Biomedical Engineer Co-Lead

Background

Addis Ababa University, collaborating with Emory, Hawassa, and Mekelle Universities, along with the Ministry of Health and Oromia, Amhara, Sidama and Tigray regional health bureaus, has launched the Saving Little Lives (SLL) 360 project in Ethiopia, supported by the NEST360 Consortium via Rice University, USA.

The SLL360 team aims to adapt and integrate NEST360 solutions into the ministry of health’s newborn health packages for Level 2 SSNC units, scaling up in 16 hospital networks across four regions, and support further scale-up to 234 SLL-supported hospitals and nationally leveraging existing and upcoming newborn health investments. This initiative will bolster national and regional government capacities for the widespread adoption and institutionalization of these Level 2 SSNC packages. 

The partnership works alongside the government in Ethiopia to develop successful strategies for investment in health system infrastructure, including the focus on improving coverage and quality of in-patient neonatal care across facilities in Ethiopia. SLL360 also assist with integrating neonatal in-patient individual data into Ethiopia’s district health information system (DHIS2) data management platform. This data integration will provide the government with a necessary data-driven framework to evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions in neonatal intensive care units, obstetrics wards, and Kangaroo Mother Care units to understand the impact of their investments.

Addis Ababa University is actively recruiting for a Biomedical Engineering (BME) Co-lead full-time who would support coordinating all BME activities in the SLL360 program’s period.

Job Summary:  

The fulltime BME lead will closely work with the SLL360 National BMET to lead and coordinate the BMET activities across a national level. This role involves significant responsibility for coordination, development, and execution of the SLL360 national BMET plan, ensuring the BMET activities across all SLL360 university partners and regional health bureaus are coordinated and aligned with MoH policies.

The BME co-lead will support the SLL360 national BMET lead to effectively communicate with the NEST360 global team, share learnings from and with other NEST360 countries, and ensure the SLL360 expected deliverables are met. Collaborating with relevant BMET stakeholders and SLL360 Principal Investigators, the BMET co-lead will work alongside the SLL360 national BMET lead to develop and monitor the procurement, installation, and maintenance of the Level 2 SSNC devices and technologies at SLL360 supported facilities while concurrently working with the ministry of health and relevant agencies to integrate and institutionalize technology management systems and processes into the national policies, strategies and plans.

The BME co-lead will engage with various stakeholders, including SLL360 team members, clinicians, BMET staff, NGOs, private organizations or individual industry partners, and government entities, to facilitate the Level 2 SSNC effective implementation. Additionally, the BME co-lead will represent the SLL360 BMET lead team in different forums and working groups.

REPORTS TO: The SLL360 BMET Lead

Date of Announcement:    22 July 2024 

Duration of work:                                  1 years with possible extension 

Tentative Start Date:                            Immediately 

Number of posts:                                   1

Station:                                                        Addis Ababa 

Salary:                                                         Negotiable 

Requirements

• The ideal candidate has an extensive working knowledge of health systems and public health and experience program coordination/management in collaboration with the ministry of health and academic institutions, experience working in a multi-cultural environment and is willing and able to travel to support hospitals in rural Oromia, Amhara, Sidama, and Tigray. 

Education

• MSc degree in Biomedical Engineering or related fields 

Experience

• At least 3 years of relevant work experience in Bio-medical profession at public health facilities and/or NGO environment.
• Strong hands-on experience in Medical Device Management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to demonstrate skill and tact when dealing with sensitive, unpleasant, and/or confrontational interpersonal interactions.
• A strong interest in the integration of engineering and medicine.
• Willingness to travel to project sites as necessary.
• Technical proficiency in all the Microsoft office applications, and internet literacy. 
• Commitment to take on other additional responsibilities as per immediate supervisor’s direction
• Teamwork skills, with the capacity to engage, motivate, and ensure follow-through.
• Outstanding organizational skills for effective planning and scheduling.
• Confidence in making autonomous decisions.
• Superior problem-solving, supervisory, and organizational competencies.
• The ability to manage multiple tasks, reconcile competing priorities, and maintain confidentiality.
• A collaborative spirit, coupled with tact and cultural sensitivity.
• Experience in implementation research or academic administration is advantageous.
• Proficient in English and Amharic with demonstrated ability to listen, speak to read, and write.

Preferred qualifications 

• Knowledge and hands on experience on medical devices commonly used in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) including their installation and maintenance. 
• The capacity to combine a high degree of technical knowledge with creativity. 
• Experience in organizing and facilitating training.

Specific roles and responsibilities: 

Essential Functions

• Serves as the SLL360 BME co-lead, liaising with the MoH, health bureau, SLL360 partners, the NEST360 global team, and key stakeholders.
• Coordinate medical device inventory management across the SLL360 supported facilities with other Biomedical Engineers (BMEs).
• Oversee device procurement and importation in collaboration with the local distributor.
• Assist with the distribution, installation, and training of SLL360 medical equipment through the local distributor.
• Support the initiation and execution of Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM).
• Conduct regular check-ins with the national and regional BMET representatives.
• Manage the supply of accessories, consumables, and spare parts during and after installation
• Conduct project/program specific or integrated supportive supervision.
• Develop and submit detailed progress reports for SLL360 BMET related national micro-plans.
• Coordinate SLL360 BMET related training workshops and review meetings.
• Integrate SLL360 interventions into the MoH and Regional Health Bureau’s annual plans and align with health development partners’ programs.
• Work with relevant MoH and relevant agencies to optimize the SSNC health technology management system.
• Ensure the SLL360 BMET activities are on track through addressing any operational challenges and risks.
• Provide timely progress reports to partner institutions and donors.
• Maintain consistent communication with the SLL360 MBET lead, NEST360 global team, Principal Investigators, and other key stakeholders.

Additional Functions

• Builds and maintains relationships with external stakeholders, including academic collaborators, hospitals and healthcare providers and nongovernmental and governmental officials and agencies.
• Establishes and fosters excellent working collaborations and facilitates regular communication with key stakeholders and partners, especially with the Ministry of Health and regional health bureaus.
• Provides oversight for rigorous monitoring and evaluation activities and facilitates the documenting and dissemination of SLL360 BMET learnings.
• Provides timely BMET progress reports as required by partner institutions and donors.

How To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates for the positions stated above are invited to apply 

through Ethiojobs in the next 10 working days. 

Female applicants are highly encouraged. An applicant is requested to attach the following documents:

Letter of application mentioning the specific position 

Recent CV Original and copies of degrees, and other relevant documents 

Evidence of experiences in relevant areas