National Health Supply Chain Specialist - Australia Fiji Health Program

The National Health Supply Chain Specialist is a senior member of the AFHP team, supporting the MHMS to strengthen national health supply chains. This role involves strategic support, operational improvement, capacity building, and fostering innovation in the health supply chain to ensure equitable access to essential health commodities.

Key Responsibilities:

Supporting MHMS to strengthen National Health Supply Chains 

• Collaborate with Fiji Pharmaceutical Biomedical Services Centre (FPBS), Beyond Essentials Systems (BES), and other stakeholders to improve demand and supply planning, inventory management, and distribution systems. 
• Address challenges in access, storage, and redistribution of essential medicines especially for NCDs and SRH, vaccines supplies, clinical and laboratory consumables and diagnostics, particularly in remote areas. 
• Advise MHMS procurement teams on cost-effective practices, ensuring product quality and timely availability of health commodities and biomedical equipment. 
• Enhance logistics data systems and integrate service data to improve accountability and forecasting. 
• Scope and ensure integration of biomedical equipment, SRH products, clinical and laboratory consumables and assistive devices into mSupply. 
• Identify and engage with key suppliers locally and internationally for improved access to clinical supplies. 
• Promote strengthened procurement initiatives to achieve cost efficiency and quality and ensure procurement proposals alignment with GoF budget cycles. 
• Identify barriers to universal access to essential drugs, vaccines and diagnostics and proposing policy interventions 
• Build relationships with key government agencies, UN and other donors' partners, including NGOs involved in supply chain reforms and health related procurement. 
• Participate in meetings and technical working groups and represent the AFHP at relevant workshops and conferences. 
• Contribute to the design, implementation and monitoring of the AFHP Supply Chain Reform Project in association with FPBS and BES and other relevant parties.

Data-Driven Decision Making 

• Encourage active utilization of mSupply dashboards and other relevant data sources for evidence-based decision-making. 
• Work with the MHMS Digital Health Team to address connectivity issues in remote facilities and advocate for necessary upgrades. 
• Work with BES team to improve warehousing, order processing, and stock availability practices, focusing on commodities critical to NCDs, maternal and newborn care, SRHR, and infection prevention. 
• Work with BES Team to monitor the expansion and impact of mSupply systems in remote facilities and provide timely feedback should there be gaps in services. 
• Monitor the usage of mSupply in health facilities and provide targeted support to ensure facilities to fully utilise system capabilities.
• Evaluate new procurement systems and integration of vertical programs to enhance efficiency and inclusivity. 

Capacity Building and Workforce Development 

• Support FPBS with clinical product information and training to FPBS and health facility staff. 
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive FPBS workplace culture, supporting organizational growth and service delivery. 
• Supervision of clinical products coordinator roles at CWMH and FPBS
  Procurement and Contracting
• Support MHMS in clinical and biomedical product evaluation for tenders, ensuring value for money and sustainability. 
• Support FPBS with product trials and supplier performance reviews to ensure compliance with quality standards. 
• Provide technical advice on sourcing and procurement during supply shortages. 

Administration, Logistics, and Risk Management 

• Support MMS with records and reports on product recalls and complaints, coordinating corrective actions. 
• Collaborate with warehouse teams to improve product identification and quality control. 
• Ensure compliance with DFAT standards for fraud prevention, child protection, and safeguarding. 
• Integrate GEDSI principles into supply chain strategies and activities. 

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) 

• Work closely with the AFHP MEL Specialist and BES Team to monitor and evaluate supply chain initiatives. 
• Support the development and monitoring of indicators to measure supply chain performance and impact with BES and MHMS
• Contribute to communications and public diplomacy efforts related to the health supply chain. 
• Provide feedback to the community of health facility staff about improvements in the supply chain and availability.
   

General 

• Lead initiatives to enhance climate resilience in supply chain operations, particularly for disaster preparedness and response. 
• Advocate for policies to reduce reliance on ad hoc out-of-pocket expenditures and improve financial accessibility to healthcare. 
• Support innovations in digital health solutions for inventory and supply chain management. 
• Engage in cross-sectoral partnerships to improve supply chain outcomes.
• Provide advisory services for integrating sustainable practices into the supply chain. 
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the AFHP Team Leader
   

Key Working Relationships:

Reporting to 

• AFHP Senior Health Specialist and MHMS Chief Medical Adviser  

Other 

• AFHP Program Support Team 
• Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) 
• Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
• Beyond Essential Systems (BES) Fiji National Supply Health Chain Reform Project Team
   

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications

Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as supply chain and logistics management, procurement and tender management, public health, health services management, pharmacy, business administration, health policy and planning, development studies. Specialised training in procurement will be an advantage

Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant professional work experience managing supply chain, logistics and marketing in either hospitals or pharmaceutical companies, non-governmental organizations, or government. 
• Experience in developing logistic systems and ability to assess logistics information system needs and their integration in the facility-based distribution; 
• Relevant work experience in at least three of the following areas: managing medical supply chains, government supply chain, marketing and distribution, health procurement, quality control and demand forecasting 
• Demonstrated experience in budgeting, planning and project cost control and expenditure forecasting. 

Knowledge and Skills

• High level project management skills and knowledge of development work.
• Excellent oral and written skills. 
• Excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-level reports and briefs and effectively present ideas.
• Comprehensive understanding of the structure and organization of the Fiji Health System.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software applications. 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including demonstrated ability to engage at a senior level, build and maintain networks, provide advice and communicate effectively (both written and verbal) on sensitive issues with a culturally and professionally diverse range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of, or familiarity with DFAT’s compliance standards for development programs, particularly child protection, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) and fraud awareness and control requirements and practice.

Personal Attributes

• A passion for achieving the best possible outcomes in patient care. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to gather information, influence others with diplomacy, tact, and discretion, and engage individuals at all levels with respect and confidence. This includes strong presentation skills and experience presenting to large groups. 
• Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a team and work independently, demonstrating initiative when required. 
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks, meet tight deadlines, and work flexibly when needed. 
• High level of personal integrity and professionalism. 

How to Apply: