Community Health Quality Improvement (CHQI) Officer

RTI International is an independent organization dedicated to conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research that improves the human condition. Please visit our website at www.rti.org/globalhealth for more information on our work in global health.

RTI International is seeking “Community Health Quality Improvement (CHQI) Officer” candidates for the USAID-Health for Life (H4L) Project.  Health for Life (H4L) is a five-year (2012-2017) project financed by USAID and working primarily in coordination with the Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP). As a result, H4L has a significant national presence to support the testing and roll-out of national-level policies, guidelines and programs. In addition to the national focus, the Project covers 12 districts in the Mid-Western Development Region; 3 in the Western; one each in the Eastern, Central and Far-Western Regions; and in 10 (Dolakha, Dhading, Gorkha, Kavre, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Rasuwa, Sindhuli and Sindhupalchowk) most earthquake affected districts to strengthen district and village health systems and help identify and implement best practices. H4L collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, including academic and research institutions, training centers, media partners and civil society.

The primary goal of H4L is to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s capacity to plan, manage and deliver high-quality and equitable family planning, maternal, newborn, and child health services.  H4L activities directly address key health system constraints in the following areas: local health systems governance, data for decision making and evidence-based policy development, human resources management, quality improvement systems, and knowledge and behavior change. This vacancy is announced to prepare a roster of the potential candidate who will be deputed to the H4L working Districts.

Responsibilities:

• Provides guidance and technical assistance for D/PHO, health facilities, HFOMCs,  and other district level structures to identify QI issues, address gaps, mobilize resources and better serve communities with quality FP/MNCH-N services
• Coordinates with D/PHO, DDC, health facilities and other key stakeholders for smooth conduction of H4L activities. 
• Provides technical assistance to D/PHO - in planning, implementing, monitoring and budgeting of health services; and promotion -health governance activities related to H4L objectives.
• Supports establishing/functionalization of district QAWG and health facility quality improvement committees and monitor implementation of action(s) including activities related to infection prevention and health care waste management; and monitoring of these activities. 
• Supports D/PHO and HF staff in transferring skill (coaching) to HF staff by implementing self-assessment approaches to improve quality of services.
• Strengthens the use of data at the district and VDC levels for decision-making and for improving the quality and access.
• Supports different assessments and studies.
• Supports the implementation and dissemination of H4L gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) sensitive approaches, programs, messages, and materials at the district level.
• Facilitates in enhancing the counseling skills of the health workers/volunteers at district and below to address the missed opportunities during service delivery period.
• Provides technical assistance in drafting district communication intervention plan following NHEICC guideline for executing the activities effectively and efficiently.
• Explores opportunities to integrate IEC/BCC activities with other district based stakeholders.  
• Prepares H4L district-based reports and briefs as required; document case studies, lessons learned and challenges at the district and sub-district levels 
• Support H4L ANM pre-service activities at ANM schools and clinical practice sites (particularly in Banke, Jumla, Dang, Kapilvastu district)
• Works with specialists and advisors for specific technical issues to provide support to D/PHO and to other district and sub-district structures
• Carry out activities as assigned by supervisors

Qualifications and experience:

• Master’s Degree in public health or related field and at least 1 year of experience or a Bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years of experience
• PCL Nursing/ HA background preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience in the implementation of community based health programs. 
• Extensive field experience working with rural and remote communities. 
• Demonstrated success in providing hands-on capacity building and technical assistance to health care providers and other stakeholders. 
• Experience integrating cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and social inclusion. 
• Good oral and written communication skills and fluency in English.

To Apply: Qualified applicants should submit a resume with contact information to Operations Manager, Health for Life (H4L), P. O. Box: 3172, Lalitpur, Nepal or email: marora@rti.org with ‘‘Community Health Quality Improvement (CHQI) Officer” in the subject line.  Deadline is 5 March 2017; however, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Telephone inquiry will not be entertained.