Country: France
Closing date: 12 May 2017
Context
Solthis is an international medical NGO which aims at improving access to care for people in limited-resources settings. Its action is based on three modes of intervention: Health Systems Strengthening, Operational Research and Advocacy, with methodology based on multilevel & multidisciplinary approach: Care services delivery (medical and paramedical staff, midwives, therapeutic educators and psycho-social workers, etc.); laboratory (technicians, etc.); pharmacy (procurement, logistics supply chain teams, pharmacist, etc.); the health information system; and lastly the coordination bodies.
Project Summary
This position takes place in the OPP-ERA Project Phase 2 (http://opp-era.org).
OPP-ERA’s innovative solution aims to improving HIV-1 monitoring by increasing access to routine, affordable VLTs and HIV -1 Early Infant Diagnosis in LMICs. It contributes to global momentum, putting in practice UNAIDS 90-90-90 Strategy commitments and the WHO “Treat All” guidelines. Phase 1 showed that OPPs (open polyvalent platforms) are appropriate for low- and middle-income countries and are high performing. The open nature of the platform allows for new suppliers of complementary components of the platform to enter the market and increase competition. The project aims to stimulate a sustainable supply of OPP quality components and create a shift in the current market dynamics.
The project goal is to increase effective coverage of optimized HIV/AIDS-related tests (VLTs, EID) and demonstrate polyvalent use (TB, HBV) in LMICs. Within the project, we intend to significantly contribute to the scaled-up access to key HIV-related diagnostics in the four project countries (Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea), in complementarity to other technologies (integrated platforms and POC).
The project outcome is an increased use of OPPs for VLT and EID at the global level. By increasing access to quality VLTs and EID and providing tools to help other countries effectively use OPPs, we intend to contribute to the scale up and global use of OPPs, broadening the OPP market. In addition, the project will support suppliers to get quality certifications from WHO or Stringent Regulatory Authorities to ensure that OPPs are one of the available VLT and EID solutions eligible for international financing. In this way recipient countries can choose the most appropriate diagnostic solution according to needs. Therefore the market impact is expected on both the supply and the demand side.
Solthis is leading the consortium (composed of ANRS, Expertise France, Sidaction and Solthis) in this Phase and is the focal point for communication and reporting to UNITAID. The OPP-ERA coordination team responsible of the overall project management for the consortium, is therefore based at Solthis.
Position summary
The Procurement Officer, managed by the Procurement and Supply Chain Manager, will be responsible to handle the Procurement activities for the 4 Project’ countries on health products, and laboratory equipment maintenance services.
He/she will participate to design and establish the comprehensive procurement system and manage its implementation in compliance with Procurement Manual.
He/she will lead competitive bidding processes and manage transactional procurement (selection of suppliers, tendering processes, bid evaluation, contracting, contract management, legal considerations and payment conditions, contractors, supplier performance evaluation and risk assessment).
He/she will form and lead procurement committee, mobilizing committees when conducting competitive bidding processes.
He/she will undertake advanced planning for procurement, outlining: time, cost/funding, availability, transport, storage, quality considerations, safety, inflation or currency stability, government policies, donor conditions, beneficiary culture and environment in plans. He/she will update work plans, procurement plans and delivery schedules based on adjustments of quantification and cost.
He/she will support forwarding agents contracting processes, assess quality management capacity and procedures and coordinate timeframes and with local teams.
He/she will be responsible for the overall procurement activities, and for compliance and risk management within the procurement system.
Profile
Education
Master’s Degree in Business/Procurement (Supply Chain Management and/or Master in Public Health will be an asset) with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in goods and services procurement processes, preferably in health sector
Knowledge, skills & abilities
· Experience in international procurement for technical goods and services (tendering processes, evaluation, contracting, contract management),
· Knowledge of public health policies and management would be an asset,
· Experience in resource-limited settings,
· Fluent in English (writing) and French (writing and speaking).
Personal characteristics
· Excellent communication, diplomatic and reporting skills
· Strong organizational skills
· Good analytical and problem-solving skills
· Ability to work independently and as part of a team and able to prioritize multiple tasks, while driving results
· Interest for International Cooperation
Conditions
Status: Employee (statut « cadre »)
Contract duration: 2, 5 years
Starting date: As soon as possible
Salary & benefits: according to professional experience and Solthis grid + health insurance (of which 85% is taken care of by Solthis), Lunch vouchers
Location of work: Post based at HQ (Bagnolet, France) with frequent international business trips
How to apply:
Submission of applications: Please send your application in English (CV, cover letter, references, dates of availability) to recrutement@solthis.org, quoting reference “Procurement Officer”, as soon as possible and latest by May 12th, 2017.
Solthis reserves the right to close any vacancy before the advertised deadline. Thank you for your understanding.