Friday, December 21, 2012

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) TB Technical Advisor Job in Nairobi, Kenya


 Position Description

Title: TB Technical Advisor

Reports To: Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) saves lives and improves health by helping public and private organizations throughout the world to effectively manage people, medicines, money, and information.

Working from more than 35 country offices and our Arlington, Virginia and Cambridge, Massachusetts US headquarters, our staff from more than 74 nations is highly regarded for its technical expertise, integrity, and commitment to making a lasting difference in health.

We live our mission to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

MSH seeks candidates for a USAID-funded program in Kenya that will build and expand upon previous successful TB control programs and will work with, and provide technical oversight to the Division of Leprosy, TB, and other Lung Disease (DLTLD).

This project will seek increase drug sensitive Tuberculosis (TB) and drug resistant (DR-TB Case Detection (CDR) and Treatment Success Rate (TSR) in Kenya to meet targets for reducing the burden of TB; MDR-TB and TB/HIV co-infection. This position is contingent upon project award.

Overall Responsibilities:

In close collaboration with the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), the TB Technical Advisor will be responsible for providing targeted technical assistance to all clinical TB, TB/HIV and MDR-TB activities for the project.

S/he will work closely with members of multidisciplinary teams to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of interventions and with the Monitoring &Evaluation Officer to ensure progress is being achieved towards TB, TB/HIV and MDR-TB targets.

Specific Responsibilities

    In close collaboration with the DCOP, provide technical support, including capacity building, to project and DLTLDstaff focusing on quality DOTS enhancement and expansion, improving TB and TB/HIV case detection, TB/HIV collaboration, care and support, MDR/XDR-TB programs support, PPM strategies and strategic information. Knowledge transfer and capacity building in the areas of decentralized planning, operational research& support, M&E, supervision, Quality Assurance, and TB and MDR/XRD-TB epidemiology is also anticipated.
    Provide technical assistance to project, public and private sector counterparts in monitoring and evaluation of TB programs.
    Contribute to the TB control efforts at the community, district, county and national level.
    Provide technical assistance in advancing the control in special populations; children, refugees, and other under privileged populations.
    Support the DCOP and DLTLD senior management to ensure National TB coordination activities are conducted on a regular basis with all the partners supported by USAID in the country.
    Together with the technical team, develop and implement guidelines on intensified case finding and isoniazid preventive therapy for the prevention of TB among HIV patients.
    Represent MSH on regional and national TB, TB/HIV and MDR/XRD-TB working groups and at selected international meetings.
    Provide technical assistance to the DLTLD for the development and implementation of strategies to increase TB screening among HIV infected clients and increased early uptake of ARVs for TB/HIV patients
    Design and implement a tracking system for MDR cases and contacts and mechanism to improve PMDT data collection, analysis and use
    Design and conduct a periodic MDR program review to inform modifications in the program.
    Ensure timely data collection and reporting.
    Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

    A Medical degree or a Master’s Degree in public health or a related field.  
    Minimum of six years practical experience working in public health and TB in Kenya essential.  
    Recognized expertise in TB, TB/HIV and/or MDR-TB programming, at country level essential.
    Understanding of current key TB, TB/HIV control and MDR-TB issues.
    Proven ability to build strong relationships, work well as part of a team, and to incorporate views of other disciplines into his or her work.
    Demonstrated organizational and supervisory skills and abilities; sound judgment, and high ethical standards; flexible and able to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.
    Experience working with USAID/PEPFAR and/or Global Fund funded programs.
    Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
    Fluency in English

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

To apply please go to: https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/6265/technical-advisor%252c-tb/job