USAID Project Management Specialist (Health Commodities – Supply Chain) at the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: (72062022R10018) USAID Project Management Specialist (Health Commodities – Supply Chain)

Announcement Number: Abuja-2022-039
Location: Abuja
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Series/Grade: LE – 4005 11
Work Schedule: Full Time – Work Schedule is 40 hours per week
Promotion Potential: LE-11

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply / Clarification From the Agency:
  • For definitions use URL www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/glossary
  • Employees of Mission – Nigerian Citizens and Permanent Residents only.
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust – Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Five (5) years renewable, estimated to start on or after May 2022
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required:
  • Occasional Travel
  • The job holder is required to perform work-related travel. The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the U.S., or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the “Foreign Service National” Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Summary

• The incumbent works in close collaboration with the other members of the Integrated Service Delivery team within the HIV/AIDS-TB office to formulate the core logistics team for USAID / Nigeria health interventions and oversees the strengthening and streamlining of an integrated procurement and distribution system.
• This system incorporates essential drugs for opportunistic infections (OI) and and sexually transmitted infections (STI), as well as HIV/AIDS/TB commodities.

Duties
Program / Project Management: 70% 

• The Project Management Specialist is responsible for ensuring the safe and reliable supply of life-saving medicines to patients in Nigeria  through a portfolio of supply chain activities by: overseeing USAID/Nigeria contracts, Activity Manager; providing technical advice on  drugs logistics to team members within the HIV/AIDS & TB and HPN Teams, to other USG agencies, and to the GON and implementing  partners; working with USAID/Nigeria-supported implementing partners to ensure high-quality services in accordance with national and  international standards, innovations, best practices and procedures are being provided; monitoring and evaluating capacity building  programs / projects and services through site visits, reporting, and trends analysis; working in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry  of Health (and other relevant GON agencies and ministries at the federal, state and local levels), policy-development institutions and  others to ensure progress on policy and organizational reforms; facilitating the development of project work plans, performance  monitoring plans, operational plans and portfolio reviews; and participating in the review of annual, semi-annual, and quarterly reports,  and requests or participates in other reports as needed. 

Technical Advice and Advocacy: 15% 

• The Project Management Specialist is responsible for providing technical advice and advocacy by: overseeing and coordinating  forecasting, procurement, importation, storage, and distribution of the ARV and OI drugs as well as other health commodities to health  facilities; ensuring proper distribution and balancing of drug stocks and other health supplies at the facility level through the assistance of  implementing partners; overseeing the unification of PEPFAR-supported supply chains; preparing GON counterparts to play an gradually  increasing role in managing USG-supported activities; overseeing improvements to the Logistics Management Information System (LMIS)  and pharmaceutical warehouses throughout Nigeria; Serving as member of technical working groups within PEPFAR, groups organized  by the GON, and other relevant forums in planning and improving health systems strengthening; and assisting the GON on policy  revisions or formulation related to the supply of essential medicines. 

Maintains and Develop Contact with Host-Government Officials: 20%

• (Especially with the officials of MFBNP and NIS), handling issues affecting IP operations in Nigeria.
• Develops and maintains a database showing contact information for the host-government officials mentioned above, to include names, addresses, telephone numbers, Ministry, etc. The database is updated on a regular basis.

Policy and Data Management: 15% 

• The Project Management Specialist is responsible for ensuring the safe and reliable supply of life-saving medicines to patients by:  ensuring that data concerning drugs logistics is assembled, verified and reported conforming to USG requirements; ensuring coordination  of the procurement of drugs into Nigeria in conformity with the USG regulations and strategy, national guidelines, protocols for the  administration of prophylactic pharmaceuticals and compliance with Nigerian regulations; facilitating information sharing between the  regulatory bodies and ensuring updated ARV and other drug importation permissions are granted to USG implementing partners ensuring  that USG and her implementing partners have a system for monitoring, detecting, collecting, and reporting of adverse drug reactions to  the National Pharmacovigilance Centre (NPC) domiciled at the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC);  and providing internal reports and documentation conforming to USG requirements regarding drugs procured and used for USG supported health interventions.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:

Education Requirements:

• Minimum of Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm.) with a valid annual license to practice as a pharmacist or a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology is required.

Physical Demands:

• The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Evaluations:
Evaluation Factors:

• Knowledge – 15 points
• Skills and Abilities – 10 points
• Language Skills – 5 points
• Interview Performance – 70 points 
• Total Possible Points: 100 points

Applications that do not meet the required minimum qualifications will not be scored. Candidates meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application. USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the top ranked short-listed candidates. If the interview is conducted, the interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

Qualifications
Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in supply  chain logistics, pharmaceutical management or rational pharmaceutical use is required.
• At least two years of this experience should be in planning, developing, implementing, or evaluating pharmaceutical supply chain management programs.
• Experience working in the public health sector and collaborating with and/or working for key donors,  development partners, or NGO is required.

Job Knowledge:

• Knowledge of the major issues affecting the supply of health commodities through health systems in Nigeria and a sound understanding of modern pharmaceutical supply management practices along with demonstrated knowledge of existing public health programs in Nigeria is required, this is including but not limited to procurement, warehousing and distribution, receipt and ordering of commodities, supply planning, quantification, and/or use of supply chain management information and management systems.
• Knowledge of donor engagement in supporting health systems strengthening efforts is also required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Must be able to work effectively with mid- and senior-level public and private sector officials from  the GON and implementing partners.
• Must be able to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate effectively  with others.
• Must be able to develop constructive manager-to- manager relationships with implementing partners.
• Must  demonstrate diplomacy, tact, cultural sensitivity, and willingness to participate effectively in team discussions.
• Must  demonstrate excellent organizational skills as well as the ability to multi-task and stay organized in a complex,  frequently changing environment.
• Must demonstrate advanced analytical and problem-solving skills and excellent  writing, presentation, and computer skills including ability in excel.

Language:

• Level IV (fluent) English oral and writing ability is required.

Other Information:

• USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf
• PART 52—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Subpart 52.2—Text of Provisions and Clauses
• 52.223-99 Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, Alternate 70.
• ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS (OCT 2021)-Alternate 70 (OCT 2021) (M/OAA-DEV-FAR-22-01c)
• Definition. As used in this clause –
• United States or its outlying areas means
  • The fifty States;
  • The District of Columbia;
  • The commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands;
  • The territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands; and
  • The minor outlying islands of Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Atoll.
• (Authority. This clause implements Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, dated September 9, 2021 (published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2021, 86 FR 50985).
• Personal Services Contracts with individuals.  As a matter of policy, the contractor must comply with the USAID’s guidance applicable to direct-hire federal employees.

USAID is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• All qualified candidates will be considered regardless of age, race, color, sex, creed, national origin, lawful political affiliation, non-disqualifying handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, affiliation with an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

Marketing Statement:

• USAID is an independent Federal Government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USAID fosters transformational development around the world. Our work supports economic growth and trade; agriculture and the environment; education and training; democracy and governance; global health; global partnerships and humanitarian assistance. We operate in the following regions of the world: Afghanistan and Pakistan, Africa (all of Africa), Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East. For more information about USAID, visit http://www.usaid.gov

Notice Regarding Any Court Order Affecting the Implementation of E.O. 14042

• USAID will take no action to enforce the clause (FAR 52.223-99) implementing the requirements of Executive Order 14042, absent further written notice from USAID, where the place of performance identified in the contract is in a U.S. state or outlying area subject to a court order prohibiting the application of requirements pursuant to the Executive Order (hereinafter, “Excluded State or Outlying Area”).  In all other circumstances, USAID will enforce the clause, except for contractor employees who perform substantial work on or in connection with a covered contract in an Excluded State or Outlying Area, or in a covered contractor workplace located in an Excluded State or Outlying Area.  A current list of such Excluded States and Outlying Areas is maintained at https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.  
• Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms
• Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs
• Ethical Conduct.  By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635.  See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations       
• PSC Ombudsman
• The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman. The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: [email protected].

Salary
NGN15,890,203 Annually.

Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

• Health Insurance
• Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)
• Annual and Sick leave
• Annual Bonus

Allowances (as applicable):

• Transportation Allowance
• Meal Allowance
• Miscellaneous Allowance
• Housing Allowance.

Application Closing Date
26th April, 2022.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Important Notice

• Eligible applicants are required to complete this on-line application process and submit any applicable required documents by 11:59 p.m. GMT on the closing date of this announcement.
• Please note that all required documents must be received by the closing date, via online or alternative methods, and that we will determine your eligibility and qualifications based solely on the material received by the closing date. 

Required Documents:

• Current Resume
• Certificates
• Degree
• List of References
• NYSC Certificate

Next Steps:
Selection Process:

• After the closing date for the receipt of applications, applications will initially be screened for conformity with the minimum requirements and a short list of applicants developed. 
• Following this initial review and short listing, a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) will convene to review applications that meet the minimum requirements and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation factors.  Applications from candidates which do not meet the minimum requirements will not be evaluated.  As part of the selection process, finalist candidates will be interviewed.  Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.  No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.
• USAID reserves the right to interview only the highest ranked applicants in person or by phone OR not to interview any candidate. 
• Applicants are required to provide three (3) reference persons who are not family members or relatives, with working telephones and email contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about applicant’s past performance and abilities. Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists.  If an applicant does not wish for the current employer to be contacted as a reference check, this should be stated in the resume.
• For More Info: HR Section 000-000-0000 [email protected]