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JOB DESCRIPTION

Position title: Technical Officer
Reports to: Optimize Project Coordinator, Senegal
Program area: Public Health
Location: Dakar, Senegal
PATH title: Project Officer II

Note:  Please submit a cover letter with your CV. Applicants should have legal authority to work in Senegal.

Overview:

PATH is an international nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. PATH's mission is to improve the health of people around the world by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging healthy behaviors. PATH is working in more than 70 countries worldwide. PATH established a project office in Senegal in 2001 and is the main international nongovernmental organization collaborating with the Senegal Ministry of Health on the national immunization program. 

Project Optimize, a World Health Organization and PATH partnership, envisions a radical transformation in the way that vaccines and other essential health products reach populations in low- and middle-income countries. A key component of project efforts is to accelerate this transformation by identifying, adapting, and demonstrating innovative systems, technologies, and practices for efficient delivery of high-quality products.

Senegal is one of five countries that have agreed to collaborate with the Optimize project on this demonstration work. The other four are Albania, Guatemala, Tunisia, and Vietnam.

PATH seeks a Technical Officer with experience in supply chain management and logistics to support research and demonstration of new and innovative systems, technologies, and practices for the vaccine supply chain in Senegal. Under the guidance and direction of the Optimize Project Coordinator, and in collaboration with the global Optimize team, duties and responsibilities include:

Project design and planning:

• Provide input into the design of both formative research and demonstration components of the project, particularly those aspects related to supply chain and logistics.
• Participate in the development of annual work plans and budgets.
• Work closely with partners in the Senegal Ministry of Health to develop research instruments and detailed work plans and timelines.
• Prepare submissions to secure necessary project approvals in Senegal.

Overseeing field work:

• Monitor and supervise the implementation of all research and demonstration activities.
• Provide training at project sites on research and demonstration implementation, monitoring, and evaluation and assist with the development of training tools and materials.
• Identify local technical contractors; monitor, supervise, and evaluate their work for the implementation of project activities.

Data analysis and reporting:

• Lead data and results analysis.
• Prepare research and demonstration project reports, papers, and other documents and support the dissemination of research and demonstration results.
• Participate in the preparation of project technical and financial reports.

Other responsibilities:

• Other activities as assigned by the Project Coordinator.

Knowledge, skills, and experience required:

• Advanced degree in logistics, supply chain management, cold chain or refrigeration, or other relevant discipline.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience. 
• Qualitative and quantitative research skills, including applied research (from research to practice).
• Knowledge of Senegalese health system.
• Proven ability to provide training and technical support to research and project partners in the field.
• Proven interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team.
• Able and willing to travel within Senegal up to 40 percent per year.
• Knowledge of immunization systems a plus.
• Knowledge and experience with information systems highly desirable.
• Knowledge of project management and management issues desirable.
• Excellent written and spoken French and working knowledge of English.

Please apply on our website www.path.org or send your application by email to bsemont@path.org. The deadline for the application is 8 October 2009.