Chemonics International seeks experienced professionals for the USAID-funded Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project. GHSC-PSM Ethiopia will serve as the primary vehicle through which USAID will procure and furnish health commodities, provide technical assistance to improve the country’s management of the supply chain, and collaborate with key international stakeholders to support global and local health initiatives.

The Warehouse and Distribution Specialist is responsible to coordinate the warehousing and distribution services for health commodities through the Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency (EPSA) supply chain system in designated locations. Please see the criteria below for details:

The Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement and Supply Management Ethiopia

 Background

The purpose of the Global Health Supply Chain– Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) Program is to ensure uninterrupted supplies of health commodities in support of United States Government (USG)-funded public health initiatives around the world. The project provides direct procurement and supply chain management support to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and Population and Reproductive Health. In supporting USG-funded global health activities, GHSC-PSM will develop and manage a wide array of services for health commodity procurement and related systems strengthening technical assistance encompassing different elements of a comprehensive supply chain.

At the country level, GHSC-PSM supports country strategies and priorities that fall under the following three project objectives:

• Global Commodity Procurement and Logistics
• Systems Strengthening Technical Assistance
• Global and local collaboration to improve long-term availability of health commodities.

Purpose

The GHSC-PSM Warehouse and Distribution Specialist is responsible to coordinate the warehousing and distribution services for health commodities through the Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency (EPSA) supply chain system in designated locations.  S/he co-ordinates the operations of the EPSA/GHSC-PSM storage and distribution teams ensuring all resources are used efficiently and effectively.  The GHSC-PSM Warehouse and Distribution Specialist supports EPSA to effectively manage a bi-monthly re-supply of health program commodities for all public health facilities.  S/he will support the development of EPSA supply chain capacity and capability and lead GHSC-PSM technical assistance with regards to the development of infrastructure, systems, processes, and human capacity which will enable the transition of supply and distribution management activities to EPSA within the life of the existing GHSC-PSM project.

 Principal Duties and Responsibilities

 Support Improvement of Inventory Management:

•  Support EPSA branches to conduct monthly inventory analysis, i.e. assist in reviewing current inventory and consumption at hub, analyze and compile the information and submit for hub manager for decision making.
• Follow and support the implementation of recommendation from the stock analysis.
• Support EPSA to conduct annual inventory counting, perpetual/cyclic counting and analyze stock situations and develop improvement plan
• Support to improve the inventory accuracy rate at designated EPSA branch

GHSC-PSM procured commodities tracking

•  Closely monitor the storage, inventory management and distribution of GHSC-PSM procured commodities with special emphasis to viral load/EID commodities
• Assist in investigating reported stock-outs and stock imbalances, take immediate action to avert the situation

Support Warehouse & Distribution Improvement Initiatives

•  Support EPSA warehouse improvement initiatives including warehouse layout design, kitting, MHE specification, process and management procedures development and infrastructure enhancement activities.
• Support EPSA Center of excellence (CoE) initiative scale up and business process reengineering (BPR) implementation
• Support the implementation of quality management system (QMS) at designated EPSA branch
• Support the development and implementation of standard operating procedure (SOPs) designated EPSA branch
• Support the implementation of monitoring and evaluation indicators (Key Performance Indicator at designated EPSA branch
• Support proper disposal of health commodities through recommended disposal options
• Provide support to EPSA in strengthening the coordination of fleet management with warehouse at designated branch.
• Provide technical assistance in warehouse operation management practices and optimum utilization of available storage space through stock flow planning and coordination of stock transfer from hub to hub through central EPSA warehouses.
• Support EPSA to conduct health facility RRF data quality analysis, RRF documentation and filling.
• Support EPSA to give regular written and verbal feedbacks to poor performing health facilities based on the data quality analysis result
• Support to prepare/update route mapping of health facilities and scheduling within the catchment area of the branch to ensure optimum utilization of existing vehicles and direct delivery to these facilities
• Actively participate in hub-based logistics review meeting, cluster meeting and relevant TWG meetings at the regional and zonal levels
• Actively participate in the establishment/strengthening/ of EPSA ‘Hub’ Technical Working Group or task force, with an emphasis on commodity security.
• Assess training need of EPSA staff and provide onsite technical support and organize/facilitate off-site training as required
• Work with EPSA Branch manager and GHSC-PSM W&D staff to forecast the future resource needs of the warehouses, plan for the timely provision of the same and secure management approvals for support.
• Prepare weekly and monthly action plans and progress reports to GHSC-PSM project warehouse and distribution Cluster Coordinator according to agreed schedules.
• Properly document GHSC-PSM project achievements/success stores and report compilation for project activities
• Exhibit Chemonics values and build culture of “Living our Values” within the team
• Understand and adhere to established policies and procedures and promote them throughout GHSC-PSM staff
• Perform any other relevant duties assigned by EPSA branch manager, GHSC-PSM Pharmaceutical Warehouse and Distribution Cluster Coordinator.

Level of Effort and Location

•  This long-term position will be based in Assossa, Ethiopia, with intermittent travel throughout the program’s target regions as needed.

Supervision

•  The GHSC-PSM Warehouse and Distribution specialist will report directly to the GHSC-PSM Pharmaceutical Warehouse and Distribution Cluster Coordinator and Branch Manager of EPSA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy or Logistics; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in warehouse and distribution management or related field; USAID experience preferred.
• Skilled in design and use of MIS systems for warehouse and distribution operations.
• Skilled in leading and managing high-performing teams.
• Proven experience in advising public sector warehousing and distribution operations preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work with cooperating partners in implementing complex programs.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Willingness to travel throughout the regions of Ethiopia.
• Fluency in English required.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity