Botswana: Logistics Specialist
Country: Botswana
Closing date: 09 Jan 2014
Crown Agents USA, Inc. (CA-USA) is seeking a Logistics Specialist for the Supply Chain Management Systems Project in Botswana.
Our Business
Crown Agents is an international development company employing over 600 personnel worldwide with a presence in more than 40 countries, subsidiaries in 12 countries, and permanent staff working on the ground in 22 corporate offices in Africa, Asia Latin America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Crown Agents provides direct assistance, management consulting, and human and institutional development for public and private sector clients in customs and trade facilitation, public financial management, procurement, logistics, and health systems strengthening.
Crown Agents USA (CA-USA), the U.S. incorporated subsidiary of CA Group, provides direct procurement services, technical assistance, and training to improve health outcomes, establish good governance, and stimulate economic growth across the developing world. Established practice areas include Health, Supply Chain Services, Food Security, and M&E. Since its incorporation in the United States in 1998, CA-USA has provided technical assistance services and support to U.S. Government agencies and international organizations such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), and the Gates Foundation.
Role & Responsibilities
The Logistics Specialist will provide technical assistance in the area of medicines to the Botswana Ministry of Health and implementing partners. The Logistics Specialist will support a range of programs to strengthen logistics systems for HIV/AIDS and related commodities, while improving supply chain management practices and data management systems. Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), drugs for opportunistic infections (OIs), TB, and other essential medicines will be a key focus for this role. The Logistics Specialist will also work to ensure that logistics management requirements are adequately provided for in all USG-funded HIV/AIDS commodity support programs in Botswana.
Specific Responsibilities
• Provide support to the Botswana Central Medical Stores, the Logistics Management Unit (LMU) and the MOH for the forecasting, supply planning, procurement, management and distribution of HIV/AIDS related commodities as well as essential medicines to all sites.• In collaboration with the MOH Pharmaceutical Services Division, the MOH HIV/AIDS Unit, and CMS/LMU, monitor the functioning of the ART and Medicines Commodity Logistics System, ensuring that stock outs and overstocks at the ART sites and other health facilities are avoided or kept to the minimum.• In collaboration with MOH, CMS/LMU and procurement unit as well as other stakeholders, monitor in-country pipelines, supply plans and stock status at CMS and treatment facilities so as to avoid stock outs and overstock at all levels of the ART and medicines supply chain to ensure that adequate levels of all required commodities are maintained at treatment facilities and CMS.• In collaboration with MOH, CMS and other stakeholders set up and operate an ART and Essential Medicines Commodity Tracking System in Botswana.• In collaboration with relevant partners support the operations of the logistics management unit to obtain and analyze data on ART commodities and Essential Medicines from all health facilities reporting LMIS data. • Support the analysis of data generated from the LMIS reports for understanding of performance of Botswana’s logistics system for HIV/AIDS commodities, and provide analysis to stakeholders to guide the supply chain management decision making for the affected commodities.• Provide technical assistance in forecasting and quantification of ARVs and other HIV/AIDS related commodities as well as essential medicines and in the preparation of procurement and supply plans.• Provide technical assistance in the vetting of orders for ARVs and other HIV/AIDS related commodities as well as essential medicines to support the distribution process for these commodities to facilities.• In consultation with the Logistics Management Unit Head identify the need for specialized logistics technical assistance from SCMS and support the coordination of this assistance when provided.• Conduct on-the-job trainings and other logistics training workshops for MOH, Health facilities and cooperating agency staff in order to improve forecasting, storage and distribution, data management and inventory control.• Monitor the national pipeline for all ARVs and other HIV/AIDS related commodities as well as essential medicines and provide support in the maintenance of these pipelines.• Coordinate closely with all donor organizations and other stakeholders to ensure rational and timely procurement of HIV/AIDS-related commodities.• Regularly brief the LMU head on developments in and activities concerning the logistics system for HIV/AIDS commodities.• Provide support to USG-supported HIV/AIDS projects, as necessary.• Maintain close working relations with all USG-funded HIV/AIDS cooperating agencies.• Participate in the development of SCMS Project work plans with the SCMS Botswana team including the promotion of innovative logistics approaches.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree in medical or clinical laboratory technology, public health, public administration, business administration, logistics or a related field required; Master’s Degree in a related field desired. • Minimum three years proven working experience in supervision of HIV/AIDS commodity logistics management and Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management operations.• Minimum three years developing country work experience, particularly under U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and/or Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funding.• Demonstrated work history representing, liaising, and collaborating with government, private, and non-governmental organizations.• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, Project, Visio and PowerPoint. • Fluency in English required including excellent reporting and writing and communication skills in English.• Training in logistics management will be an added advantage.• Work experience in Botswana preferred.• Experience with ARV and Essential Medicines forecasting, quantification, procurement, dispensing, warehousing and distribution required for the prevention, treatment and monitoring of the following: HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, STIs and essential medicines.• Significant work experience in HIV/AIDS programs, health commodity logistics, and/or supply chain strengthening preferred.• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to analyze business processes, information systems, organizational policies, and human resources to determine weaknesses in processes and propose changes. • Must demonstrate personal attributes such as loyalty and integrity in addition to being resourceful and flexible, which is inherent in this position.
How to apply:
Application Process
To apply to this position, please email your CV to careers@crownagents.com. Include your name, along with the title of the position you are applying for, in the subject line. Visit our website at www.crownagentsusa.com for more information about our company. No phone calls, faxes or walk-ins please. Crown Agents USA, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
Crown Agents USA will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with qualified disabilities in accordance with the ADA and local labor law as applicable. If you require a reasonable accommodation for our application process, please contact our Recruiting department directly. Requests will be kept confidential and shared strictly on a need-to-know basis only.
