Chemonics International Inc.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Country Director

JOB LOCATION: Yaoundé, Cameroon  

REPORTS TO: Project Management Unit (PMU) Director  

Summary

The USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project seeks a Country Director (based in Yaoundé, Cameroon) to support the GHSC-PSM project in Cameroon. GHSC-PSM is the primary vehicle through which USAID 1) procures and provides health commodities, 2) provides technical assistance to improve partner countries’ management of the supply chain, and 3) collaborates with key international stakeholders to support global health initiatives. GHSC-PSM connects technical solutions, experts, and proven commercial processes to promote efficient and cost-effective health supply chains worldwide. Our goal is to ensure uninterrupted supplies of health commodities to save lives and to create a healthier future for all. 

The GHSC-PSM project in Cameroon is responsible for the procurement and delivery of HIV/AIDS and Malaria health commodities to 10 regional warehouses and works with Third Party Logistics (3PL) providers to directly deliver commodities to health facilities throughout the country. The project is currently providing technical assistance in forecasting and supply planning, procurement, warehousing and inventory management, management information systems, monitoring and evaluation, transportation and distribution, and knowledge management.

The Country Director is responsible for providing overall strategic direction and leadership for the GHSCPSM project in Cameroon. The Country Director will manage the development of technical strategies; monitor programmatic, financial, and administrative performance; supervise the administration of standard project operating, financial and compliance procedures; manage short and long-term technical assistance; supervise technical and operational staff and maintain effective communication with the USAID Mission in Cameroon, the Chemonics home office in Washington, D.C., the public and private sectors, and other donors and cooperating agencies. In addition, the Project Director will oversee project closeout; monitor the transition of technical activities to local and/or international partners; ensure critical closeout deadlines for administrative closeout are followed; supervise project property disposition; lead internal and external communications regarding end of project activities, end of subcontracts and vendor agreements, among others. 

Responsibilities Include:

Leadership 

•        Maintain strong and positive working relationships with clients and partners including USAID, the Government of Cameroon, implementing partners, and the Regional Funds for Health Promotion in all 10 regions as well as vendors and subcontractors

•        Work closely with the USAID Mission in Cameroon and USAID backstops in Washington to develop and implement an annual work plan, budget, and closeout plan that reflect the priorities of USAID, the Ministry of Health, and other key stakeholders

•        Strategically identify capacity gaps and arrange for appropriate training of project staff

•        Ensure the use of appropriate management methodologies to plan, organize and control resources to achieve goals

•        Develop, implement and review appropriate staffing, technical assistance, and procurement plans that lead to the effective implementation of the project’s strategy and work plan, including close out efforts

Technical Implementation 

•        Supervise the administration of standard project operating, financial, logistics, security and compliance procedures

•        Develop, update and implement performance monitoring plan that encompasses commodity security and logistics management indicators and includes project-wide performance measures

•        Oversee regular data collection and reporting and lead quarterly reviews of performance analysis to identify issues and drive evidence-based interventions

•        Assess risks quarterly and implement risk management/mitigation strategies for procurement and logistics services

•        Ensure compliance with procurement standard operating procedures, for both in-country procurement and international commodity procurement, including supplier order fulfillment, order tracking, customs clearance/freight forwarding, storage and distribution, and logistics management information systems

•        Coordinate with relevant stakeholders in the provision of assistance to build the capacity and capability of national systems

•        Report results of the projects' work to USAID, Ministry of Health, other donors, and the home office; ensure timely submission of all deliverables

•        Maintain good knowledge and understanding of all office rules and procedures as set forth in the field office policy manual and other Chemonics standard operating procedures

Project Close out

•        Lead communications regarding GHSC-PSM transition or closure of technical activities with the

USAID Mission, USAID Washington, government partners and local/international organizations

•        Develop and implement strategies to conduct project closeout in accordance with USAID and Chemonics standard operating procedures and following the timeframe stipulated in the approved workplan  

•        Oversee project administrative closeout, including closure of bank accounts, ending subcontractor and vendor agreements, financial reconciliations, closure of project offices, reduction of staff, etc. 

•        Manage the development and execution of project property disposition plans  

•        Work with staff, Chemonics home office, USAID Washington and USAID Mission to develop distribution plans for procurement orders that will arrive in country after project closure 

•        Closely monitor key project closeout deadlines including end of technical activities, deadlines to issue notices for government partners, subcontractors, vendors, among others

•        Perform other duties and tasks as designated by supervisor and/or project leadership

Qualifications Include:

•        Advanced degree in medicine, public health, supply chain, logistics, project management, or a related field, or a bachelor’s degree in the same fields plus an additional 5 years of work experience beyond the 10 required below

•        Minimum 10 years of experience in public health program management, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, and/or supply chain management systems

•        Minimum 5 years of experience as Country Director, Deputy Director, or technical component leader, particularly on USAID-funded pharmaceutical supply chain projects or similar experience at Home Office level combined with STTA missions

•        Demonstrated ability to manage and implement complex USAID-funded public health projects in a developing country context

•        Demonstrated ability to manage compliance, finance and operations aspects of a USAID-funded project

•        Skilled in leading and managing high-performing teams; ability to build capacity of team members and local government counterparts

•        Proven ability to work collaboratively with host-country officials, donors, and other key stakeholders

•        Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills; proven diplomatic and public relations skills

•        Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity

•        Fluency in English required

Location and Length of Assignment:

This position is expected to be a three-to-six-month position based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, with intermittent local and international travel as needed. 

To Apply:

Applicants should please email their application (CV and cover letter) to CameroonPSMPMU@ghsc-psm.org no later than COB Monday, April 15, 2024. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.  Chemonics does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process.