Chemonics International Inc
Employment Opportunity
The USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project seeks to fill the position of Director Procurement to support the GHSC-PSM project in Zambia.
The USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project will be the primary vehicle through which USAID will procure and provide health commodities, provide technical assistance to improve partner countries’ management of the supply chain and collaborate with key international stakeholders to support global health initiatives.
With 85+ staff across six offices around the country, this diverse and complex program sets out to strengthen the capacity of GRZ to develop sustainable systems that ensure the availability and security of vital and essential health commodities through (1) increased data availability and use for informed supply chain decision making, (2) improved quantification procurement planning and coordination processes, (3) provision of cost-effective, reliable international and local procurement services, (4) improved efficiency in warehousing and distribution by Zambia Medicines and Medical Supply Agency ( ZAMMSA), and (5) increased strategic management and planning by Ministry of Health for improved commodity security. The project seeks to recruit (on a one-year contract renewable) for the following positions:
Position Title: Procurement Director
Reporting to: Deputy Country Director – Technical Services
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
The Procurement Director will work with the Deputy Country Director to provide cost-effective, reliable international and local procurement services to the Zambian government. The Director will provide oversight to the procurement team to meet project objectives focused on ensuring on-time availability of key laboratory and pharmaceutical commodities through cost-effective and reliable procurements executed through local and international procurement mechanisms. The Procurement Director will also serve as a member of the senior management team and will work with the Deputy Country Director to develop and communicate the vision and strategic direction of the project.
Specific Tasks
Technical Implementation
- Provide technical oversight, supervision, and strategic guidance to the Procurement team. Ensure that team staffing is aligned with goals and plans to achieve the project results around conducting cost-effective and reliable procurement services on behalf of the USG for the GRZ;
- Promote commodity availability in-country through overseeing Decentralized Procurement (DCP) portfolio – overseeing commodities procured directly from the field office, promoting adherence to on-time delivery, and promoting best value of commodities through strategic initiatives;
- Ensure that best practices in procurement and supplier management are implemented and that procurement activities comply with aid donor regulations (USAID and FAR) and guidelines;
- Conduct granular commodity expenditure analysis and monitor the commodities budget execution to ensure compliance with PEPFAR and USAID pipeline guidance and share timely updates on this with the PSM field office Forecasting and Supply Planning teams;
- Provide technical leadership to develop and implement plans to sustain the expansion of the viral load monitoring and ensure communication with all internal and external stakeholders for all issues related to the expansion of the viral load testing capacity;
- Provide leadership and support to expand the global supply chain procurement strategies on D-term shipments and vendor-managed solutions for ARV procurement;
- Encourage technical teams under his/her supervision to identify, experiment, and implement innovative supply chain solutions and best practices;
- Ensure that SOPs for critical procurement activities are developed and implemented;
- Support awareness-raising efforts with health supply chain partners to help make commodity security part of development agendas, strengthen programs, and mobilize additional resources for commodity security.
Management
- Supervise the manager under his/her responsibility, develop roles and responsibilities, design and monitor professional development plans, conduct annual performance appraisals, develop SMART goals, and periodically monitor progress towards objectives;
- Support development and management of annual work plans and budgets for the procurement team, based on GRZ and USG priorities;
- Oversee implementation of work plan activities and ensure quality and timely submission of all contract deliverables within the area of Procurement;
- Develop scopes of work for short-term technical assistance (STTA) as needed in collaboration with the PSM Zambia field team and HQ. Provide technical oversight of consultants and review associated outcomes and deliverables to ensure quality and timely submission to the client;
- Represent PSM project at various technical meetings with collaborating partners, senior government officials, and/or donor agencies;
- Ensure that staff understand and adhere to established policies and procedures. Support quick and just resolution of any disciplinary issues that arise;
- Verify that USAID regulations, Chemonics policies, and quality management best practices are enforced consistently;
- Exhibit Chemonics values and build a culture of “Living our Values” within the team;
- Carry out additional responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time in consultation with the Country Director and Deputy Country Director.
Minimum Education Qualifications, Experience, and Competencies
- Bachelor’s degree in procurement required; Master’s or other advanced degree preferred;
- Minimum ten (10) years experience in procurement and supply chain management for public health commodities required;
- Fully registered and paid-up member of the Zambia Institute of Purchasing and Supply (ZIPS);
- Thorough knowledge of USAID funding and its contractual and reporting requirements required; experience managing USAID-funded health procurement programs strongly preferred;
- Strong leadership and motivational ability;
- Strong written and oral communication skills;
- Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills;
- Ability to develop and manage operating and capital budgets;
- Written and spoken English fluency.
Location of Assignment
- The location of assignment is Lusaka, Zambia with intermittent travel throughout the country.