Overall Responsibilities:
The goal of the global five‐year USAID Medicines, Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program is to help low‐ and middle‐income countries to strengthen their pharmaceutical systems to ensure sustainable access to and appropriate use of safe, effective, quality‐assured, and affordable essential medicines and pharmaceutical services. MTaPS, implemented by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) and partners, will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health (MoH) directorate clinical & public health, RBC the Division of Maternal Child and Community Health (MCCH), and Rwanda Biomedical Center/HIV and STI division, Rwanda Food and Drug Authority (FDA) including other relevant implementing agencies to strengthen pharmaceutical systems including pharmaceutical sector governance, regulatory systems, pharmaceutical management information systems, and improve patient‐centered pharmaceutical services.
The Principal Technical Advisor – MIS provides technical assistance to the Rwanda Food and Drug Authority (FDA) to implement the Integrated Information Management System (IRIMS), the support may include other relevant entities to build capacity and strengthen pharmaceutical regulatory information systems, processes and management systems including monitoring and evaluation of the project implementation and effective coordination with relevant entities.
Technical Support
- Modifying software to fix errors, adapt it to new hardware, improve its performance, or upgrade interfaces
- Directing system testing and validation procedures
- Directing software programming and documentation development
- Consulting with departments or customers on project status and proposals
- Working with customers or departments on technical issues including software system design and maintenance
- Analyzing information to recommend and plan the installation of new systems or modifications of an existing system
- Consulting with engineering staff to evaluate software hardware interfaces and develop specifications and performance requirements
- Preparing reports on programming project specifications, activities, or status.
- Conferring with project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities
- Researching, designing, implementing, and managing software programs
- Maintaining and upgrading existing systems
- Training users
- Working closely with other developers, UX designers, business, and systems analysts
Coordination
- Work closely with the MTaPS Rwanda Management Team and the Finance and Administration Manager to develop and monitor appropriate/adequate budgets to support relevant technical activities
- Report regularly to the Country Program Director on progress/results achieved in technical work plans and barriers encountered, and resolve any challenges faced
- Represent the program at various technical meetings with other cooperating agencies and participate in various working groups as required, including making technical presentations on key activities and achievements of assigned areas as needed
- Maintain close liaison and coordination with senior officials at Rwanda FDA Work closely with both Rwanda FDA and MTaPS team members to ensure technical work plans are being implemented in a timely and technically sound manner, and productively leverage collaboration with key government and other stakeholders and partners
Capacity Building
- Contribute to the design, implementation, and monitoring of capacity building activities for Rwanda FDA and its stakeholders in the implementation of IRIMS
- Work with relevant partners to build sustainable capacity of Rwanda FDA and its stakeholders provincial/District offices for effective integration regulatory information management system implementation
- Carry out additional responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Contribute to the development of MTaPS Rwanda Performance Monitoring plan (PMP) and support the collection and validation of relevant data to report project indicators.
- Contribute to the adequate documentation and dissemination of program results and lessons learned, including the development and submission of project’s mandatory reports, technical documents, and reports; and abstracts and articles for scientific journals and conferences.
Required:
- A master’s degree in any of following domains is required
- Computer Science
- Computer Software Engineering
- Software Programming and Development
Preferred
- Degree in health information systems, health management, business management or public health with other relevant disciplines. Hands on experience in public health programs will be an added advantage are all added are all other advantages.
Experience
Required:
- A minimum of 8 years relevant working experience in developing and implementing software applications
- Professional program certification in Java is strongly desired
- Experience working on and implementing large‐scale software projects
- Professional experience using cybersecurity and open‐ source technology
- Experience developing software utilizing various coding languages including Java, C++, PHP and more
- Outstanding collaboration and communication skills are essential
- Experience developing secure software systems based upon industry specifications
- Experience in pharmaceuticals and or health technologies management, regulatory systems strengthening related projects, pharmacovigilance, preferably with international donors and organizations such as USAID, Global Fund, UN agencies‐WHO and World Bank, is an added advantage
Preferred:
- 10 years of progressively responsible experience is preferred
- Demonstrated experience in medical products regulatory and health information systems management
- Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing electronic tools and information systems
Knowledge and Skills
- Strong knowledge and understanding of medical products registration and health information systems in Rwanda
- In‐depth understanding of design, planning and functionalities of e‐health related tools and integration issues between tools desired
- Knowledge of the software development life‐cycle and project management paradigms
- Ability to develop unit testing of code components or complete applications
- Must be a full‐stack developer and understand concepts of software engineering.
- Experience working on a variety of software development projects.
- Analyze code for weaknesses and errors, and present detailed plans to improve them
- Experience developing customized code for multiple projects simultaneously
- Knowledge and interest in computer systems and the latest technologies
- The ability to learn new technologies quickly
- The ability to communicate complex procedures to other colleagues
- Commercial and business awareness
- Attention to detail and desire to probe further into data
- Significant experience in providing technical assistance on management information systems and implementing information manual and electronic tools to strengthen health/pharmaceutical systems desired
- Strong organizational skills and ability to work in a team‐ oriented, culturally diverse environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills, sound judgment, communication skills, training experience, ability to identify and resolve policy and operational constraints
- Experience and ability working with senior government officials
- Experience with USAID and other donor agencies is desirable
- English fluency required including speaking, writing, and reading; additional proficiency in French and Kinyarwanda language
Functional Competencies:
- Functional competencies: Highly motivated, resourceful, results driven and persistent. Ability to think strategically, gather and analyze information in order to make appropriate decisions. Strong interpersonal and communication skills. An analytical and creative mind
- Core MSH competencies: adaptability, communication, problem solving, creativity and innovation, timeliness of work, quality of work and team relationships, resource utilization
- Ability to manage teams, initiate and organize work, establish priorities in a time‐sensitive environment, and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality
- Sound judgment, self‐motivated, strong initiative
Travel requirements:
- Ability to travel in‐country to support technical activities
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including to the US as needed but depending on the COVID‐19 pandemic
Physical requirements:
- Keyboard use, pulling drawers, lifting papers <10lbs., etc
MSH is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, religion, creed, citizenship, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job requirements. MSH will take affirmative action to ensure that qualified applicants are employed and that employees are treated without regard to their race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran and disability status. In compliance with U.S. Department of Labor Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, MSH has developed and maintains an affirmative action program and plan.
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