Job Title: Field Data Use Officer  

Position Type: Full-Time

Reports to: Area Implementation Manager

Posting Location: Amhara Region, Ethiopia

John Snow, Inc. (JSI) is a public health management firm, headquartered in the United States, dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world. JSI has been implementing public health work in Ethiopia for over 25 years.

JSI is implementing the five-year Digital Health Activity in Ethiopia, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The purpose of this Activity is to support the Government of Ethiopia (GOE) to improve the quality of health services and create a sustainable health care system through the use of data for decision making, as well as to provide similar services to other countries in Africa or to respond to a crisis in Ethiopia (as needed). The primary objectives of the Activity are to 1) support information technology systems and data repository at all levels; 2) build a culture of data use; and 3) improve capacity and governance of MOH health information systems management.

We are looking for a Field Data Use Officer who will be responsible for improving the culture of data use, strengthening the ecosystem of data quality assurance and information use for monitoring and evaluation, learning, and informed decision making. He/she will be responsible for maintaining regular communications with woredas and health facilities and assist the day-to-day technical data use and related activities. The Field Data Use Officer is expected to understand, communicate, train, and coach staff at the supported facilities to ensure the utilization of the infrastructure/systems in place effectively and efficiently, with minimal assistance.

Major responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities of the Field Data Use Officer will include, but is not limited to the following:

• Provide field support to the assigned Zone catchment areas to ensure the regular collection, management, and usage of data
• Facilitate the use of data through the application of innovative approaches at zonal, woreda, health facility, and community levels.
• Identify, manage, package and disseminate key health information to facilitate evidence-based decision making at point of data collection.
• Build capacity on use of routine health data for evidence-based decision making at regional and lower levels through organizing mentorship, training and workshops.
• Support RHBs in coordination, planning and implementation of data quality and use activities in the region
• Support RHB in sharing lessons learnt and best practices across the regional teams.
• Identify and mentor champions of information use at regional and lower levels and further develop their capacity as leaders for improving data-informed decision making.
• Support the community health information system including efforts to digitize it.
• Facilitate the use of DHIS2 and other information system for data analysis, visualization, and decision making.
• Work with RHB and local Universities to create information use model woredas.
• Share dashboards and build the capacity of zones and woredas to improve the culture of data use.
• Effectively communicate the status, value, and importance of data collection to woreda and facility staff members.
• Support and assist leadership staff at the woreda, health center and facility levels to use their data for decision-making, and forecasting
• Monitor data quality regularly and consistently to ensure usability of the data for decision making
• Actively participate in the establishment and/or strengthening of communication channels within and between the health system networks at Woreda, health center and facility levels, with an emphasis on data flow, quality and visibility
• Provide technical assistance, supportive supervision, and monitoring and evaluation support for different systems being implemented at the Woreda level such as eCHIS, DHIS2, HealthNet, eRIS, etc.
• Help coordinate and attend relevant TWG meetings at the regional, zonal, and woreda levels
• Conduct supportive supervision visits to facilities found in assigned woredas to provide on the job training and solve encountered problems
• Liaise with the field IT team to investigate reported system malfunctions and take immediate action to remedy the situation, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders
• Work to proactively prevent any software related problems and provide timely response to emergency user requests
• Identify and report bugs, problems, issues, requests for improvements to the relevant Project Manager and other IT support staff
• Work and coordinate with the respective Implementation Supervisor and Implementation Director to use resources efficiently and to jointly solve challenges encountered
• Prepare weekly reports to the respective Implementation Supervisor on planned and ongoing activities, progress on supervisory site visits, constraints, and related issues
• Prepare expense reports and settles advances in a timely manner
• Responsible for implementing JSI’s Accountability Framework and Code of Conduct, and adhering to JSI’s polices on fraud management
• Perform other duties as assigned

Applicants for this position should possess the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline (i.e. Public Health, IT, Computer Science,) is preferred
• Minimum two years of experience working on Health Information System support is required
• Experience working on implementation of health data capturing tools is required
• Must have a thorough understanding of the Ethiopian healthcare system structure and data strategy
• Knowledge of systems that are used at the woreda and facilities level such as eCHIS, DHIS2, HealthNet, eRIS is required
• Knowledge of relevant applications, big data solutions, and tools is a plus
• Should have experience supervising both technical and administrative staff
• Proven experience working with senior government officials
• Experience in logistics/supply chain management and or public health commodities management is desired
• Deep knowledge of the business processes at the Regional and woreda level is desired
• Previous work experience with USAID-funded projects is preferred
• Strong representational and interpersonal skills
• Must be willing and able to travel 90% of the time
• Excellent written and verbal English; proficiency in Amharic
• Proficiency in common computer packages (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel) relevant to the work

JSI/WEI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions. M/F/V/D.