Antimicrobial Stewardship/Resistance Advisor

JSI is a US-based public health nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality technical and managerial assistance programs throughout the world. In Ethiopia, JSI has been working to improve health outcomes for more than 25 years, implementing more than 60 projects and working in every region. JSI has historically managed a large portfolio of projects focusing on the quality, and equity in access of, RMNCAH services, primary health care (PHC) including community health program, digital health, health information systems (HIS), supply chain management, public health emergency responses, and social and behavior change.

Activity overview

USAID Quality Healthcare Activity (QHA) aims at improving health outcomes through improved readiness of health facilities to deliver quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services, increased management and accountability for quality service delivery, and restoration of services in health facilities in conflict-affected areas. QHA's strategies and implementation approaches will help the government of Ethiopia build public and private health care systems that are responsive, resilient, and sustainable. QHA will cover urban and peri-urban primary health care units (PHCU) and referral health facilities in select regions and woredas. The Activity, through funding support from USAID, will be implemented by JSI in collaboration with Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), MSI Reproductive Choices (MSI RC), Project HOPE, and Network of Ethiopian Women's Associations (NEWA) for five years (May 01, 2023 - April 30, 2028).

Position Summary

The Antimicrobial Stewardship/Resistance (AMS/R) Advisor will be responsible for overseeing technical interventions focused on strengthening the implementation of Anti-Microbial Resistance prevention and containment efforts. The advisor will also analyze the progresses of implementation of the AMS and treatment guidelines by health facilities, work with other stakeholders to develop area specific-resistance profile and guidance on empirical choices, and multimodal strategies to improve practices, and support the development of model clinical pharmacy service sites.

Duties and Responsibilities

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   In consultation with RMNCAH Team Lead and other teams of the Activity, design and implement AMS/R interventions in the interventions sites at different levels of the health system.
• Develop AMS/R annual plans of the Activity in consultation with the RMNCAH team lead and other teams of the Activity.
•    Write quarter and annual AMS/R reports of the Activity.
• Provide technical assistance to area implementation team, consortium member partners, government entities and others on areas of AMS/R. 
• Support the development of AMS/R related manuals, guidelines, standard operating procedures, protocols and other documents as needed
• Work closely with RMNCAH team lead and other Activity members to meet key AMS/R milestones and deliverables, monitor, analyze, and troubleshoot any challenges to the Activity’s AMS/R implementations.
• Participate in the Activity meetings as required and provide updates on AMS/R innovative and strategic approaches.
• Collaborate with MEL and KM to establish a monitoring system to track quality and reach of activities; ensure lessons learned from implementation inform adaptation.
• Identify opportunities for and conduct operational research on AMS/R in collaboration with research, monitoring-evaluation-learning (MEL) and knowledge management (KM) teams.
• Publish documents like technical briefs, lessons learned, best practices in collaboration with KM team and share with stakeholders on different fora.
• Represent the Activity in various AMS/R technical meetings, working groups, and conferences.
• Collaborate with other USAID and non-USAID investments on AMS/R to capture best practices, identify potential AMS/R related interventions for scale up and continuity.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Activity. 

• Advanced degree in a health-related field (MD, Pharmacy, Nursing and others) with specialized training and/or experience related to Global Health Security elements such as IPC, WASH and AMS
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   At least 10 years of progressively increasing technical responsibilities, including experience with direct supervision of professional staff, preferably with a program of an equivalent size and scope is highly desired.
• Experience on protocols, manuals and training materials development.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to promote team work and effort.
• Effective verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Proven experience of working along the health system - community, primary health care units and referral hospitals
• Experience of interacting with local governments, international organizations, other bilateral donor and civil society representatives, and senior level government officials is desired.
• Computer skills in word, power point and Excel.
• Skills in data processing.
• Able to work with minimum supervision.
• Being able to communicate with more than one local language is a plus.