Palladium recruits a Senior Digital Health Technical Officer: HP+ Malawi

 

Company Overview:

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits. 


For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved – and is committed to continuing to improve – economies, societies and most importantly, people’s lives. 


Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Senior Digital Health Technical Officer

In Malawi, Palladium manages the USAID-funded Health Policy Plus (HP+) Project. HP+ works with key stakeholders to advance health policy and financing for family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH), HIV, and maternal and newborn health at national and subnational levels. The project aims to improve the enabling environment for equitable and sustainable health services, supplies, and delivery systems through policy development and implementation, with an emphasis on voluntary, rights-based health programs, and by strengthening in-country partners’ capacity to navigate complex environments for effective policy design, implementation, and financing aligned to the existing priorities.

As part of its efforts to advance health policy, HP+ Malawi supports the Ministry of Health to strengthen digital health and ensure health data is used to support and improve health service delivery. As part of these efforts, HP+ will second a staff person to assist the Ministry with operationalization of several eHealth initiatives as outlined in the new Digital Health Strategy.

Position Summary

Currently, there are various digital health solutions implemented either directly by Government or through collaboration with implementing partners. The Senior Digital Health Officer shall provide Technical Assistance, with guidance from the head of Digital Health Unit ensuring that these solutions integrate and meet Government policy and guidance in their implementation. The successful candidate will be seconded to the Quality Management and Digital Health Directorate (QMD) and will report on a day-to-day basis to the head of the digital health unit. He/she will work closely with other key technical staff in the Digital Health division, Ministry departments, the Community Health Services Unit and other team members as needed. The HP+ Malawi Country Director will provide administrative oversight, while additional technical guidance will be available through Palladium global technical experts.

The position is a fixed-term contract through September 2021, with an annual renewal thereafter depending on performance, MOHP and USAID priorities, and the availability of funding.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Strengthen adherence to the Principles for Digital Development and a user-centered approach to design, development and implementation of digital health solutions
  2. Provide adequate version management of digital health software solutions
  3. Coordinate with the software development team and all the relevant departments in building and testing digital health intervention.
  4. Coordinate user acceptance testing and documentation of digital solution test results
  5. Conduct pre and post digital health solution implementation review
  6. Create and maintain user guides and documentation of digital health solutions that are implemented
  7. Provide regular updates to head of the digital health on implementation of specific digital health solutions
  8. Maintain regular communication between QMD, USAID, and implementing partners
  9. Participate in relevant Technical Working Groups, digital health meetings, workshops, and trainings.
  10. Coordinate regularly with other Product Owners and Product Managers to 1) disseminate updates on products, 2) prioritize and identify opportunities for interoperability between products and, 3) discuss potential new products.
  11. Periodically review products that have been deployed in the field to ensure that they continue to satisfy user requirements and that the users are compliant with set standard operating procedures.
  12. Provide high-level support to QMD in designing and conducting information systems assessments and conducting regular system audits at facility and district levels.
  13. Build ICT capacity and ensure adherence to global standards in digital health and development solutions.
  14. Actively contribute to QMD’s annual work plan and desired program outputs in digital health
  15. Other digital health related tasks as assigned on an as-needed basis

Period of Performance                                      

November 1, 2020 (expected) to September 30, 2021, with the possibility of renewal.

Requirements:

  1. Master’s degree in computer science, information science, public health, health informatics or related field and relevant work experience.
  2. Over 5 years of professional experience in information management systems/data analytics, with experience developing and/or implementing eHealth solutions in an African context.
  3. Experience working with national health information systems and platforms such as DHIS2, CommCare,OpenSRP,  Logiak, RapidPro or similar
  4. Demonstrated experience working on systems interoperability.
  5. Understanding of digital best practices, including the Principles for Digital Development.
  6. Superior knowledge of project management principles to manage projects and work with multi-disciplinary teams, including a broad and extensive knowledge of IT principles, the software development life cycle, methods and techniques
  7. Relevant experience working with government counterparts at the national and sub-national level and excellent diplomatic and stakeholder management skills are required.
  8. Understanding of governmental structures and processes in Malawi and current eHealth initiatives in Malawi preferred.
  9. Demonstrated experience strengthening individual and/or organizational capacity in an East African context.
  10. Strong diplomatic, interpersonal and networking skills, ability to work well with senior government counterparts, consultants, and within a cross-cultural and virtual team; experience working with USAID projects preferred.
  11. Ability to work well under pressure and skilled in change management, crisis management and problem-solving skills.
  12. Strong written and oral communication skills
  13. Fluency in English required.
  14. This position is open to local applicants/ or those resident in Malawi.

Contact [email protected] with any questions or issues with the application process. Applicants should include their Curriculum vitae or résumé, Requested salary, and List of at least three (3) references.