About CHAI

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries. CHAI works at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in countries with the highest burden of disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus to include infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, vaccines, maternal and child health, chronic malnutrition, assistive technology, human resources for health, digital health and health financing.

CHAI works across 40 countries with diverse teams grounded in the countries where its programs are implemented.

Position Overview

Zambia continues to face preventable maternal, newborn and other emergency-related deaths, in part because patients experiencing time-critical conditions do not always reach appropriate care promptly. Fragmented referral pathways, limited transport availability, inconsistent dispatch and communication arrangements, weak maintenance systems, and gaps between communities and health facilities can delay access to lifesaving services.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health, CHAI is implementing an Emergency Referral Systems (ERS) project in Copperbelt and Southern Provinces. The project will strengthen community-to-facility and inter-facility referral pathways; improve the availability, deployment, and management of ambulances and motorcycle ambulances; strengthen coordination, protocols, data use and accountability; and support policies and systems that enable timely, efficient and sustainable emergency referrals.

CHAI is seeking a Senior Program Officer — Maternal and Newborn Health, Emergency Referral Systems to coordinate national-level implementation across community engagement, referral-system strengthening and policy coordination. The role will translate approved strategies and work plans into coordinated action, work closely with Provincial Coordinators to support implementation, and maintain effective collaboration with the Ministry of Health, provincial and district health authorities, communities, service providers and other partners.

The successful candidate will combine strong program coordination and analytical skills with practical experience in maternal and newborn health, referral, transport or related health systems.

The position will report to the Technical Advisor — Maternal and Newborn Health, Emergency Referral Systems, be based in Lusaka, and require frequent travel to Copperbelt and Southern Provinces.

Responsibilities

Program Implementation and Operational Coordination

• Support development of regular activity work plans and budgets and ensure that deliverables and milestones are met in a timely fashion
• Coordinate implementation of national-level ERS activities in line with the approved program document, work plan, budget and agreed milestones, working closely with the Technical Advisor and Provincial Coordinators
• Coordinate planning and delivery of trainings, workshops, assessments, supervision visits and other program activities, ensuring appropriate documentation and follow-through
• Support procurement, deployment, servicing, and maintenance arrangements for ambulances, motorcycle ambulances, communications equipment and related ERS commodities, in collaboration with CHAI operations teams, government counterparts and service providers

Referral-System Strengthening and Policy Coordination

• Conduct an assessment on the availability of existing ambulances and develop a strategy for an efficient and cost-effective mode of operation and maintenance
• Coordinate the design, refinement, and implementation of community-to-facility and inter-facility referral mechanisms, including triage, dispatch, escalation, documentation, and feedback processes
• Support the development and updating of referral protocols, standard operating procedures, guidelines, tools and transport-management approaches, ensuring alignment with Ministry of Health policies and national priorities
• Organize training and provide mentoring support to facilities in relation to referral networks
• Ensure that linkages between SMAGs, CHAs, and facilities are strengthened
• Coordinate the procurement of motorbike ambulances and bicycles for use by communities and CHAs
• Coordinate national policy and technical engagements related to ERS, consolidate provincial implementation experience and evidence, and support the translation of lessons into policy recommendations and scalable approaches
• Work with relevant stakeholders to strengthen cost-effective systems for ambulance and motorcycle-ambulance deployment, operations, preventive maintenance, repair, accountability, and continuity of service

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• Identify training priorities and coordinate the trainings for polyvalent healthcare workers working with the Ministry of Health
• In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, ensure that a coordinated system for payment of polyvalent healthcare workers is developed and operationalized
• Coordinate all the procurement and distribution of all supplies for community health workers
• Coordinate community engagement approaches that improve awareness of emergency signs, timely care-seeking and appropriate use of referral services, while strengthening linkages between communities, community health structures and health facilities

Performance Monitoring, Learning and Reporting

• Prepare concise technical updates, meeting records, donor inputs and periodic program reports, documenting progress, decisions, risks, corrective actions and lessons learned
• Contribute to baseline and needs assessments, external evaluation activities, knowledge products and dissemination of ERS learning, while maintaining clear separation between program implementation and independent evaluation responsibilities
• Undertake other responsibilities as requested by the Technical Advisor or Senior Program Manager, consistent with the scope and level of the position

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, community health, health or social sciences, supply chain, logistics or a related field; a relevant master’s degree is an advantage
• At least five years of relevant experience in public health program implementation, including maternal and newborn health, emergency referral systems, patient transport, community health or a related field
• Demonstrated experience coordinating complex programs, work plans and multiple stakeholders across national and subnational levels
• Experience working with government to develop or implement policies, guidelines, protocols, or standard operating procedures
• Strong analytical, planning, problem-solving and communication skills, including the ability to interpret program evidence and prepare clear recommendations and reports
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build effective relationships with government, communities, partners and service providers
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and travel frequently within Zambia, particularly to Copperbelt and Southern Provinces

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply through the CHAI careers portal using the link below.

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