Job Opportunity at RTI International, Program Specialist

Job Summary:

Act to End Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) | East is a five-year project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that helps national NTD control programs for the control and elimination of five targeted NTDs: lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and trachoma. RTI seeks a NTD Drugs Logistics Officer who will support the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MOH)’s national neglected tropical disease (NTD) control program with procurement and logistics management in Tanzania under the Act to End NTDs | East program.  They will oversee medicine distribution for the national program and assist in stock reporting. The NTD Drugs Logistics Officer will be supervised by the Act East Program Manager and will also work under the direction of the National NTD Program Manager.

The successful candidate will have robust knowledge of procurement and logistics management and have strong organizational, reporting, and management skills. This individual must be able to successfully work with a team, have strong attention to detail, and work well under pressure in a multi-tasking setting. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in forecasting annual needs for NTDs medicines (Ivermectin, Albendazole, Praziquantel and Zithromax) including preparation of annual medicines application to donors (ITI, MDP, WHO, RTI etc).
• Work with Medical Stores Department (MSD), Government Procurement Services Agency (GPSA), and Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) to ensure proper documentation of importation and clearing of donated Ivemectin, Albendzole, Praziquantel, Zithromax, FTS, and OV16 diagnostics.
• Coordinate with MSD to ensure timely distribution of NTDs medicines to districts according to first-expiry, first-out (FEFO) principle to maximize the shelf life of the drugs. Where MSD is unable to meet timelines, coordinate with implementing partners to hire and direct private transportation companies to deliver medicines as necessary.
• Work with Districts through the Program Manager to ensure timely usage of NTDs drugs according to first expiry first out (FEFO) principle to maximize the shelf life of the drugs. This includes ongoing communication with districts and regions to redistributed medicines before, during, and after MDA periodsAdvise on NTD drug storage and security conditions at all levels in country and monitor accordingly. Ensure proper storage and transportation of diagnostics.
• Assist in collecting data related to severe adverse events from the Districts and reporting on such events to the National NTD coordinator and Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority. Ensure all SAEs are reported to NTD drug donation programs and USAID in line with program expectations.
• Maintain ongoing database regarding inventory of NTDs control drugs at all levels in country, including expiration dates, lot numbers.
• Monitor, report, and investigate any instance of product misuse or fraud. 
• Preparation of distribution reports and submit to the NTD Program Manager 
• Any other responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor 
• Domestic travel may be required.

Minimum Required Education & Experience:

Master’s degree in relevant field and 4 years working experience or Bachelor’s degree with 6 years working experience as a pharmacist/ in drug logistics management.  

Skills & Abilities:

• Additional professional training in procurement and logistics management preferred
• Knowledge of USAID procurement policies and regulations a plus.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office and procurement software.
• Strong organizational, reporting and management skills.
• Proven experience in working collaboratively with Tanzanian government units at all levels as well as local NGOs is preferred.
• Ability to successfully work within a team, have exceptional organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple, high pressure activities.
• Fluent in English and have strong interpersonal skills, cultural awareness and the ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse professional and social backgrounds with a service-oriented attitude.
• Familiarity with international development organizations, with its systems and policies.
• High degree of professionalism and discretion.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team and in matrix organization.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and organizational skills with ability to be flexible and work well under pressure in a multi-tasking setting.
• Experience with MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Travel up to 50% time.

Physical/Mental Demands

Physical and mental demands of this role include those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, as outlined above.  Examples include:  remaining in a stationary position for long periods of time; operating a computer and other office machinery; thinking, learning, and concentrating effectively and frequently communicating with other people, both within RTI and outside of RTI; frequently moving about inside and travel between offices and laboratories; frequently conducting laboratory site inspections (if applicable), ability to handle the stress associated in meeting frequent, multiple and tight deadlines, ability to work in excess of 40 hours per week as workload and deadlines may require, ability to have regular, reliable and predictable attendance.

Disclaimer:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

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