Quality Improvement Advisor

The Institute of Health Programs and Systems (IHPS) is a South African non-profit company (NPC) born out of the PEPFAR CDC Track 1 transition of the ICAP, Columbia University, Multi-country AIDS Program (MCAP) in South Africa in 2010. IHPS was established with a mission “to strengthen health and development systems through program implementation and partnerships” and, the vision is to ensure “optimal and sustainable health and development outcomes”. IHPS is a current Global Fund (GF) Subrecipient (SR) under the National Department of Health (NDoH), tasked to implement the Tuberculosis (TB) Program in the Johannesburg (JHB) Health District in Gauteng Province (GP) and Kenneth Kaunda District in the North West (NW) Province starting April 2022 ending March 2025. As such, IHPS seeks to recruit for the positions outlined below, to be based at Head office in Johannesburg. 

IHPS has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) of any person, child or adult, involved with its programs. The IHPS PSEAH policy outlines its commitment towards SEAH.

Quality Improvement Advisor                   

Contract Type                                                 :  Fixed term contract (Contract end date 31 March 2025) 

Anticipated start date                                   :  December 2024

Remuneration                                                 :  R69 395.92 pm

Level of effort                                                 : 100%

Closing date                                                  : 13 November 2024

Purpose of the position

The Quality Improvement Advisor will be devoted to helping identify, plan, and execute improvement projects for the national TB program and support the delivery of successful results, and facilitate the spread and application of evidence-based interventions across the TB care cascade in the districts. 

Key performance objectives

Provide QI capacity building by:

1. Supporting the development or adaptations of quality improvement (QI) learning materials 

2. Providing training, mentoring, coaching and supportive supervision of QI officers, district TB program coordinators, facility TB focal persons and data capturers as applicable

3. Develop and implement a QI roadmap for national TB program at the district level including designing TB district and subdistrict QI strategies

4. Oversee high-level coordination and manage relationships with stakeholders involved in district TB QI projects

Support learning and collaborative activities that include:

1. Facilitating QI mentoring of QI Officers and their subdistrict clusters.

2. Provide joint QI on-site or virtual technical support to and with the QI Officers 

3. Support TB care cascade baseline assessment to determine gaps at facility level i.e., primary health care (PHC) and hospital level

4. Support development of QI process measures and analytics of such data for learning

5. Conduct spot-checks on QI Officers to monitor QI capability building of subdistrict clusters

6. Provide collaborative QI monthly and quarterly reports to support required program reporting

7. Support the documentation of best interventions for spread and scale up across the district.

8. Support districts, subdistricts, and facilities with the necessary tools to track QI activities including i.e. QI how- to-guide, data guide, QI tools, etc.
   Actively participate in meetings as applicable

9. Attend monthly district and subdistrict learning meetings to share learnings.

10. Support districts with preparations of TB program performance review meetings 

11. Attend relevant internal and external technical meetings as required 

Qualifications

1. An appropriate 3-year National Diploma/Degree in Health Sciences or Social Sciences

2. At least 5 years’ experience in training or facilitation

Knowledge Skills and Experience

1. A minimum of 5 years’ experience in health programme management

2.  Experience in the management of TB/HIV Program

3. Proven experience in QI implementation 

4. Training in QI would be an added advantage

5. Administrative and management skills

6. Experience in stakeholder management

7. Valid driver’s license 

Technical Competencies

1. Sound knowledge of TB, DR-TB, TB/HIV and Quality Improvement methods

2. Knowledge of the SA Health System (provincial, district, sub-district and facility)

3. Experience in implementing capacity building techniques/strategies.

4. Proven technical report writing and presentation skills.

Employer’s Rights

This position description may not list all the duties of the job.  If an offer is made, you will be presented with a detailed job description. Applicants will be evaluated based upon their demonstrated ability to perform the tasks listed above, their education and work experience.  The employer reserves the right to revise this posting at any time. 

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should apply by e-mail only to HR@ihps-sa.org. Subject line should be the Position and District you are applying for, and a cover letter and resume or curriculum vitae (CV) should be attached. Submissions which do not follow the above instructions will not be considered. 

Due to the extremely high volume of CVs expected, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.  NO PHONE CALLS about these positions will be accepted.

CLOSING DATE:   13 November 2024