Deadline: Jan 28, 2023
Job Description
1. Program Background:
The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) associated with former President William J. Clinton’s Foundation is currently operating in Ethiopia carrying out a wide range of programs to support the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia in improving the health status of the country by ensuring access and quality of health services. CHAI is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries, while strengthening the capabilities of governments and the private sector in those countries to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without assistance.
We are committed to increasing our effectiveness through an innovative programming approach that optimizes quality, impact and scale. CHAI Ethiopia is currently working in the following programs: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH), HIV Access, Lab Services, Vaccines, Child Survival/Essential Medicine program, and Health Financing.
In collaboration with Government of Ethiopia, CHAI has been implementing an Essential Medicine/ Child Survival since 2015 to address key drivers of child mortality with a focus on improving access to live saving commodities through addressing supply chain barriers. The program has addressed the challenges based on priority services delivery areas of Child Health through optimization of procurement and the overall supply chain management of essential child health commodities with remarkable achievements. Along with scoping in further strengthening and redesigning of Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Management Sector for transformed and sustained Essential Medicines availability, the Essential Medicine program has continued to support MOH to improve access to medical oxygen focused on system strengthening for the current COVID-19 management and beyond.
To realize the aforementioned objectives, the Essential Medicine Program is looking for a proactive and experienced professional with biomedical engineering background, responsible for the technical support in execution of small-sized low complexity project.
2. Job Summary:
Under the guidance of Senior Medical Equipment technical advisor, the position holder will be responsible for supporting regional Health Bureaus and health facilities for translation and execution of policy and strategic documents of medical Oxygen supply system & diagnostics equipment including proper use of technology, annual quantification, operational budget allocation, maintenance, and supply chain management activities in Ethiopia through ensuring sustainable supply chain management.
The Bio-medical Engineer is responsible to provide technical support in program implementation with focus on oxygen medical devices through supporting and closely working with regional program officers, RHBs, EPSS branch offices and health facilities. The support includes but not limited to; medical oxygen & related diagnostics technology use, training, maintenance and use at service delivery points.
The position holder will also provide inputs to the pharmaceutical and medical device sector roadmap development, medicine & medical device policy revision; implementation and participate in the development and revision of different tools/documents/modules.
3. Job Responsibilities and required competencies:
The Bio-medical Engineer is responsibilities include, but not limited to the following:
· Participate in the regional Oxygen TWG and/or other related forums and represent CHAI effectively.
· Collaborate with regional program officers in the development of the work plan, plan alignment with RHBs and facilities and ensures the achievement of specific assigned objectives.
· Technical support to senior Medical Equipment technical advisor in phase II oxygen road map and implementation plan development.
· On the basis of the program requirements and needs, engage in the development and revision of various SOPs, manuals, modules on use, maintenance, quantifications systems and technology specifications for medical oxygen & other diagnostic equipment management.
· Engage in the Pharmaceutical and medical device sector roadmap development and revision of medicine and medical device policy.
· Collaborate and Support RHBs, and key partners working on medical device to ensure effective medical equipment selection, specification, quantification, procurement, storage, distribution, installation, training, maintenance & use with specific focus oxygen medical devices.
· In consultation of senior Medical Equipment technical Advisor, participate and support RHBs, health facilities and EPSS in the technology selection quantification, forecasting in the areas of supply chain management, forecasting & quantification, awareness on the funding gap for sustainable availability
· Support senior Medical Equipment Technical Advisor in providing technical assistance to MOH/PMED, MOH/CSD to ensure oxygen related inventory control system (like MEMIS) are well functioning; quality data is well collected, analyzed and in use for decision making as required.
· Balance time and focus across medical oxygen improvement initiative project within program area/function as needed in order to meet deadlines
· work closely with health facilities, RHBs & EPSS in skill & knowledge transfer in the country in preventive & curative maintenance of this medical equipment to ensure the functionality & sustainable availability and reliable supply of the spare parts for the successful implementation of the program.
· Support facilities closely for sustainable availability and functionality of these medical equipment through onsite trainings and mentoring on maintenance (both preventive and curative maintenance)
· Orient/ training technical or clinical staff on proper medical equipment utilization
· Build strong partnership and working closely with regional essential medicine team, EPSS, RHBs and other non-governmental partners on oxygen and related medical device ecosystem improvement.
· Build strong relation and working closely with vaccine and other CHAI Program team, on oxygen and refrigeration/cold chain related medical device ecosystem improvement.
· Broad and cross-cutting understanding of budget and donor financial requirements including budgetary cycles and financial management procedures, and is able to contribute to them
· Prepare regular reports of the medical oxygen devices related interventions of the program for submission to direct supervisor.
· Jointly with program team, generates regular progress reports to be shared with program and external stakeholders including MOH and donor
· Perform other activities as assigned by supervisor
Job Title Biomedical Engineer
Duty station Addis Ababa (CHAI Office) with field travel as required.
Program Essential Medicine/Child Survival (CSP)
No. of Positions 1
Length of Contract: One-year with possible extension
REPORTS To: Senior Medical Equipment Technical Advisor
SUPERVISEES: none
Job Requirements
4. Required qualifications and experience:
· The applicant should have a 1st degree or master’s degree in biomedical engineering or related fields.
· At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Bio-medical profession at public health facilities & NGO environment has plus
· Hand on experience in medical equipment supply systems designing including maintenance
· Under supervision of Senior Medical Equipment technical advisor, proactive and experienced in program planning, budgeting, executing health care programs or projects, regular performance monitoring and evaluation with timely corrective action.
· Able to demonstrate skill and tact when dealing with sensitive, unpleasant, and/or confrontational interpersonal interactions.
· Strong knowledge and experience on medical oxygen device maintenance
· Practical experience in working with government offices/ministry of health administrative structure and implementing partners.
· Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills; uses clear organizing logic to make complex concepts easy to understand.
· In-service training focused on medical oxygen device maintenance and basic refrigeration technology, installation and maintenance of refrigerator, cold room and air conditioner is an advantages
· Proven ability to analyze data and write reports that are of high quality.
· A strong interest in the integration of engineering and medicine.
· The capacity to combine a high degree of technical knowledge with creativity.
· Experienced in organizing and facilitating training’s
· Able to execute complex technical tasks; provides technical input and recommendations to shape approach
· Technical proficiency in all the Microsoft office applications, and internet literacy are required.
· Fluency in English, writing and speaking of local languages
· Must be self-motivated and independently deliver expected tasks as well as ability to work in a team
· Willingness to travel to project sites as necessary.
· Experience working with multicultural teams and on complex projects.
· Other additional responsibilities as per immediate supervisor’s direction.