly with widely varied audiences Uses varied communication to promote dialogue and shared understanding and consensus across a variety of audiences Influences internal and external audiences on specific issues Scans the internal and external environment for key information and messages to support communications strategies Collaboration and partnering LEVEL D- Develops external networks to increase internal thinking/learning Actively develops partnerships with relevant organisations, think tanks and individuals Takes initiative to establish a network or partnership where one does not exist Ensures any external learning is effectively brought in-house Leading and motivating people LEVEL E- Inspires and sets a challenging strategy Identifies suitable opportunities for senior staff to broaden competence and gain new perspectives Sets challenging objectives while offering support and guidance Discusses overall talent management aspirations and longer term developments Flexibility/ adaptability LEVEL D- Clarifies priorities and ensures learning from experience Clarifies priorities when leading change Sees and shows others the benefits of strategic change. Helps colleagues/ team members to practise stress management through prioritisation of workloads and modelling of appropriate self-management and care Makes time to learn from experience and feedback, and apply the lessons to a new situation 5

6 Living the values LEVEL E- Ensures all plans include aspects of cultural awareness and Malaria Consortium s values Ensures all Malaria Consortium s plans include relevant aspects of MC s values and value diversity Strategic planning and thinking and sector awareness LEVEL D- Takes a helicopter view and anticipates the future Demonstrates an ability to step back from operational issues and see things holistically (helicopter vision) Anticipates how actions will impact other teams and negotiating to reach mutually acceptable solutions Demonstrates how complex strategic issues can be broken down into simple discrete steps 6