Senior Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant TB Advisor

  • Senior-level, Long-term consulting assignment
  • Posted on 8 May 2019

Job Description

SUSTAINING TECHNICAL AND ANALYTIC RESOURCES

FELLOWSHIP TITLE: Senior Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant TB Advisor

HOST ORGANIZATION: National TB Program, Ministry of Health

LOCATION: Jakarta, Indonesia

POSITION LEVEL: Senior Technical Advisor

STAR-P1-030

TRAVEL: 20% estimated travel

STAR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI) supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Health (GH) Bureau. Its purpose is twofold: (1) Through individual fellowships, STAR will help strengthen the capacity of diverse American and low-and-middle-income country (LMIC) health professionals at all levels to make innovative contributions to global health (GH); and (2) STAR will create ground-breaking opportunities for both US and LMIC GH academic institutions and other groups, including professional associations, to create systems for open-access knowledge sharing, resulting in effective partnerships. STAR’s individual and institutional participants are contributing to the development of self-sustaining systems and tools that will produce global citizens with the full spectrum of relevant health competencies. STAR is managed by the Public Health Institute and implemented in partnership with Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH).

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

The STAR Fellowship is a two-year global health and learning opportunity with:

  • Individualized, tailored support to enhance the fellow’s achievement personal and

professional goals.

  • Personalized learning plans and access to learning resources (courses, conferences,

mentoring) based on fellow’s learning style and preferences.

  • Access to broad professional networks to enhance peer learning and knowledge sharing.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Background:

USAID is a leader in the global fight against tuberculosis (TB) and supports anti-TB efforts in high burden TB countries. Embedded advisors, such as via STAR Fellowships, are a key component of the USAID Administrator’s TB Accelerator initiative that aims to reach the UN General Assembly TB Declaration targets as well as to build the capacity and commitment of the host governments to ensure TB self-reliance through evidence-based TB programs.

Introduction:

The Senior Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant TB Advisor (Senior Advisor) shall provide state-of-the-art technical expertise to support the National Tuberculosis Programs (NTP) in implementing their National TB Strategic Plans (NSPs). S/he will support the National TB Program and build the capacity of the NTP Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant TB (PMDT) officer(s) in strengthening the PMDT program at the country level and improving the diagnosis and management of MDR, and pre-XDR/XDR-TB.

Reporting structure:

The Senior Advisor receive technical direction from the NTP Manager who will serve as the onsite manager and will work in close collaboration with USAID/Indonesia and USAID/Washington TB team.

Essential Duties and Outcomes:

Strategic Capacity building support and mentorship to NTP PMDT Officers on the implementation of NSP to address Drug-resistant TB:

  • Ensure the optimal functionality and effective supervision and capacity building of existing Drug-Resistant (DR) TB sites, including the use of mentorship, cohort monitoring, quality improvement tools and improved supervisory arrangements to increase the consistency and quality of clinical practice in PMDT.
  • Plan for expansion to additional DR TB treatment sites.
  • Review policy options for new regimens for consideration by NTP, by staying current on global updates for New Drug (ND) Shortened Treatment Regimen (STR), to ensure early adoption of international guidelines.
  • Build the NTP capacity in the areas of introduction, implementation and scale-up of the new drug regimen(s), including by sharing knowledge.
  • Provide support in the rollout of STR, regimens lacking injectables, and new drugs and regimens (ND&R) for drug resistant TB including development of training curricula, guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Analyze the drivers of loss to follow-up and other poor outcomes; initiate (with NTP) any necessary corrective actions.
  • Work with NTP to guide the national process of adopting and scaling up a customized DR-TB Comprehensive package.

Improved implementation of PMDT activities financed by Global Fund:

  • Support the NTP PMDT officer(s) to accelerate PMDT activities financed by Global Fund.

Improved coordination of PMDT activities nationwide:

  • Support the NTP PMDT officer(s) to expand the current national effort in active TB drug-safety monitoring and management (aDSM) and to strengthen the reporting and management of serious adverse events (SAEs), including integrated pharmacovigilance.
  • Strengthen the NTP’s ability to oversee a well-coordinated PMDT program through ambulatory care throughout the country, with established reporting and recording tools and standard operating procedures.
  • Work with NTP and Global Fund and/or the Ministry of Social Affairs to link MDR-TB patients with nutrition, cash, psychosocial support packages, or other benefits.
  • Provide regular updates on PMDT progress to NTP and USAID, including developing and submitting technical monthly progress report and bi-annual monitoring and evaluation report to USAID staff.
  • Participate in regular conference calls with USAID as needed.
  • Assist with identification or introduction of other new technical and clinical developments to improve the MDR, Pre-XDR/XDR-TB patients’ treatment outcome.

Anticipated Learning Outcomes: *required 10% time

  • Demonstrate proficiency across the core global health competencies defined as development practice, cross cultural awareness, communication, capacity strengthening, ethics of public health, health equity, gender equality and global burden of disease that is necessary for persons practicing in global health.
  • Cultivate mentorship skills based on the STAR GH mentorship curriculum to more effectively support and improve knowledge transfer and skills acquisition of staff, incoming fellows and interns.
  • Advance leadership skills to successful support capacity building and knowledge sharing activities, and mentor develop junior staff.
  • Apply leadership skills and technical expertise to support programmatic growth and scale up within PMDT/TB programming.

FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Required:

  • MD plus certificate in internal medicine or MPH or equivalent.
  • A minimum of 13 years of relevant TB or global health experience with a master’s degree or 15 years with a bachelor’s degree.
  • A minimum of 10 years of MDR experience.
  • In depth knowledge and hands-on experience in the clinical management of drug resistant TB is an advantage.
  • Demonstrated ability to review, analyze and advise all aspects of PMDT at national and regional level.
  • Up-to-date knowledge of WHO and national policies on all aspects of the management of drug resistant TB.
  • Up-to-date knowledge of ongoing and emerging issues in PMDT, like epidemiology, international policy, evidence development and (MDR) TB control strategies, especially regarding shorter MDR regimens, new drugs and new diagnostics.
  • Experience in teaching/training and capacity building.
  • Experience working with the key stakeholders in TB program, preferably the national stakeholders and international donors.
  • Fluent in English and Bahasa with ability to actively participate in meetings in English.
  • Indonesian citizenship required.

TO APPLY:

To apply to this position, please send your CV/resume and separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, to https://recruitment.ghstar.org/. All applications must be submitted by May 31st, 2019 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.

About the Organization

Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI) supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Health (GH) Bureau. Its purpose is twofold: (1) Through individual fellowships, STAR will help strengthen the capacity of diverse American and low-and-middle-income country (LMIC) health professionals at all levels to make innovative contributions to global health (GH); and (2) STAR will create ground-breaking opportunities for both US and LMIC GH academic institutions and other groups, including professional associations, to create systems for open-access knowledge sharing, resulting in effective partnerships. STAR’s individual and institutional participants are contributing to the development of self-sustaining systems and tools that will produce global citizens with the full spectrum of relevant health competencies. STAR is managed by the Public Health Institute and implemented in partnership with Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH).

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