NCD Clinical Manager – Partners in Health (PIH)

August 19, 2024
Application deadline closed.

Job Description

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE:

Partners in Health (PIH) is a non-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. Through service delivery, training, advocacy and research, PIH works globally to bring the benefits of modern science to those most in need and to serve as an antidote to despair. PIH has programs in Haiti, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Kazakhstan and Boston.

PIH began working in Malawi in 2007, where today we support the Ministry of Health (MOH) to serve a catchment area of 165,000 through 12 health centers and two hospitals in partnership with our sister organizations. Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (APZU) has its headquarters in Neno District with operations across the country.

We therefore seek to recruit suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the following position:

Position: NCD Clinical Manager

Reports to : Non-Communicable Diseases & Mental Health Director

Commitment: Full Time (Monday-Friday)

Working Hours : Regular Office Hours (40Hrs/Week)

Location: Neno District, Malawi

Position Summary

The National NCD Clinical Manager is a key member of AZU’s clinical leadership team helping oversee planning and implementation of APZU’s NCD program in line with the strategic and implementation plans, HSSP Ill reforms including implementation of NCD and PEN Plus Interventions.

He/she will do this in all the APZU’s supported facilities which are implementing PEN Plus activities in the Country, with support from the NCD & Mental Health Director and Chief Medical Officer. The NCD ClinicalManager will support the PEN Plus implementation program to all secondary & primary care facilities to set up an efficient and effective care delivery system with emphasis on delivery of high-quality clinical PEN Plus services to the people in all districts which have scaled up implementation of PEN plus activities including Neno District.

The NCD Clinical Manager will work with the team on many aspects of PEN-Plus implementation. This includes implementation, clinical development, mentorship, and research, impact, and support grant management. He/she will be expected to work closely with the national Ministry of Health team, district council Health staff, implementing partners and other stakeholders. The NCD Clinical Manager will work on administrative tasks including budgeting, support grant writing and high level program planning.

He/she will also work closely with the APZU M&E, Informatics and Research department to bring about innovations and digitalization of the systems, tracking implementation and impact of the PEN Plus program and to design continuous quality mentorship, and research, impact, and support grant management. He/she will be expected to work closely with the national Ministry of Health team, district council Health staff, implementing partners and other stakeholders. The NCD Clinical Manager will work on administrative tasks including budgeting, support grant writing and high level program planning.

He/she will also work closely with the APZU M&E, Informatics and Research department to bring about innovations and digitalization of the systems, tracking implementation and impact of the PEN Plus program and to design continuous quality improvement projects to improve care. He/She will carry out supervisory functions for their teams under them; set priorities/annual performance deliverables for their teams, tracking performance, conducting appraisals etc.

Key Responsibilities

NCD Service Standards, Quality of Care, Capacity Building and Mentorship (40%)

  • In collaboration with Clinical Coordinators at District Health Offices where APZU support PEN plus Implementation, deliver district wide integrated NCD care services of highest standards and quality at community, primary and secondary care levels. This entails provision of comprehensive NCD screening services.
  • Provide clinical accompaniment and mentorship to Clinicians, nurses, and all other health care workers to provide quality NCD care services at all levels across the district.
  • Develop and roll out all NCD Health care capacity building initiatives including training, mentorship and coaching to PEN Plus care providers in collaboration with all PEN Plus Implementation Coordinators at District Council Health Systems in all the APZU supported districts.
  • Ensure PEN Plus trainees in beside echocardiogram performance and interpretation
  • Support PEN Plus implementing districts with program development and in clinic mentorship
  • Support development and implementation of policies, protocols & treatment guidelines related to PEN Plus services in collaboration with Clinical Coordinators in Neno and other districts.
  • Oversee and manage all aspects of the districts’ PEN Plus program in close collaboration with key stakeholders and partners, including District Health leadership and coordinators and health care teams at community, primary and secondary care levels for effective delivery of a “core Package of Essential Non-Communicable Diseases services”.
  • Work with Clinical Leadership and all relevant Program Managers to develop and implement an NCD Strategic Plan for APZU.
  • In collaboration with Communications Program teams, develop and implement a comprehensive community mobilization strategy for total uptake of NCD care services at all levels of care.
  • Support Comprehensive Implementation of PEN Plus activities for Secondary and primary care sites through conduction of NCD death audits and capacity building of Clinicians, nurses and support staff
  • Represent APZU at Regional and National meetings on NCD related issues. Generate written reports from each meeting for dissemination to APZU management and other key APZU and MOH staff
  • Collaborate with development and grant management teams grant acquisition, management and compliance

Management and Leadership (30%)

  • Participate in Joint Management Meetings for APZU
  • Work as part of a multidisciplinary team in the provision of high quality NCD care services to rural and vulnerable population
  • Conduct regular meetings with PEN Plus implementation teams in different districts with data and indicator performance informing most of the discussions, decisions, and activities Support the review and implementation of the APZU NCD strategy focusing more in the context of the APZU Neno district strategic plan Identify and engage relevant departments in the Ministry of Health, including the HIV directorate & the National TB and Leprosy Program; and steward relationships to ensure full integration of NCD work into national strategies, planning, and dialogues
  • Provide on-time information and input when required by the leadership and other departments to seize the opportunity for additional funding to maximize PIH intervention for NCD programming
  • Work with MOH and APZU community health team members to strengthen and support clinical and community programmatic ties for NCDS
  • Oversee overall performance management for direct reports, including setting up annual performance contracts/objectives and work plans that are clearly linked to the performance matrix and high-level organizational indicators; supervising and evaluating performance; identifying skills/knowledge gaps within the NCD implementation; and providing mentorship and relevant support for capacity building
  • Oversee seamless decentralization and transition of NCD screening program in District Councils Health Directorates
  • Ensure effective communication and collaboration with key stakeholders in the MCH space for effective implementation of MCH services
  • Help develop and /or adapt training materials and clinical tools for PEN Plus
  • Collaborate directly with NCD specific persons at the Ministry of Health (MoH) including PEN Plus Clinic Focal persons in the districts

Research and Quality Improvement (30%)

  • Work to improve care by supporting routine audits and data review meetings
  • Identify bottlenecks and work with the team to implement quality improvement initiatives
  • Support research writing, including writing of abstracts, manuscript development, conference presentations, and posters for maternal and child health
  • Work with clinical leadership and the MER department to identify research priorities within NCD program
  • Collaborate with the MER department in the design of data collection tools and analysis of data related to NCD program
  • Conduct monthly/ quarterly/annual data review meetings to assess performance on high level organizational NCD-related indicators and implement necessary quality improvement initiatives
  • In collaboration with APZU leadership, ensure accreditation & quality requirements are met through review, audit, and monitoring of quality improvement/performance improvement and accreditation activities related to NCDs Participate as requested in analysis, including root cause analyses, with support from APZU leadership and departments/programs; ensure data is presented and used effectively for clinical monitoring, and quality and performance improvement identified issues In collaboration with APZU leadership and MOH Quality leadership, establishes and maintains standards and procedures for accreditation and quality reporting and documentation and communicates areas of strengths as well as opportunities for improvement to the Quality Management and Improvement Committee

Other Responsibilities

Budgetary Responsibility:

  • Support in budget preparation and implementation for NCD/ PEN Plus Services

Procurement Responsibility:

  • Ensure timely development and submission of Annual Procurement Plans
  • In liaison with the Procurement Unit, ensure timely procurement of goods and services required for running IC3 Clinic in Neno and PEN Plus Services

Qualifications and Requirements:

  • BSC in Clinical Medicine or Nursing with 7 years’ experience or Diploma in Clinical Medicine with 10 years’ experience
  • Knowledge of treating PEN-Plus conditions, understand grant management and be a good communicator, teacher, and leader
  • Masters’ in Public Health or Global Health will be an advantage
  • Minimum five years’ experience working in NCD in resource-limited setting
  • Experience in team oversight, managing clinical staff, using data for action and managing budgets
  • Strong strategic planning capabilities, ability to analyse situations and skills to elaborate possible solution strategies
  • Active registration with the Medical Council of Malawi by the time of starting the job
  • Fluent in English and demonstrated proficiency in English writing skills
  • Fluent in Microsoft Office with ability to produce reports and documentation independently
  • Willing to travel to rural hard to reach districts
  • Ability to work well in a dynamic team environment alongside health workers, support staff and patients from a variety of backgrounds
  • Motivated to learn and improve skills

Benefits & Remuneration

An attractive remuneration package will be offered to the successful candidates commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Qualified and interested persons should apply strictly to the email address below, enclosing their cover letter; copies of relevant certificates and Curriculum Vitoe indicating three names of traceable referees with valid telephone numbers and email addresses not later than Friday, 30th August, 2024.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Email: apzuhr@pih.org with the title of the position indicated on the subject of the email addressing;

The Director of Human Resources and Administration
Partners In Health/Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (PIH/ APZU)
P.O. Box 56
NENO

NB: Partners In Health/Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (PIH/ APZU) is is an equal opportunity employer, so, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, tribe, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment.

Partners In Health/Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (PIH/ APZU) is committed to safeguarding staff, children and communities with whom we work with. We are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and are protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment.

Therefore, any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of applicable background checks.

The Organisation does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. If you are asked to make a payment at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact gondwe@pih.org and speakup@pih.org.