Short-term consultant

Job Description

Chemonics seeks a short-term consultant to conduct Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) training for the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project in Zambia. GHSC-PSM is the primary vehicle through which USAID procures and provides health commodities and technical assistance to improve partner countries’ management of the supply chain in collaboration with key international stakeholders. GHSC-PSM also provides technical assistance to ZAMRA to help ensure that all medicines and allied substances being made available to the Zambian people consistently meet the set standards of quality, safety and efficacy. With the limited number of inspectors to cover the entire country, ZAMRA is aware that compromising on the quality of medicines and medical supplies available on the market has the potential to increase the risk of posing serious public health concerns and reverse positive gains attained in HIV, malaria, and TB treatment and maternal, neonatal, and child health over the years. It is against this background that ZAMRA seeks to appoint and train part-time inspectors through technical assistance from GHSC-PSM. The short-term consultant will provide technical training to GHSC-PSM Zambia in 1) carrying out inspections of public health premises such as pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, importers/exporters offices, distributors and wholesale dealers of medicines and allied substances to ensure compliance to set standards and; 2) collecting, labeling, storing, retrieving, and testing medicine samples to ensure quality and adherence to supply chain processes. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

• Review existing resources and develop appropriate training materials to conduct a formal training of inspectors in Lusaka, Zambia (or another designated location in Zambia)
• Conduct a five-day classroom-based training of part-time inspectors which will involve the training of 13 ZAMRA members of staff, 10 principal pharmacists, four PSM staff, and three pharmacists in priority districts
• Prepare training materials; the consultant shall work with ZAMRA to prepare materials for the training, including a trainers’ guide, participant workbook, and associated presentation materials to cover the following areas:
  • Initial assessment of participant knowledge at the beginning of the training.
  • The role of the ZAMRA inspector
  • Post-market surveillance
  • Management of high-risk medicines
  • Assessment of pharmaceutical storage quality and potential impact to commodities
  • Assessment of manufacturing practices and inspections of various facilities
  • Final assessment of participant knowledge at the end of the training

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in relevant field required
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience in training medicine regulatory inspectors is required; preferably in the project and supply chain management sector
• Experience in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Distribution Practice (GDP), and sampling techniques required, along with a clear track record of working with regulatory authorities in developing countries
• Familiarity with international regulations on post-market surveillance and GDP standards required
• Skilled at report writing and proficient in relevant computer software, including Microsoft Office
• Ability to mentor and advise a team of inspectors
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with demonstrated diplomacy and the ability to communicate effectively in a cross-cultural environment
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Fluency in written and spoken English required

Application instructions:

Please send an email with your CV and cover letter attached and “ZAMRA Training STTA” in the subject line to psmzambiarecruitment@gmail.com by February 22, 2019. Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

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About the Organization

Owned entirely by employees, Chemonics is an ISO-9001 certified international development company. For more than 40 years, we have partnered with local and international organizations to promote social and economic change around the world.