Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Team Lead

Information

Common information

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
JSI is a global nonprofit dedicated to improving people’s lives around the world through greater health, education, and socioeconomic equity for individuals and communities, and to providing an environment where people of passion can pursue this cause. We are more than 3,000 public health care and education experts driven by a passion to improve health and education services for all. Our fundamental goal is to ensure that all individuals can live their best and healthiest life, regardless of age or circumstances.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
JSI seeks a qualified Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Team Lead for the USAID Cure Tuberculosis 2 (Cure TB 2) Activity in the Kyrgyz Republic. This is a five-year USAID-funded cooperative agreement to build on the existing strengths of the National Tuberculosis (TB) Program to accomplish lasting change through proven approaches such as interrupting TB transmission in communities, scaling up of prevention interventions, increasing TB case finding and ensuring all people with TB successfully complete treatment to stop spreading the disease. These interventions will be underpinned by a strengthened, more resilient and sustainable health system to address the main social drivers of the TB epidemic in the Kyrgyz Republic. A multiplier effect of strengthening future public health pandemic preparedness and readiness will be achieved by strengthening the platforms and models for effective and equitable TB service delivery in the country.

The HSS Team Lead will serve as a team lead in providing technical assistance in optimization of the TB service delivery system, downsizing TB hospitals, and developing a legislation base for reorganized TB service delivery system. They will also support the Ministry of Health (MOH) to shift to strategic planning issues and will coordinate all National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) partners. The HSS Team Lead will work in the Heath Systems Strengthening (HSS) Group and will report to the Deputy Chief of Party and interact with the Technical Director and the Strategic Information Director.

Qualification requirements

• Master’s degree in Public Health or Medical Degree or related field;
• Five to seven years’ experience in health policy related activities;
• Demonstrated experience in international policy development and implementation, and knowledge of navigating the policy process;
• Strong background in operational policy development and advocacy;
• Previous experience working successfully with host country governments, NGOs and other key stakeholders to promote policies and programs;
• Documented lessons learned in policy development and implementation;
• Knowledge of systems strengthening needs related to PHC services and government resource allocation, issues and analysis techniques;
• Prior experience working in the Kyrgyz Republic with the legislative or executive branch;
• Professional English and Russian preferred.

Duties

• Coordinate project activities in the direction of strengthening the health care system in the field of TB control;
• Develop and implement of comprehensive action plans to optimize and restructure the system of TB services for pilot oblasts, including the development and implementation of new functions and tasks of OTCs, PHC and SES services aimed at the introduction of new approaches to active TB case detection among high-risk groups, contact tracing, implementation of TB case management;
• Work with Kyrgyz Ministry of Health (MOH), National TB Program in the field of implementation of Tuberculosis VI Program;
• Work with National TB Center to adapt the structure of the NTP to ensure its effective evaluation, planning, and implementation of the National TB Program;
• Lead a comprehensive assessment of policies, programs, and activities that influence TB services in KR health care system;
• Design and implement advocacy strategies to ensure that diagnosis, treatment, and prevention services, supported by an enabling environment, are delivered at a policy level;
• Collaborate with the Clinical Group to identify the most effective tools for TB detection and inform policy discussion accordingly;
• Work closely with the MOH, NTP, primary health care (PHC) providers, and TB service providers to design and implement a new TB delivery system that integrates TB services into primary care;
• Build consensus on latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) management in the Kyrgyz Republic; identify and address barriers to LTBI treatment among communities and providers;
• Work with National TB Program in the social procurement program, support in development of TB service standards and monitoring tools;
• Work with MOH and MHIF on effective reallocation of hospital budgets to fund the improvements needed to infection prevention and control (IPC);
• Build capacity of the HSS Group staff to advocate on behalf of the project’s policy objectives;
• Actively participate in Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (GOKR) activities and events as a representative of the project;
• Participate in the project’s strategic planning as needed; and
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Chief of Party.