Laboratory Supplies Officer Job in Kenya -National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP)

Republic of Kenya

Ministry of Health National AIDS & STI Control Programme

The National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), seeks to recruit the following position funded by USAID/ Kenya, through Capacity Kenya Project.

The position will be based at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) offices in Nairobi.

The programme is mandated by the Ministry of Health to lead the health sector response to the H1V/AIDS pandemic and provide the necessary institutional policy framework and technical oversight on all aspects in spearheading the fight against HIV/AIDS and STI.

Laboratory Supplies Officer 

Ref LSO/NASCOP/12/2011

Under the overall guidance of the Program Manager Laboratory Support Unit and appropriate technical working groups, the Laboratory Supplies Officer will be responsible for developing a framework to monitor the quality of commodities as well as needs from the field as per USAID requirements aimed at improved essential laboratory commodity supply chain.

S/he will support and strengthen logistics management information systems (LMIS), streamlining the distribution systems, supply chain operation, and enhancing forecasting and procurement planning for lab supplies/commodities as per the demands of the HIV/AIDS program activities, towards enabling NASCOP to discharge its mandate.

Key Responsibilities

1. Provide overall coordination and support of the laboratory supply logistics system to ensure it follows a standard inventory control system for prompt stock reordering.
2. Prepare laboratory commodities stock status report for sharing in order to ensure a continuously full pipeline and support regular re-supply of laboratory commodities to health care facilities.
3. Perform data review (FCDRR) sent to LMU for quality to ensure computerized logistics management information system (LMIS) for laboratory supplies informs appropriate logistics decisions.
4. Conduct follow up of facilities expected to report on utilization of laboratory supplies and provide supervision support to the facilities that are inconsistent in reporting to determine reorder quantity and to provide feedback to all active facilities.
5. Monitor commodities (Lab) pipelines to determine stock levels for shipment, stock levels at central medical store and stock levels at facility.
6. Monitor stock closely, especially at central level to avoid expiries through enforcement of first expiry, first out (FEFO) guidelines.
7. Ensure timely distribution of lab commodities and reporting tools to user facilities and provide supportive supervision to facilities with discrepancies.
8. Manage laboratory supplies inventory in a way that serves the timely needs of facilities and reduces stock out through participation in activities that ensure facilities do not have stock outs or monitor stock-out alert report to avoid stock outs.
9. Assist in ensuring inventory accuracy through improved stock management systems to avoid stock outs
10. Participate in commodity management training for Laboratory staff to facilitate use of the data from the system for logistics decision-making, monitor performance through feedback reports and gather data for forecasting.
11. Strengthen the information sharing between KEMSA, NASCOP and Partners/Programs regarding data or information requests, to continuously improve essential laboratory commodity supplies chain.
12. Ensure scheduled stock take/count is performed on regular basis to inform maintenance of optimal stock levels within the laboratory commodities distribution system and central medical store.
13. Update standard operating procedures to ensure best Practices.
14. Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor to support laboratory commodities supply chain.

Essential Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in laboratory technology or other related postgraduate diploma/degree.
• Post Graduate diploma in supply chain management.
• 5 years progressing working experience, of which 3 years should be in a busy health commodities supply chain environment.
• Experience working with computer logistics management information system (LMIS) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) system in a supply chain environment.
• Proficiency in ICT (e.g. microsoft office, microsoft excel, microsoft project or word perfect etc).

Desired Qualities

• Experience in supply chain management in a pharmaceutical and lab commodity environment.
• Demonstrated competence to assess priorities and manage a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality.
• Ability to work as an effective team member in a complex and fast paced environment requiring collaboration with multiple stakeholders and partners.
• Well developed analytical ability.
• Good judgement in trouble shooting, problem solving, awareness of own limitations and internal motivation.
• Ability to coordinate planning of laboratory supply chain through, efficient supplies requisition, optimal stock inventory management, and distribution and reorder levels control.
• Excellent written/oral communication, interpersonal, negotiation and organization skills.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Kiswahili.
• Having previously worked in collaboration with GoK - MoH will be an added advantage.

If your background, experience, and competencies match the above specifications, please send your application quoting vacancy number, detailed CV indicating daytime telephone numbers and e-mail address, attach copies of academic and professional certificates, diplomas or transcripts and three letters of reference with contact telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to the address below not later than January 19, 2012.

IntraHealth International Inc 
USAID-Capacity Kenya Project 
Unga House, Muthithi Road, 7th Floor 
P.O. Box 66726 - 00800 Nairobi 
Email: jobskenya@intrahealth.org

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.