Laboratory Logistics Advisor

Crown Agents USA, Inc. (CA-USA) is seeking a Laboratory Logistics Advisorfor the Supply Chain Management Systems (SCMS) project in our Gaborone, Botswana office.

Our Business

Crown Agents is an international development company employing over 600 personnel worldwide with a presence in more than 40 countries, subsidiaries in 12 countries, and permanent staff working on the ground in 22 corporate offices in Africa, Asia Latin America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Crown Agents provides direct assistance, management consulting, and human and institutional development for public and private sector clients in customs and trade facilitation, public financial management, procurement, logistics, and health systems strengthening.

Crown Agents USA (CA-USA), the U.S. incorporated subsidiary of Crown Agents, provides direct technical assistance, capacity development, and procurement services to stimulate economic growth, establish good governance, and improve health outcomes across the developing world. Since its incorporation in the United States in 1998, CA-USA has provided technical assistance services and support to U.S. Government agencies and international organizations such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Department of State (DOS), and the Gates Foundation.

The Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM) is implementing the Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) contract for USAID as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). SCMS will strengthen or establish secure, reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable supply chains capable of meeting the care and treatment needs of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. In coordination with in-country and international partners, we will: assist programs to enhance their supply-chain capacity; ensure that accurate supply-chain information is collected, shared, and used; and provide quality, affordable, health care products to those who need them. SCMS will offer services in focus countries identified by the USG team, with SCMS field offices established in selected countries as required by the scope of work in the country.

Role & Responsibilities

Laboratory Logistics Advisor will provide technical assistance to the Botswana Ministry of Health and other partners, supporting a range of programs, but primarily focused on strengthening logistics systems for laboratory commodities to support the national HIV and AIDS program and improving supply chain management practices.

Specific Responsibilities

• Provide overall supply chain managements technical assistance support to the Botswana Ministry of Health and other partners.
• Provide support to the Botswana Central Medical Stores (CMS) and the National Health Laboratory (NHL) for procurement planning, management and distribution of HIV/AIDS related laboratory reagents and supplies to all sites.
• In collaboration with CMS and NHL monitor for the functioning of the lab Commodity distribution system, ensuring that stock outs and overstocks at the laboratories and testing centers are avoided or kept to the minimum.
• Work with the Divisions of Laboratory Services and Biomedical Engineering Services to develop laboratory harmonization and optimization strategies and provide technical assistance during implementation.
• Provide technical assistance in forecasting and quantification of laboratory commodities and in the preparation of procurement plans. This work will be largely focused on HIV/AIDS related commodities but may also include other non HIV/AIDS commodity groups from time to time.
• In consultation with SCMS Country Director identify the need for specialized laboratory logistics technical assistance from SCMS/Washington and coordinate this assistance when provided.
• Prepare Scopes of Work for lab logistics technical assistance as agreed with the Country Director, and ensure that all Scopes of Work are prepared in good time to allow for successful completion of the tasks in line with the country work plan.
• Conduct on-job trainings and on the laboratory logistics training workshops for NHL,CMS treatment site staff and cooperating agency staff in order to improve forecasting, storage and distribution, and inventory control of laboratory reagents and supplies.
• Support National Health Laboratory to set up a system for tracking and reporting on laboratory supplies transactions and use throughout the supply chain.
• Work closely with the national Health Laboratory to introduce electronic records for management of laboratory reagents, supplies and related consumables.
• Monitor the national pipeline for all HIV/AIDS related laboratory commodities. Identify funding and product gaps and work closely with the SCMS Country Director to mobilize resources necessary to fill those gaps.
• Regularly briefs SCMS Country Director on developments and in activities concerning the logistics system for laboratory reagents and supplies.
• Work closely with ART Logistic Advisor and the ART ACTS Advisor to design and harmonize all commodity logistics system that supports ART, VCT and PMTCT programs.
• Provide support to USG-supported HIV/AIDS projects, as necessary.
• Maintain close working relations with all USG-funded HIV/AIDS cooperating agencies.
• Develop SCMS project work plans with the SCMS Botswana Team and the local USAID and CDC Teams, including the promotion of innovative laboratory logistics approaches.
• Provide required narrative and financial reports to the SCMS Resident Advisor for submission to the local USAID/ CDC Mission and SCMS/Washington as per the agreed schedule
• Provide all inputs required for the Botswana PMP reviews, and provide expert input and leadership in (i) the analysis of country performance for lab logistics systems and (ii) the development of interventions designed to improve performance.
• Supervise the Laboratory Logistics Specialist.

Any other duties as appropriate to the position, as requested.

Qualifications

· Bachelor's Degree in medical or clinical laboratory technology or related field required. Post graduate qualification in public health, public administration, Business Administration, Logistics or related field preferred.

· Fluency in English is required; bilingual or multilingual ability is preferred.

· Advanced Excel and PowerPoint capability is preferred.

·Ability to travel at least within Botswana is required.

A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience with a minimum of 5 years of experience in laboratory technology, microbiology, biochemistry, hematology; a minimum of 5 years developing country work experience, particularly under United States Government (e.g. CDC or USAID) funding; a minimum of 2 years of experience in clinical laboratory services.

· Experience with national level laboratory organizational structure (laboratory network).

· Experience with laboratory tests, equipment, reagents and techniques required for the diagnosis and monitoring of the following: HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, STI’s, Hepatitis B.

· Experience in procedures for internal and external quality control.

· Prior management experience preferred

· Significant work experience in HIV/AIDS programs, health commodity logistics and /or supply chain strengthening preferred.

· Must demonstrate personal attributes such as loyalty and integrity in addition to being determined and thorough, which is inherent in this position.

How to apply:

Application Process

To apply to this position, please email your CV to careers@crownagents.com, including your name, along with “14-31 Laboratory Logistics Advisor,” in the subject line. Visit our website at www.crownagents.com for more information about our company. No phone calls, faxes or walk-ins please. Crown Agents USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and affords equal opportunity to all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other status protected under local, state or federal laws.

Crown Agents USA will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with qualified disabilities in accordance with the ADA. If you require a reasonable accommodation for our application process, please contact our Recruiting department directly. Requests will be kept confidential and shared strictly on a need-to-know basis only.