Senior Health Information Systems Advisor

Summary Statement

Credence Management Solutions employs hard-working, passionate individuals who bring innovation, accountability, and a growth mindset to the many missions we support across the US Federal Government. Employee empowerment is part of the fabric of our corporate culture through which we emphasize opportunity, recognition, reward, and retention. At Credence, we follow the principles of servant leadership and believe that serving and supporting others is critical to both our individual and collective achievements. We have only one measure of success. Yours.

We are hiring for positions under the Global Health Training, Advisory, Support Contract (GHTASC) in support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Global Health (GH). These roles deliver institutional support services in a wide range of technical areas at the junior, mid-, senior, and expert levels.

We are a diverse, enthusiastic family of subject matter experts, business professionals, and practitioners who all share a common goal of providing excellent services to our government customers. If you want to work in a dynamic and fast-growing environment with highly motivated colleagues, then Credence is the right place for you!

Credence Management Solutions is seeking a Senior Health Information Systems (HIS) Advisor. See below for more information on this exciting opportunity and apply to join Credence today!

Position Summary

The Senior Health Information Systems (HIS) Advisor will primarily support the USAID’s Office of HIV/AIDS as a Credence Institutional Support Contractor (ISC).

The Bureau for Global Health’s Office of HIV and AIDS (OHA) is the locus of technical leadership for HIV and AIDS programming implemented by USAID. The Office provides input into USG decisions concerning the strategic allocation of financial and human resources in the sector and supports USAID headquarters and field missions in designing and implementing effective HIV and AIDS programs. Within OHA, the Strategic Information, Evaluation, and Informatics (SIEI) Division provides technical and programmatic expertise to help the Agency develop and implement strategies and programs that respond to USG and USAID priorities, particularly in relation to innovations, best practices, and lessons learned in advancing the goals of PEPFAR. SIEI provides technical expertise and support to field missions in cross-cutting areas such as monitoring and evaluation, expenditure analysis, and health informatics.

Health information systems (HIS)/ Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) activities are a key component of PEPFAR Strategic Information (SI) programs. At the facility and community level, HIS assists health care workers in providing high quality and timely care. At the national, regional and Headquarters level, HIS assist public health managers in finding answers to key questions about the state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the delivery and process of prevention, care and treatment services, the effectiveness of these services, the capacity needed to improve programs, as well as to plan and report and reach goals impacting the epidemic.

Many countries lack robust health information systems and the related information and communications technology infrastructure (IT) needed to access and report high-quality data. Wherever possible, PEPFAR HIS activities build on existing data and information system standards and infrastructures in program countries. HIS activities target the design, development, implementation, operations, maintenance and evaluation information systems and technologies.

The Senior Health Information Systems (HIS) Advisor (Senior Advisor) will be a member of the Health Informatics Team in the Strategic Information, Evaluation and Informatics (SIEI) Division in the Office of HIV/AIDS within USAID’s Bureau for Global Health. Broad responsibilities will include providing technical guidance to USAID, interagency partners, Ministries of Health, and implementing partners in the design, development, improvement, and maintenance of information systems that strengthen health service quality, effectiveness, and efficiency. The position requires both advisory and deep technical acumen, including hands-on health information system/information technology (HIS/IT) technical expertise, results-oriented analysis, strong software project management experience, clear communication skills, and close collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders including USAID and other USG Headquarters personnel, vendors, host ministries, PEPFAR country teams, implementing partners, and other donors.

The Senior Advisor will work closely with and receive technical guidance from the SIEI Division Chief.

Responsibilities

The Senior Health Information Systems Advisor responsibilities:

Increased technical capacity in health and PEPFAR data systems initiatives to improve data (and the capacity to use it) for improved health outcomes.

• Provide technical leadership and support for the USAID interface with various partners and other stakeholders within and outside of the U.S. Government
• Serve on technical advisory and working groups on various dimensions of digital health, and PEPFAR data systems.
• Drive intellectual leadership around effective and country-owned health information system programming within and outside of the U.S. Government through peer and editorial review within professional journals, academic conferences, seminars and engagement with academic institutions.
• Strengthen technical collaborations between USAID, professional societies (e.g. GDHN, HDC, HIMSS, AMIA), and relevant academic institutions to facilitate global sharing and adoption of best practices in design, management, and governance of health information systems with the purpose of generating quality data for effective decision making.
• Facilitate global sharing and adoption of best practices of HIS implementation and governance by fostering stronger relationships, collaborations, and sharing between USAID and academic institutions and individuals with strong capacity through convening consultative meetings, seminars, and other exchanges to strengthen dialogue and advance synergistic activities.
• Engage across the bureau with relevant GH Bureau Offices and Teams (ID, GH Data Hub, GH Health Informatics Working Group, etc) to ensure that HIV and health data systems are strengthened so as to enable quality data to improve decision making are addressed through PEPFAR work planning, and integration of sound digital health practices in USAID PEPFAR programming.
• Guide strategic planning by USAID, host countries and development partners based on current digital health principles and proven best practices in HIS, including relevant engagement with other Agencies, HIS global stakeholders (WHO, GFTAM, etc), think tanks, and others.
• Analyze, synthesize and disseminate key research and implementation findings, cutting edge methodologies, and best practices to the GH, USAID Missions and broader global HIS/digital health community.
• With representatives from S/GAC, drive in-country and global efforts across relevant US Government Agencies and donors (CDC, WHO, Global Fund, World Bank, WHO, and private foundations, Gates Foundation) to build consistent programmatic and strategic approaches to HIS/PEPAR data systems programming.
• Advance technical leadership broadly, across collaborating funders, agency partners and host countries through global, regional, and national-level fora.
• Prepare and submit papers to professional journals and meetings related to PEPFAR programs, with a focus on health and PEPFAR data systems developments.
• Build capacity of more junior strategic information and systems staff through teaching and mentoring within and outside USAID, with a focus on translating lessons learned and experiences with USAID HIS implementation into effective HIV program implementation practices.

Strengthened coordination across USG and donors as well as USAID capacity in health informatics and digital health in selected countries

• Liaise across the Country Health Office and in-country donors to ensure USAID Digital Health programming is well integrated into national HIV approach and PEPFAR informatics programming
• Coordinate strategic, donor-level systems integration efforts across selected countries to ensure coordinated digital health programming
• Provide technical leadership to the relevant digital health projects, including acting as an Activity Manager for headquarters-based projects
• Work with S/GAC technical staff to define systems alignment and data management strategy, including identifying select group of countries for implementation
• Coordinate across USAID/Washington Health Informatics Branch to engage country support staff and SIEI leadership in support of systems alignment and data flow archetyping activities
• Develop strategy and implementation plan for partner country and donor engagement and indicators to measure success of initiative

Strategic development and oversight of HIS technical assistance to country programs

• Develop country support strategy for USAID HIS and work with country support staff on implementation of strategy
• Strengthen technical quality of HIS projects in the field by providing technical input to systems integration and use of data management information systems and substantially contributing to project design, conducting site visits, meeting with program planners and mangers in the field, providing TA, monitoring progress, and reviewing/analyzing results.
• Lead efforts in assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of USAID PEPFAR HIS investments.
• Provide HMIS technical assistance and capacity building to Missions for in country systems requirements, analysis, design, specifications, and oversight of project management, development, piloting/testing, implementation and evaluation.
• Facilitate business and systems analysis discussions and translating findings into clearly defined specifications including rough order of magnitudes (ROMS).
• Serve as leading technical expert on HIS issues on quarterly data reviews reflecting investments of PEPFAR and other partners in select countries.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public health or related social science field with 10 years of relevant experience, bachelor’s degree with 12 years of relevant experience, Associate’s degree and 14 years of relevant experience, OR High School graduate and 16 years of relevant experience
• Extensive knowledge and experience in federal information systems development, such as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Clinger-Cohen, FedRamp, among others.
• Extensive knowledge of health information technology and public health IT standards including, semantic, exchange, privacy/security, etc. and applications, including EMRs, laboratory information systems (LIS), DHIS, HIE, and others.
• Technical expertise with health information system/information technology (HIS/IT) and results oriented analysis.
• Extensive knowledge and experience with applying general software development lifecycle (SDLC) and project management best practices methodologies, i.e. Agile, PRINCE2, RUP, etc., including user-centered design
• Proven experience with managing the development or sourcing of health information systems that are currently in use.
• Proven ability to oversee the design or modification of sophisticated computer applications to meet data collection and reporting requirements.
• Active user and proponent of Open Source solutions.
• Proven ability to develop rapport and effective working relationships with USG, host ministry, national and international working partners at all levels, local organizations, and other program partners, highly desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to travel internationally up to 25%.
• US citizenship or US permanent residency with the ability to obtain and maintain Facility Access required.

Competencies/Performance Criterion

• Innovation: Employee takes initiative to propose new ideas/approaches, and demonstrates ability to find new and better ways to accomplish work.
• Customer Service: Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers, follows procedure to solve customer problems, understands company products and services, maintains pleasant and professional image.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of work responsibilities and holds high standards. Keeps commitments and takes appropriate actions to ensure obligations are met. Pursues efficiency and effectiveness and adheres to Organization policies and procedures.
• Interpersonal Skills: Employee demonstrates ability to work in cooperation with others and communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisors, subordinates, clients and other outside contacts.
• Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues professional development that is aligned with organizational role, contribution, and goals. Proactively shares knowledge with others to foster learning across the Organization.