Job description
A bit about us…
Here at Beyond Essential Systems (BES) we make awesome technology and put it to good use in the world. Our aim is to improve decision making in low resource settings by providing meaningful data that results in well informed decisions, and better outcomes for individuals. Our services and products have an impact across health, education, supply chain and disaster management, and we are proud to be able to provide innovative and collaborative solutions, while working closely with local partners in the Asia / Pacific region.
About the role:
BES has been working with the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the Fiji Program Support Facility to support supply chain strengthening and access to essential medicines in Fiji since 2019. You will be joining an established and successful project, which includes digitisation of Fiji’s national health supply chain (using the logistics management information system mSupply), and a wide range of supply chain reforms covering warehousing, procurement, and policy.
Health product procurement reforms have been underway since 2022, including digitisation of request for quotations (RFQs) and some tenders using mSupply and Health Supply Hub, an electronic procurement platform recently introduced in Fiji. W
e are seeking a Health Supply Chain Procurement Specialist to be based full-time in Suva, Fiji until the end of 2024, to continue enhancing health product procurement reforms. You will work closely with FPBS staff and our local BES team, and be supported by our Supply Chain Program Manager and team. Project onboarding and training in digital systems related to health supply chains in Fiji will be provided.
This is a fixed-term contract position to 31st December 2024, where you will be based at the Fiji Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Services Centre (FPBS), reporting to the FPBS Director and the BES Supply Chain Program Manager (currently also based in Fiji), and working with our BES teams in Australia and Fiji. We are looking to hire into this role as soon as possible.
Day to day, you will be working with the relevant people at FPBS and the MHMS to:
- Lead the expansion of health procurement digitisation at FPBS using mSupply and Health Supply Hub
- Support FPBS to implement/optimise mSupply, Health Supply Hub, the new Tender and Procurement Guidelines, and Warehouse SOPs
- Deliver refresher training and at-the-elbow support on mSupply and Health Supply Hub at FPBS
- Support FPBS staff to analyse and action supply chain data from mSupply and Health Supply Hub to prevent stockouts, improve medicines availability, and optimise procurement processes
- Support other supply chain strengthening processes at FPBS as directed by the BES Supply Chain Program Manager
- Report on project delivery progress and impact to key stakeholders, including FPBS, senior Ministry of Health staff, funding partners, and the BES Supply Chain Program Manager (written reports, presentations, meetings, media communications)
- Where required, ensure technical issues are resolved by facilitating communication between IT teams at FPBS, MHMS, BES and the mSupply Foundation
- Liaise with the BES team (local and international), FPBS, MHMS, and funding partners to achieve outcomes
- Attend and contribute to weekly BES Health Supply Chain team meetings and wider program reports
- Ensure compliance with policies (including Child Protection Policy) and fiduciary responsibilities in the carrying out of contracts
- If required, support on other BES projects within the supply chain program
- Other tasks as reasonably requested by supervisors
About you:
You’ll have a real connection with our purpose and will be looking for a role where your work has a meaningful influence and impact on the lives of others. You’ll be a natural collaborator with initiative and drive.
Experience in some (we don’t expect all) of the following skills would be an advantage:
- Experience working in complex roles across health procurement and/or health supply chains
- Experience working with digital health products, ideally in the health procurement and/or health supply chain space
- Experience living and working in low-resource and culturally diverse settings
- Strong teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to work with individuals from a variety of professions (including Project Managers, Health Professionals, and Software Developers)
- Resilience working in tough environments, with a high level of autonomy and the ability to solve problems, coupled with the ability to recognise when assistance is required and the willingness to ask for that assistance
- Ability to remain calm under pressure
- High comfort with and ability to learn new technology
- Qualifications in one of: Procurement, Pharmacy, Public Health, Global Health, or related field
Desirable (but not required):
- Experiencing working in the Pacific
- Experience using mSupply and/or Health Supply Hub, or similar digital platforms for health product logistics or procurement management
This role will require working full time on-site at FPBS in Suva, Fiji.
What’s in it for you?
Where do we start! As well as being part of key projects and having meaningful work, we also offer:
- genuine work/life balance and flexibility
- ongoing professional development: you decide where to take your career
- a talented, collaborative, and friendly team to work with
- an opportunity to work for a recently accredited B Corp company
How to apply:
Please submit the following as part of your application:
- Cover letter
- CV
- Include in your cover letter the answer to the question: What is your favourite fruit?
We would especially encourage you to apply if you are from a community that’s underrepresented in the technology or aid industry.
We’ll hire as soon as we get the right candidate, so don’t delay!