Sustainability Program Officer

Job title: Sustainability Program Officer
Organizational level: Program staff
Report to: Country Director
Duration: One year (Renewable)

MISSION

LifeNet International seeks to transform Malawian health centers to provide quality, sustainable healthcare and save lives.

VISION

By 2025, LifeNet Malawi will be partnering with 96 health centers to improve the quality of care for 1000 patient visits annually with $1 million in annual revenue.

VALUES

● Honoring God and others in all we do
● Sustainable and positive impact at a scale
● High-quality and compassionate healthcare
● Evidence-based programming
● Local Church ownership and decision making

JOB PURPOSE

LifeNet International Malawi is an NGO working to create innovative solutions to meet the health challenges that currently face people in Malawi. LifeNet operates a training network for faith-based facilities in Malawi and provides ongoing management and medical training and capacity building to our partners. We seek to make a difference by utilizing best practices in business, finance, and human resource management to help our partners run in a sustainable and ethical way. LifeNet aims to improve the quality of care and financial sustainability for our health partners to transform African health care and impact the health of Malawians.

This position will work with 13 MBF-supported health facilities to strengthen the relationship between the community health facilities and the two connected hospitals. The goal of this project is to improve the operations and relationships between Nkhoma and Livingstonia mission hospitals and Community Health Facilities (HFs) they manage.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following although other duties may be assigned as needed.

Key Result #1: Improve operations and relationships between Nkhoma and Livingstonia mission hospitals and Community Health Facilities (HFs) they manage Conduct a qualitative baseline survey that accurately captures the current system of management and oversight for health facilities linked to Nkhoma and Livingstonia Hospitals.

Actively build relationships between the health facilities and the responsible hospital.
Lead collaboration meetings with health facilities and hospitals to define current practices and brainstorm improvements to upgrade and decentralize the system and processes in place between the health facilities and the hospitals, specifically including regular reporting, disbursements and reimbursements of funds, and pharmaceutical supply.

Develop a revised system for oversight and management support of partner health facilities.
Conduct a three-month pilot of the revised management system including on-site monitoring and support.

Evaluate the implementation of the revised management system during the pilot phase along with health facility and hospital leadership.

Gather, document, and update the system based on learnings from the pilot.
Launch and support the implementation of the revised management system.
Conduct regular monitoring visits to the health facilities and hospitals to provide supportive supervision, identify challenges and overcome barriers.
Conduct a final qualitative survey to measure project achievement.

Key Result #2: Improve the capacity of health facility staff to implement the improved management system

Identify areas in which the staff and systems at the health facilities need to be strengthened in order to support decentralization and create action plans for each health facility.

Work with LifeNet HQ and Malawi staff to identify existing training materials and tools relevant to the health facility action plans.

Travel to the health facilities and provide on-site training, support, and mentorship to achieve the desired change.

Key Result #3: Facilitate the franchising of the 13 partner health facilities

In collaboration with LifeNet Malawi, conduct quality scorecard (QSC) assessments to ensure that each health facility passes both medical and management modules.

If any health facility does not pass, create and implement action plans to improve their performance until they are able to pass the assessment.

Work with LifeNet leadership, MBF, and the facilities to develop branding and marketing plans.
Complete, review and sign the franchise agreement with each health facility.

Work with LifeNet Malawi and the health facility to brand the health facility as a LifeNet 5-Star Health Facility per the branding and marketing plan, including painting and exterior improvements if necessary.

Alongside other LifeNet Malawi staff and in alignment with USAID regulations, participate in the distribution of medical equipment to the selected health facilities.

REQUIREMENTS

● The right candidate will have an alignment with LifeNet’s core values and mission philosophy with sensitivity to LifeNet partners’ religious beliefs and contexts.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree (BA) from university in a related field such as public health, epidemiology, international development, economics, business management, or finance, with a strong research and statistical analysis component.
A master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.
At least three years of experience working and/or training in an equivalent field.
Experience in project management including the ability to analyze complex organizational problems, identify innovative solutions, and engage others to implement, preferably in a limited-resource environment.
Strong health facility and Ministry of Health experience.
Proven ability to design, conduct, analyze and present qualitative surveys
Ability to design and lead large group discussions with various levels of stakeholders, including community health facility staff and hospital administrators.
Experience in training, adult learning principles, and behavior change theory.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including excellent working knowledge of data analysis and graphic representation with Excel and other statistical packages.
Perform in a highly independent entrepreneurial environment, deliver strong results, and ask for help when needed.
Excellent writing, speaking, and presentation skills in English.
Ability to work full-time, 5 days per week, and to do trips upcountry when necessary.

SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS

Your application must consist of a cover letter, your curriculum vitae, a copy of your degree, and at least three references. Please submit all applications via email to LNmalawi@LNinternational.org by October 28, 2022. The subject of the email should be “Sustainability Program Officer position”.