Uganda: Quality Improvement Officer – OVC

University Research Co., LLC (URC)

URC is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With a non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 45 countries, including the United States.

Established in 1965, URC offers a range of technical assistance to strengthen health and social systems and service quality by empowering communities and health workers to identify and scale up locally appropriate solutions to critical problems. Internationally, we expand access to and improve the quality of services addressing maternal, newborn, and child health; infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; reproductive health and family planning; food and nutrition; and vulnerable children and families. In the US, we focus on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.

URC’s mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide. Please join us in carrying out our mission (http://www.urc-chs.com/).

Division & Project Overview:

The USAID Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project is a new project dedicated to improving health, population and nutrition services through technical support to service delivery institutions, country Ministries of Health, USAID country missions, and cooperating agencies. The new project carries on the work of the USAID Health Care Improvement Project (http://www.hciproject.org) in global advocacy, development, and promotion of cost-effective methods to design and improve health care services and systems in low- and middle-income countries.

An important global objective of the ASSIST Project is knowledge management: to facilitate documentation and sharing of evidence for improvement of specific care processes, based on the work of individual QI teams, large-scale improvement efforts, and/or research, and to make this information readily available through Web technology.

The ASSIST Project is managed by URC’s Quality and Performance Institute (QPI). Through QPI, URC has implemented quality improvement and operations research programs in health care since 1981 and continues to be at the cutting edge of health care improvement work in countries around the world.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Quality Improvement Advisor – OVC, the job holder will provide support to OVC partners in implementation of the OVC quality improvement activities including but not limited to training, coaching and mentoring, report writing. He/ She will also in collaboration with USAID partners and the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Development liaise with the QI Advisor to ensure that all activities are aligned with the vision and objectives of the OVC Program.

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Develop and implement monthly plans as per the USAID ASSIST OVC QI work plan

· Support activities of institutionalization of quality improvement in the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development OVC structures

· Support and facilitate the training and formation of OVC QI teams to improve provision of services based on national quality standards for protection, care and support of OVC

· Efficiently organize and carry out coaching visits to OVC QI teams to - their ability to identify and solve problems in OVC service delivery and learning sessions for teams to share and learn

· Support QI teams to conduct monthly data collection, analysis, use and reporting

· Support QI teams to synthesis and document quality improvement efforts

· Support and participate in OVC partners meetings at national, regional and district levels

· Develop materials for trainings, learning sessions, harvest meetings and coaching visits

· Maintain database for indicators monitored by the QI teams supported

· Prepare and share progress reports on implemented activities in form of biweekly, quarterly and annual reports

· Document success stories arising from the implementation of the activities

· Ensure that financial regulation are concisely followed such as timely accountability of the implemented activities

· Any other duties assigned by the supervisor

Minimum Qualifications:

Required Experience & Qualifications

· A Bachelor’s Degree in Social works or Equivalent, a Postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.

· Prior experience in quality improvement methods in a social welfare setting.

· Demonstrated strong program implementation and organizational skills.

· Technical expertise in the field of OVC programmes in Uganda with experience of not less than 4 years

· Demonstrated experience of liaising with implementing partners and community-based services to respond to orphans and vulnerable children’s needs

· Good computer skills

· Knowledge of rules and regulations USG funded Programmes

Desired Experience & Qualifications

· Knowledge of rules and regulations USG funded Programmes

· Ability to work under pressure and within agreed timelines / set deadlines

· Ability to prioritize work within guidelines as agreed with Supervisor

· Ability to work with limited supervision

· Able to communicate and work well with government structures that support OVC work

· Ability to budget and manage finances on a monthly basis.

Please note: Only candidates who are eligible to work in the Uganda for an indefinite period without a need for sponsorship will be considered for this position.

To Apply:

For immediate consideration, applicants who meet the requirements should send an Application Letter, CV, and relevant academic documents as well as names and contact information for 3 professional references and day time contact numbers to The Human Resource Officer - USAID ASSIST Project, University Research Co., LLC, Plot 40, Ntinda II Road, Naguru, P.O. Box 28745, Kampala, Uganda. E-mail:assistugandarecruitment@urc-chs.com by 15th September 2014.

For more information, please visit URC’s Career Opportunities page at www.urc-chs.com/careers.

You must upload your CV/Résumé and your Cover Letter where indicated.Also, please complete your application form and attach a completed USAID Form 1420 Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet as well.

Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, only candidates who have met the required experience & qualifications for this position will be contacted. No phone calls please. However, since we are active around the world in the field of public health, we may wish to retain your CV in our database for other/future opportunities, unless you direct us otherwise. Thank you very much for your interest.

URC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

We value and seek diversity in our workforce.