Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Officer – JSI
Health Care
JSI
JSI is a public health organization dedicated to improving the health of people and communities in more than 70 countries.
Almost 40 years of global experience supports and informs JSI’s work in Ethiopia. Since 1994, JSI has worked in partnership with the government and local civil society organizations to support the Ethiopian government’s health and development priorities.
JSI is working in all regions across Ethiopia, in urban as well as rural areas—though most projects reach the largest population groups by focusing on the four most populous regions.
Operationally, JSI has the integrity of strong management systems, combined with the flexibility of a decentralized structure that meets clients’ and partners’ needs.
Organization Background
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
JSI seeks an experienced Health System Strengthening Advisor for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Lowland Health Activity. The purpose of the Activity is to improve health and nutrition outcomes in the pastoral geographies of Ethiopia, through increased access and utilization of quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent & youth health and nutrition (RMNCAH-N) services.
Position Summary
Health System Strengthening (HSS) Officer is responsible for implementing HSS interventions at various levels across the community, facility, and public health system. The HSS Officer works under the supervision of the Regional Team Leader (RTL) and in close collaboration with central office level Health System strengthening team. S/he will be based in the Regional Project Office, with extensive travel within the Region.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Plan and implement specific components of HSS interventions in the region in collaboration with central office.
- Assist the Regional Health Bureau and other public health system in strengthening the public health facilities under the guidance of the Regional Team Lead.
- Coordinate and conduct planned trainings for primary hospitals, health center staffs, HEWs, Woreda Health office, Zone health department and RHBs
- Participate in monitoring and evaluation of LMG interventions; HIS interventions (Use of Data for Decision Making, connected Woreda, Revised HMIS, & DHIS2); Health Reforms (Community Scorecard, Ethiopian Health Center Reform Implementation Guidelines (EHCRIG); and Ethiopian Hospital Service Transformation Guidelines (EHSTG); Ethiopian Primary Health Care facilities Alliance for Quality ) in close collaboration with regional team under the guidance of the Regional Team Lead
- Facilitate and support woreda health offices and facilities to develop and implement quality improvement projects on RMNCAH) and support the implementation of quality improvement initiatives to enhance primary healthcare service delivery, with a focus on RMNCAH.
- Work with health facility managers to ensure that RMNCAH services are fully integrated into existing healthcare delivery platforms
- Identify and implement appropriate facility- and community-based strategies to address health systems service delivery gaps
- Work with district managers, health care providers, local structures, LHA partners, and team members to identify clinical service delivery issues that impede access to care and uptake of services and devise joint solutions
- Advocate with district and community-level health institutions and community structures to raise awareness about their role in improving health outcomes
- Provide technical guidance and support to healthcare facilities at the woreda level, with an emphasis on primary healthcare and RMNCAH services.
- Conduct follow-up visits, on the job mentoring, and supportive supervision to ensure the implementation
- Promote a partnership approach for all activities undertaken with relevant stakeholders in the regions
- Support community-based initiatives and outreach programs to improve health-seeking behavior and access to services.
- Prepare regular progress reports and documentation on activities, achievements, and challenges related to primary healthcare and RMNCAH services at the woreda level.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Master’s Degree in Public Health or related fields.
- More than 7 years of relevant experience at hospitals and/or HCs and program levels
- Proven experience in the provision of technical support and capacity building Community-level experience in facilitating trainings and workshops is highly desirable
- Knowledge of and experience with Quality Improvement methods
- Proven ability to work as a member of a multicultural development team in pastoralist context
- Excellent English writing and communications skills required, fluency in local language is an advantage
- Computer literacy
