Project Director

Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS) is a Christian not-for-profit organization based in Nairobi, Kenya. It is a Registered Trust of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK). The Organization’s core mandate is being a reliable supply chain for quality and affordable Health Products and Technologies, Quality Assurance and Health Advisory Services. MEDS was established in 1986 and serves clients spread all over Kenya and other regions both in Africa and beyond.

MEDS has entered into a Contract with USAID Kenya and East Africa named USAID Supply Chain Strengthening. The purpose of the contract is to obtain efficient, reliable and accountable supply chain management services for the procurement, warehousing, and distribution of health commodities for HIV, Malaria, Tuberculosis, Maternal/Neonatal/Child Health (MNCH) and Global Health Security (GHS) activities for patients across all 47 Counties in Kenya for adequate care, treatment and prevention for communicable diseases and other health needs.

The Board of Directors is seeking to recruit a suitable self-driven, results oriented and visionary Project Director with good professional and ethical standing to head the Project.

The Project Director serves as a liaison and point of contact for USAID on matters related to overall program management. The Project Director will have regular contact with the Contracting Officer’s Representative and Contracting Officer and will have overall responsibility for program leadership.

Key Responsibilities
i. Provide overall strategic leadership and oversight to the activity
ii. Serve as a liaison and point of contact for USAID on matters related to program management
iii. Inform USAID about contract activities, progress against objectives and issues that arise in contract implementation
iv. Cultivate and nurture strong and positive working relationships with stakeholders including USAID, Ministry of Health, KEMSA, County Government Health Officials and Health Facilities
v. Develop and implement annual work plans and budgets that reflect priorities of USAID and other stakeholders
vi. Develop and nurture a dynamic and competent workforce for the project through a robust performance driven culture
vii. Ensure efficient and effective performance management for achievement of project objectives
viii. Prepare project budgets for resource allocation and approve expenditure for control and accountability
ix. Oversee regular data collection and reporting and lead period reviews of performance analysis to identify issues and drive evidence-based interventions
x. Report results of the projects’ work to Management, USAID and other stakeholders

Requirements:
i. A Master’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Public Health, or related field
ii. A minimum of twelve (12) years of experience managing complex public health programs or programs of similar size, scope and complexity; or at least ten (10) years demonstrated senior management level experience overseeing any or both of the following areas: health systems strengthening or supply chain management
iii. Experience and demonstrated capacity to liaise/negotiate with senior representatives of US Government and Government of Kenya
iv. Minimum of 8 years of experience in developing activity work plans, budgets, and managing implementation
v. Proven success in leading a Supply Chain Planning and Execution team to best-in-class performance
vi. Knowledge of ERP systems, purchasing, receiving, warehousing, storage and transportation activities
vii. Experience in US Government (USG) funded programs and knowledge of USG funding compliance regulations
viii. Excellent managerial and operational experience, preferably in managing large logistics projects involving coordination with multiple partners or institutions in Kenya or the region and in managing donor projects
ix. Extensive experience in private sector and public-private partnerships health matters in Kenya; experience with USAID related activities is strongly preferred
x. Experience working with/for commercial private sector supply chain companies is highly desirable
xi. Demonstrated team player with visionary leadership and demonstration of professional accomplishments
xii. Strong quantitative skills, including data analysis and statistical interpretation
xiii. Excellent representational and communication skills, written and oral proficiency in English
xiv. Excellent past performance references