Project Management Support Specialist - Public Health Emergency Management (Retainer)

Organizational Context

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. 

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. 

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it. 

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Ethiopia Multi-country office (ETMCO) sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Addis Ababa which manages a portfolio of engagements in four (4)  Horn of Africa countries  (Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan and South Sudan).  ETMCO focuses on Infrastructure, Procurement, Project Management, HR and Transactional Services, and Fund Management services across a wide range of sectors including Health, Education, Agriculture, Resilient infrastructure among others.  

Our goal is to support countries, help people in need and enable our partners through  delivering on our mandate of infrastructure, procurement and project management in the countries in the Horn of Africa.  Building on our global experience successfully delivering projects in complex operating environments, a healthy pipeline of engagements are at various stages of discussion with our priority partners.  

Project Background

UNOPS has signed a project agreement with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the Capacity of the Ministry for the Realization of Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP-II) on selected priorities. This project will be implemented in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the overall objective/purpose is to contribute towards the realization of selected strategic priorities of the Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP-II) which is more on project management focusing on institutional capacity building, technical assistance etc. UNOPS is selected to manage and implement the project by creating a project management unit (PMU).

This unit will be formed by a group of experts and specialists in the relevant matters that will be in charge of delivering the outputs.

The Project Management Support Specialist will have a dual line of reporting.  First and foremost to the UNOPS Project Manager, with a functional reporting line for deliverables produced under the assignment to the client institution: Office of the Minister

Strategic Initiative:  

• Improve Public Health Emergency and Disaster Management

• The Project Management Support Specialist on healthcare quality transformation, medical services improvement, health innovation, and supply chain will be responsible for supporting the national health service quality strategy, working with the ministerial delivery unit to support the implementation of transformational agendas of health supply chain, and providing technical and analytical expertise and advice to strengthen the medical services improvement in the country

• The Project Management Support Specialist will take a lead role in planning, implementing, and evaluating healthcare quality initiatives and activities, and will assist the Ministry and the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Services (EPSS) in developing strategies, guidelines, and training materials.

• He/she will support the implementation of the specialty and subspecialty roadmap of the country. 

• The Project Management Support Specialist will provide technical leadership and guidance for the development of a national medical and wellness tourism strategic plan. Besides, he will support the implementation of this strategic plan in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.  

• He/she will participate regularly in technical working groups, steering committee meetings, review meetings on healthcare quality transformation, health system innovations, supply chain, and advise the Minister’s Office on transformational leadership and strategic decision making to ensure the availability of essential medicines and supplies at all health facilities.

• He/she will provide technical leadership and guidance will lead the collection, analysis, and sharing of data to formulate a clear image of progress on health system quality transformation.

• The Project Management Support Specialist will identify areas within the healthcare system where innovation can lead to improvements in healthcare delivery, patient outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.

• The Project Management Support Specialist will develop and implement strategies to drive healthcare innovation, including identifying and evaluating new technologies, processes, and practices.

• The Project Management Support Specialist will expedite regular monitoring of selected high-impact quality indicators to ensure the system advances against the consented plan and the interventions are impactful in the transformation agenda.

• The Project Management Support Specialist will build capacity and coach others to improve the quality of output and outcomes, motivate others by being a role-model in building a positive working culture towards common goals, and perform other duties related to the Minister’s Office activities .

• Conduct assessments: Project Management Support Specialist will assess healthcare facilities and services to identify areas for improvement and develop action plans to address identified gaps.

• The Project Management Support Specialist will liaise with stakeholders, including healthcare providers, government agencies, and donor organizations, to ensure alignment and support for healthcare quality improvement initiatives.

• The Project Management Support Specialist will liaise closely with MoH and ensure that project proposals or initiatives are compatible with the national quality and innovation strategies and the HSTP priorities 

• Finally, the Project Management Support Specialist will submit quarterly reports on activities supported to the Minister’s Office.

• M.D. (Doctor of Medicine), Master’s degree in Public Health, Business Administration, Project Management, or other related fields is required.
• A Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Public Health, Business Administration, Project Management, or other related fields with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of Master’s Degree requirement.

• Specialty Certifications in various clinical fields is an asset. 

Experience 

• At least 5 years of proven experience of work directly related to high level management positions preferably  in the Ethiopian health sector is required.

• Extensive experience in healthcare quality improvement initiatives and activities, including the development and implementation of National Health Service quality strategies is an asset.

• Strong knowledge and understanding of supply chain management in the healthcare sector, including the availability and distribution of essential medicines and supplies is an asset.

• Experience in developing and implementing strategies for healthcare innovation, including the evaluation and adoption of new technologies, processes, and practices is an asset.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify areas for improvement and develop action plans to address identified gaps is an asset.

• Experience in conducting assessments of healthcare facilities and services to identify areas for improvement, and developing and implementing action plans to address identified gaps is desirable.

• Experience in providing coaching and mentorship to healthcare providers to improve the quality of care they deliver is desirable.

• Proven ability to foster partnerships and collaborations between healthcare providers, government agencies, and other stakeholders to drive healthcare innovation and improvement is an asset.

• Experience in monitoring progress on healthcare quality improvement initiatives and identifying areas where adjustments need to be made to achieve the desired outcomes is desirable.

• Strong communication and reporting skills, with experience in preparing regular reports on progress made in healthcare quality transformation, medical services improvement, health innovation, and supply chain initiatives is desirable.

• Ability to demonstrate in-depth understanding and analytical capacity across issues related to health system strengthening, partnership & alignment, and others with a focus on decentralized, evidence-based planning, prioritization, and monitoring is an asset.

• Experience working with departments within the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, development partners and excellent understanding of Ethiopia’s health system is desirable.

• Proven track record in providing high-level strategic advice to government officials or senior management in the health sector is desirable.

• Experience in managing and coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives in the health sector is an asset.

1. Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
2. Contract level: LICA-10 (ICS10)
3. Contract duration: One year, with possibility of extension

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

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