Associate Medical Physicist, TB Access

Overview:

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work in conjunction with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.

At CHAI, our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skillsets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in, with the majority of our staff based in program countries. Learn more about our exciting work: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

CHAI strives to be an equal opportunity employer and promotes fairness, respect, equity and dignity in the workplace. CHAI welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and encourages people from historically disadvantaged groups to apply. CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing an environment of fairness, and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. CHAI values diversity and inclusion and recognizes that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and culture.

Team Overview:

CHAI’s Access Program approaches some of the most pressing issues in global health with a business-oriented strategy to fundamentally change the underlying economics. By addressing global market failures and accelerating access to the most effective, high-quality health products at affordable and sustainable prices, CHAI helps patients access the care and treatment they need. CHAI’s strategy to combat TB in South Africa is to identify more patients, diagnose earlier, and treat with the best available regimens, such that more lives are saved, and transmission is interrupted.

Position Overview:

CHAI is seeking to appoint a skilled medical physicist to support the TB Access Programme as an Associate. They will advise on key strategic initiatives which align with the priorities of the National TB Control and Management Programme. They will have strong relationship management skills as they will interface and represent CHAI with government and non-government partners. The role will involve a number of management functions, which may include data gathering and analysis, best practice research, process mapping and guideline development, convening and coordinating meetings, and obtaining stakeholder agreement/ partnerships.

CHAI is seeking a highly motivated, entrepreneurial individual with outstanding analytical capabilities, problem-solving ability and communication skills. The candidate should have at least 4 years working as a consultant, or strategist, preferably in the global health field. A proven record of leadership, programme execution, and communication skills is required. The Associate must be able to function independently and flexibly in a fast-paced environment.

The Associate will primarily focus on efforts to accelerate access to novel screening and diagnostic devices (mainly on ultraportable digital chest x-rays) for TB. This will involve engagement with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) as well as global stringent regulatory authorities, in addition to other key senior global and local TB stakeholders, including the South African National TB Programme.

CHAI places great value on relevant personal qualities: resourcefulness, humility, responsibility, tenacity, independence, and work ethic. The position may require limited travel, dependent on project needs. The Associate will be based in Pretoria, South Africa and will report to the SA TB Access Manager.

Responsibilities:

• Develop a detailed understanding of the current clinical and technological landscape as well as of recommendations for the screening and diagnosis of TB, both in South Africa and globally.
• Oversee and manage the development of regulatory guidelines for dCXR / CAD and on the use of ultra-portable devices in South Africa, which will address pertinent issues such as the safety of provider and patient; quality; performance; traceability of products and risk-benefit assessment protocols.
• Lead engagements with regulatory authority teams (locally and globally) to understand the current landscape for ultraportable x-ray devices, develop a suitable framework for data collection, review and build relationships with relevant bodies (e.g. HPCSA, Radiological Society etc.), including management of relevant technical working group meetings.
• Develop recommendations for the broader set of next steps to inform decisions around national scale-up of novel and ultra-portable dCXR implementation models.
• Participate in global and local disease team discussions/ meetings to ensure coordination, and improve cross-country collaborations and best practice sharing from the regulatory point of view.
• Document programme activities, share best practices through case studies and publications, and prepare presentations, analyses and reports for donor, stakeholder engagements and to inform local, regional and global policy and increase the evidence base.
• Assist the TB Access Programme Manager with key deliverables and other ad-hoc requirements as needed.

Qualifications:

• A degree in Health, Public Health or other related disciplines qualifications that are recognized with the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) for consideration/registration as a Medical Physicist.
• A minimum of 4 years of professional experience in a private or public sector setting with increasing levels of responsibility and experience.
• Strong understanding of the principles and concepts of medical physics.
• Strong understanding of nuclear physics, radiation safety principles, and radiation dosimetry; a background in research will be an added advantage.
• Thorough knowledge of statutory regulations related to the medical use of ionizing radiation.
• Strong understanding of the medical device and regulatory landscape in South Africa.
• Ability to navigate complex governmental and organizational processes and favorably influence decision-making in a professional and collaborative manner.
• Strong problem solving, analytical, and quantitative skills, including significant experience working in Excel and PowerPoint, and presenting findings and recommendations.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, with a demonstrated ability to work independently on complex projects and solve challenging problems, in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
• Strategically minded, able to think creatively around long-term program objectives and the detailed steps necessary to achieve these goals.
• Candidates with experience in the medical device and diagnostics industry are welcomed.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task with a strong commitment to excellence, both internally and externally, and with limited structural support.
• Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills.

Attributes:

• Advanced problem solving and analytical skills, including significant experience in modelling and building models (using Excel or other modelling tools).
• Strategically minded, able to think creatively around long-term program objectives and the detailed steps necessary to achieve these goals.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and demonstrated ability to perform consistently at a high level in unstructured, high-pressure situations.
• Exceptional diplomatic and interpersonal skills, and ability to build strong professional relationships with a range of stakeholders in a challenging, multi-cultural environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to navigate complex governmental and organizational processes and favorably influence decision making in a professional and collaborative manner.
• Willingness to travel as and when required.