Terms of Reference – Malaria Program Manager
Clinton Health Access Initiative, Vietnam

Position/Title: Malaria Program Manager
Base Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Length of position: One year, extendable based on performance and funding
Reports to: Associate Director

Background

The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) is a trusted advisor to governments worldwide, helping them transform the way they provide health services. Established in Vietnam in 2006, CHAI works with a number of departments in the Ministry of Health to help reach national HIV, hepatitis, TB, malaria and vaccination targets. CHAI has emphasized a sustainable and integrative approach to health systems strengthening premised on a close partnership with government to build national capacity so that programs can continue without our support. CHAI’s team in Vietnam consists of a dynamic core of 18 staff in addition to resources available at the regional and global levels.

Vietnam is on the cusp of elimination, with fewer than 1,100 confirmed cases in 2020, highly focalized in only 4 of 63 provinces (Binh Phuoc, Dak Lak, Gia lai and Phu Yen). CHAI has been working since 2014 with the Vietnam Malaria program to support their objective of eliminating P. falciparum malaria by 2025 and all forms of malaria by 2030. CHAI primary focus is on establishing an integrated, sustainable surveillance system to catalyze elimination in Vietnam and deploy subnational staff to capacitate government staff to aggressively pursue elimination through targeted interventions among the most at-risk populations.

Description

CHAI is seeking a Malaria Program Manager to lead the Vietnam CHAI malaria team. The Manager will oversee CHAI’s support to the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology (NIMPE), the Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology (IMPE) in Quy Nhon and HCMC, and other elements of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in optimizing current strategies and developing and executing new strategies and interventions to help accelerate Vietnam’s drive towards malaria elimination.

This role offers a unique opportunity for a talented individual to apply epidemiological and analytical skills to guide the operations of a disease elimination program. The successful candidate will lead a small team working directly with government counterparts and CHAI Global Team experts to assess, design, and scale-up disease surveillance system; conduct robust data analysis; and drive implementation of core malaria interventions to achieve malaria elimination.

The position entails high level of direct coordination with multiple stakeholders within the government, partners, and CHAI’s global technical teams. S/he will represent CHAI in high-level meetings with government partners and donors on policy-making and management-related matters. The Manager must be a highly motivated, entrepreneurial individual with outstanding people and program management, problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills. The position will be based in Hanoi with travel within the country expected up to 25% of the time.

This position reports to an Associate Director in Vietnam.

Main Responsibilities

Management

• Be responsible for the strategic and program management assistance to the malaria program in Vietnam, and coordinate CHAI’s support to help strengthen systems and achieve audacious programmatic goals on aggressive timelines
• Assist NMCP to successfully execute the malaria elimination strategy and to reorient their programs towards elimination.
• Specific activities may include leading CHAI’s effort to:
  
  • Update, scale-up and institutionalize the surveillance system nationwide, with the goal of ensuring rapid and accurate reporting of case-level malaria data from all levels and that data is appropriately stored and managed to ensure a rapid and effective response.
  • Support the government and partners to update national guidelines and policies to ensure alignment with overall elimination goals;
  • Update operational plans and associated training materials to build government capacity and support effective execution of malaria program in high burden communes
• Assist NMCP identify potential sources for and mobilization of additional funding to address any potential gaps preventing robust implementation of national malaria strategic plan
• Serve as technical point person to government and CHAI country team regarding approaches to malaria elimination and liaise with CHAI global teams regarding technical matters and additional support required to execute country work plans;
• Identify key impediments to the successful execution of the malaria elimination strategy and other national guidelines and work with the NMCP and partners to develop solutions to rapidly address these bottlenecks
• Develop internal work plans aligned with national strategy objectives, and oversee the quality of the delivery of work by CHAI malaria staff on regular basis, supporting as necessary to ensure high quality delivery;

Team Management
CHAI has a hybrid management structure with co-management roles across program and functional areas. Manager will oversee the day to day delivery from the team of 5 staff and facilitate effective communication and coordination mechanisms within the team.

Strategic Vision

• Work closely with the Country Director, Associate Director(s), and local and regional malaria teams to maintain overall strategic direction of the program
• Identify strategic areas for expansion or redirection and guide strategic planning or proposal development as needed

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of work experience including experience managing others
• Exceptional problem solving skills and quantitative and qualitative analytical capabilities
• Exceptional English communication skills, including the ability to create compelling, logical presentations, using PowerPoint and other tools, and a structured and clear oral and written communication style
• Advanced analytical skills and problem-solving with proven ability to develop and apply quantitative models using Excel and other tools to address specific challenges and improve working practices with a focus on outcomes
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships in a challenging multicultural environment
• Ability to manage numerous work streams simultaneously in high pressure situations
• Proficient in Excel, Powerpoint, and Word

Advantages:

• Advanced degree in public health or business
• Experience in programming and/or working with surveillance platforms, data collection tools and/or data visualization applications
• Experience living and working in Southeast Asia
• Experience working with Asian governments and institutions
• Experience in working with malaria and/or other infectious diseases
• For non- Vietnamese candidates, fluency in Vietnamese is an advantage

A one-page cover letter should specify the position sought and highlight why the candidate believes they are the right person for the position. A CV detailing professional experience, relevant qualifications and three reference contacts should be provided. Interested candidates should send materials to [email protected]. Indicate position sought in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed as they arrive, but must be received by 31 March 2021. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Organization: CHAI
Location: Hanoi
Application deadline: 2021-03-31
Send application to: [email protected]