Job Description
SUSTAINING TECHNICAL AND ANALYTIC RESOURCES
FELLOWSHIP TITLE: Senior Technical Advisor for Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant TB, Childhood TB and Latent TB Infection
HOST ORGANIZATION: National Center for TB and Leprosy Control, Ministry of Health
LOCATION: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
POSITION LEVEL: Senior Technical Advisor
STAR-P2-114
TRAVEL: 40% 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 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 Technical Advisor for Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant TB, Childhood TB and Latent TB Infection, (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). The Senior Adviser will provide technical support to the National TB Program through capacity-building to the NTP Programmatic PMDT, Childhood TB and LTBI to improve the diagnosis and management of MDR-TB, childhood TB and LTBI.
Reporting structure:
The Senior Advisor will receive technical direction from the National Center for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control (CENAT) Director and will serve as the onsite manager, coordinating and working in close collaboration with USAID/Cambodia and USAID/Washington TB team.
Essential Duties:
Strategic capacity building support and mentorship to NTP’s PMDT, Childhood, and LTBI Officers on the implementation of NSP and Global Fund (GF) grants:
- Ensure the optimal functionality and capacity building of existing TB multi-drug resistant treatment 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, childhood TB and LTBI 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), Childhood TB and LTBI to ensure early adoption of international guidelines.
- Work with NTP to guide the national process of adopting and scaling up a customized DR-TB Comprehensive Package (based on existing evidence and lessons learned in other countries).
- Enhance the NTP capacity through the introduction, implementation and scale-up of the new drug regimen(s) and guidelines/protocols of childhood TB and LTBI, and through knowledge sharing.
- Provide support in the rollout of childhood TB and LTBI training curricula, guidelines/protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Improved implementation of PMDT, Childhood TB and LTBI activities financed by Global Fund:
- Support the NTP’s PMDT, Childhood and LTBI officer(s) to accelerate PMDT, Childhood TB and LTBI activities implemented and financed by the Global Fund.
- Review performance reports to identify any issues that may lead to any delays of program implementation and propose solutions to address the identified issues.
- Conduct policy and program analysis on the gaps in the implementation of programmatic management of MDR-TB, Childhood TB and LTBI.
- Analyze the reasons for loss to follow-up and other poor outcomes and initiate any necessary corrective actions in cooperation with NTP.
- Assist with identification or introduction of other new technical and clinical developments to improve the MDR, Pre-XDR/XDR-TB patients’ treatment outcome, childhood and LTBI treatment adherence.
Improved coordination of PMDT, Childhood TB and LTBI activities nationwide:
- Assist the country with preparing for the GF’s new funding model by assisting with the development or review of the National Strategic Plan for TB and helping the country prepare for the country dialogue and planning for the concept note.
- Support NTP to oversee sub-technical working groups including MDR-TB, Childhood TB and LTBI with established reporting and recording tools and standard operating procedures.
- Provide regular updates on PMDT, Childhood TB and LTBI progress to NTP and USAID, including developing and submitting technical monthly progress report and bi-annual monitoring and evaluation report to USAID Mission.
- Participate in Global Fund meetings in-country with the NTP.
- Identify any technical assistance needs that the country may need external assistance with, and work with USAID and other partners to fill these needs.
- Participate in regular conference calls with USAID as needed.
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, Childhood TB and LTBI programming.
FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Required:
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) plus certificate in internal medicine or MPH or equivalent.
- Minimum 13 years of relevant technical experience with PMDT, Childhood TB, and LTBI experiences.
- Demonstrated ability to review, analyze and advise all aspects of PMDT, Childhood TB, and LTBI 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/Childhood TB/LTBI, such as epidemiology, international policy, evidence development and PMDT/Childhood TB/LTBI control strategies, especially regarding, new drugs, diagnostic tools and regimens.
- 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 Khmer with ability to actively participate in meetings in English.
- Cambodian citizenship required.
Additional skills (preferred)
- In depth knowledge and hands-on experience in the clinical management of drug resistant TB is an advantage.
TO APPLY:
All applicants are required to apply for this position through STAR’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghstar.org/, which allows you to store your CV/resume and separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. Position will remain open until filled.
