Regional Control Tower Manager

The Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition (RHSC, or the Coalition) is a global partnership of more than 500 public, private, and non-governmental organizations dedicated to ensuring that all people in low- and middle-income countries can choose, obtain, and use affordable, high-quality supplies and related services to ensure their better reproductive health. Our Secretariat is staffed and managed by PATH, an international, nonprofit organization that helps communities around the world break longstanding cycles of poor health.

PATH, on behalf of the Coalition Secretariat, is seeking a Regional Control Tower Manager to support the Global Family Planning Visibility & Analytics Network (VAN) in the West Africa region. The VAN is governed by a Steering Committee of supply chain professionals. The VAN supports cost-effective delivery of family planning products to developing countries by allowing supply chain professionals to make coordinated supply and planning decisions based on shared visibility into a common set of data. The Regional Manager will manage assigned country Control Tower Analysts in the region and will serve as the functional link between the VAN users in select countries in West Africa and regional- and global-level donors, and procurers in the Control Tower to help balance demand for family planning (FP) products and supply. The Regional Manager will manage country Control Tower Analysts and work with country data providers/Planners on a routine basis to ensure that all required inventory and supply plan data is uploaded on-time, is complete, and meets defined quality standards; to identify risks for supply imbalances; and to determine the requested action from the procurers/donors to mitigate the risk of stockouts, shortages, and overstocks.

The Regional Manager will also work closely with the West African Health Organization (WAHO) as technical lead supporting the functioning of the Regional Committee for Data Visibility in West Africa. The Regional Committee utilizes data in the VAN to monitor the stock status of FP products in the region and to discuss actions that can be taken at the regional level to support FP commodity security. The Regional Manager will support WAHO with both strategic and operational tasks for the Regional Committee and will advise on the design and update of the VAN regional approach.

This position may engage in regional and international travel, including to developing countries, estimated at 15%.

Responsibilities

Manage assigned country Control Tower Analysts and oversee their review, validation, and management of country data

• Execute training of assigned country Control Tower Analysts on supply chain data management principles related to VAN processes and the VAN platform.
• Onboard and act as main point of contact for assigned country Control Tower Analysts, overseeing the quality and timeliness of their work to collect, review, and validate national inventory and supply plan data for a portfolio of countries.

Support country health system strengthening by acting as a direct Control Tower Analyst tasked with training, and the review, validation, and management of data for the region and a portfolio of countries 

• Execute training of assigned country users and other country and regional stakeholders on supply chain data management principles related to VAN processes and the VAN platform.
• Act as main point of contact between VAN and country and regional data providers for the collection, review, and validation of national inventory and supply plan data for a portfolio of countries.
• Work with country and regional data providers to ensure that inventory and supply plan data is submitted on time and is complete.
• Ensure that supply plans, inventory, and order/shipment data as presented in the VAN are in alignment with one another for a portfolio of countries and the region.
• Create data validation tickets and work to resolve data validation issues for the region and a portfolio of countries using the VAN ticketing system when possible, or directly with country and regional data providers.

Resolve family planning supply imbalances in collaboration with country stakeholders and the global RH community  

• Collaborate with assigned in-country and regional data providers and the other Control Tower Analysts in the region to review supply exceptions flagged by the system and to determine the appropriate action to request of donors/procurers to avoid stockouts, shortages, and overstocks for at least the next 12 months.
• Work with the Control Tower Planning Manager to execute more in-depth analysis of country and regional data for the Consensus Planning Group (CPG). The CPG is a cross-organizational group of donors, procurers, and technical assistance partners working together to avoid/mitigate family planning stock imbalances.
• Present country- and region-specific issues to donors/procurer members of the CPG and make clear recommendations for action.

Lead technical support to WAHO for the Regional Committee and VAN regional approach

• Technically assist WAHO to design and update the regional committee strategic approach, policies and procedures, including updates to the terms of reference.
• Advise on the design and update of the VAN regional approach, in collaboration with WAHO.
• Act as VAN regional point of contact for advocacy in the region.
• Onboard, train and support Regional Committee members in the use of the VAN, including the expansion of the committee to include representatives from the 15 ECOWAS countries.
• Oversee the agenda development and presentation preparation for the monthly meetings of the regional committee.
• Present country- and region-specific issues to members of the Regional Committee and make clear recommendations for action.
• Document and share the meeting minutes and key actions agreed to by the members.
• Liaise with other VAN Country Analysts to identify and document issues needing discussion within the regional committee.
• Liaise with the Control Tower Planning Manager to identify areas for collaboration with the Regional Committee and to document key successes.
• Participate in regional meetings/workshops as requested by WAHO to support the use of the VAN in the region by countries, donors, and procurers.

Contribute to process improvement efforts of the VAN  

• Serve as VAN liaison to assigned RHSC implementing mechanisms (such as SECONAF), as needed.
• Support continuous process improvement efforts through active participation in VAN taskforces and workstreams.
• Provide input to the development of analytics dashboards to be leveraged by the Control Tower Planning Manager, other Control Tower Members, as well as by international, multi-donor working groups.

 Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in public health, statistics, or related area. Master’s degree preferred.
• Five years of relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, that should include:
• • At least three years of experience in data analysis, forecasting and/or supply planning for pharmaceuticals, preferably family planning.
  • Minimum of five years in pharmaceutical supply chain management
  • Experience managing/supervising others
• Strong interpersonal skills and proven experience managing relationships with global, regional, and country-level stakeholders including demonstrated ability to collaborate and partner with the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), ministries of health and other key government stakeholders
• Experience working in a cross-cultural environment
• Experience supporting and facilitating a regional forum or committee in West Africa
• Advanced analytical skills and ability to present data and analysis in easily understood infographics and data visualizations
• Strong MS Office skills
• Experience working with global donors/procurers and demonstrated understanding of their procurement practices, specifically UNFPA and USAID
• Experience working with and knowledge of family planning products or acceptable equivalent
• Excellent oral and written communication ability; able to communicate and document complex processes in a clear and concise manner
• Experience working with countries in West Africa and/or WAHO
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team, preferably with remote team members
• Proven ability to operate in ambiguous environments and work through complex problems
• Fluency in French and good working knowledge of English

Preferred Skills

• Fluency in English
• Experience in software training and/or digital change management