Democratic Republic of the Congo: Program Manager, HIV Diagnostics

Founded in 2002 by President William J. Clinton, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to strengthening integrated health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and other illnesses. Based on the premise that business oriented strategy can facilitate solutions to global health challenges, CHAI acts as a catalyst to mobilize new resources and optimize the impact of these resources to save lives, via improved organization of commodity markets and more effective local management. By working in association with governments and other NGO partners, CHAI is focused on large scale impact and, to date, CHAI has secured lower pricing agreements for treatment options in more than 70 countries. In addition, CHAI's teams are working side-by-side with over 30 governments to tackle many of the largest barriers to effective treatment and care.

With the establishment of the ambitious 2020 “90-90-90” treatment targets, there is a renewed focus on initiating HIV-infected people onto ART as soon as possible, and ensuring they remain on effective treatment to achieve viral suppression – both of which require better access to Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) and Viral Load (VL) testing. However, access to effective EID and VL testing is hampered, as the market for both tests has historically been dominated by complex, laboratory-based technologies, which are unable to meet the entire testing need in resource-limited settings. These technologies require high capital investment, sophisticated laboratory infrastructure and highly trained technicians that are not available in many settings, and have limited geographic reach. As a result, most patients do not have access to testing on-site where they receive care, instead relying on transportation of samples to and results from centralized laboratories to provide access to testing. Although these conventional, laboratory-based technologies have formed the backbone for national testing programs and have provided testing to many patients, implementation has been hampered by system challenges in establishing effective sample transportation networks, transmitting test results to patients, and optimizing laboratory workflows.

The goal of this project is to speed clinical decision-making by reducing test turn-around time for EID and VL testing. This will enable earlier treatment initiation for HIV-positive infants, earlier interventions for patients with poor treatment adherence, and timelier switching of patients onto more effective second-line regimens in the case of first-line treatment failure. To reach this goal, the project will increase the proportion of EID and VL results that are returned to patients through the scale-up of point of care (POC) products as well as the strengthening of existing conventional HIV diagnostics programs.

The project will work to ensure that high-quality routine POC EID and VL testing is established, and conventional EID and VL systems are strengthened. Specifically, to facilitate the selection of new POC EID and VL technologies based on DRC needs and context, assist DRC in the adoption of recent WHO Guideline recommendations, and support national scale-up of POC testing by establishing necessary systems and processes to ensure result delivery and linkage to care, as well as address gaps in conventional testing systems by improving sample transportation networks, data management, laboratory workflow, and quality assurance programs.

Position:

CHAI is seeking a talented, highly motivated, and flexible Program Manager to lead the development, expansion, and improvement of national EID and VL programs through the implementation of innovative point of care technologies and systems strengthening in DRC. The Program Manager will be based in Kinshasa and will work closely with the Ministry of Public Health (MoH), the National AIDS Control Program (PNLS), UNICEF, and other stakeholders. As the program lead, the program manager will oversee the execution of the project, including an initial scoping exercise, to ensure that the country has reached certain diagnostics milestones prior to the scale-up of the POC EID and HIV Viral Load programs as well as the long-term success of the project. S/he will identify and execute strategies to accelerate the adoption of new and innovative EID and VL technologies/assays, ensure results delivery, and strengthen linkage to care. Furthermore, he/she will promote MoH/partner coordination, strengthen access to essential HIV testing services such as EID, CD4, chemistry, and hematology, and VL testing, promote sustainable solutions for equipment service and maintenance challenges, and strengthen the relationship in the HIV logistics supply chain management systems for lab commodities.

This position requires a highly motivated individual with outstanding program development and management capabilities and a strong analytical and problem solving record. The Program Manager is required to work with government officials and partners, have excellent communication and negotiation skills, and forge strong relationships with the PNLS/MoH, UNICEF, and other government agencies and partners. S/he must be able to work independently with limited supervision and will supervise a Laboratory Scientist and Program Analyst. The Program Manager will work as part of the CHAI-DRC team and will report to the Country Manager.

Please note that this is an unaccompanied post.

• Lead diagnostic program scoping to plan out detailed activities over the next 4 years and identify intervention areas
• Manage the development of program work plans, annual targets, budgets, and progress monitoring to ensure successful delivery of the project in DRC
• Work with the PNLS/MoH to ensure country milestones are met prior to scale-up
• Assist the MoH and reference labs to develop national diagnostic policies and implementation plans to maximize the impact of new and existing diagnostic technologies
• Lead the creation of operational systems to support the implementation of national diagnostic programs, including training, quality assurance, and data management
• Identify or establish a coordination mechanism among the treatment programs, national reference labs, and key in-country partners and funders to leverage synergies across multiple initiatives and resources and ensure buy-in of key stakeholders
• Work with the National Supply Chain Program to ensure a sustainable and strong model for HIV Laboratory commodities procurement and distribution line
• Create effective and sustainable training programs, quality assurance, and data management to support accelerated roll-out for MoH/PNLS on lab systems strengthening related issues (sample transport, technology selection)
• Identify funding opportunities to strengthen HIV labs and diagnostics, engage potential in-country donors, support the development of Global Fund concept notes, and advocate for budget allocation from PEPFAR COP for diagnostic programs
• Compile progress reports and deliver presentations related to project activities, as required
• Interface with the global teams to assist donor relationship management, global partner engagement, and supplier negotiations

• Other responsibilities as needed

• Master's Degree, specialization in laboratory sciences preferred; Bachelor's minimum with exceptional experience

• A minimum of 5 years' professional work experience

• Familiarity with global health issues, particularly HIV, HCV, and TB

• Lab and diagnostics-related experience, either in a programmatic or clinical setting

• Exceptional diplomatic and interpersonal skills, and ability to build strong professional relationships with a range of stakeholders in a challenging, multi-cultural environment

• Ability to navigate government processes with multiple stakeholders

• Strong analytical skills

• Technical proficiency with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

• Ability to solve challenging problems without extensive structural or operational support

• Able to adapt to fast-paced and changing environments, both internally and externally

• Excellent business-oriented verbal, visual and written communication skills

• Fluent in English and French, proficiency in both written and verbal

• Previous work experience in sub-Saharan Africa

Advantages:

• Knowledge of workflow related to EID, CD4, Viral Load, POC, understanding the clinical underpinnings of these programs, and general market dynamics of their respective technology platforms and reagents
• Laboratory experience in either microbiology, molecular diagnostics, flow cytometry (CD4 testing), Hematology, Chemistry
• Experience working in management consulting, business strategy groups, investment banks, or similar fast-paced results-oriented environments
• Experience working in laboratories in DRC
• Demonstrated growth in responsibility in current or previous roles

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