Quality Improvement Advisor

Quality Improvement Advisor – USAID Nepal Better Health

About Corus: Corus International is the parent of a family of world-class organizations working to deliver the holistic, lasting solutions needed to end extreme poverty once and for all. We are a global leader in international development, with 150 years of combined experience across our brands. Our nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries include IMA World Health and its fundraising brand Corus World Health, Lutheran World Relief, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Brands. Our more than 500 employees around the globe are experts in their fields and dedicated to helping the world’s most vulnerable people break the cycle of poverty and lead healthy lives. Further details about the organization can be found at: https://corusinternational.org

Today, IMA offers extensive expertise in managing and implementing highly successful and complex donor-funded programs in nutrition, maternal and child health, health systems strengthening (HSS), malaria, HIV/AIDS, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Corus International’s country portfolio in Nepal has worked alongside the Nepal government, donors, and a variety of local and international partners since 2009. The portfolio includes a focus on health, sustainable development and humanitarian assistance activities and operates out of Kathmandu.

About the Job: IMA World Health is seeking a Quality Improvement (QI) Advisor to support the upcoming USAID-funded Nepal Better Health project. Better Health is a five-year health system strengthening activity to improve the quality of care for maternal newborn and family planning services at the facility and community levels, address demand side barriers, improve accountability and governance, and strengthen health facility preparedness.

The position will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal and will report to the Chief of Party. Actual hiring is contingent upon signed agreement and USAID approval. Nepal nationals are highly encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the quality improvement strategy for the project.
• Ensure collaboration and consultation with key stakeholders and other relevant groups in QI such as the Ministry of Health, private sector, and other donor-funded projects in Nepal.
• Participate in the refinement of methods to ensure continuous quality improvement (CQI) and adapt/develop norms and standards for QI systems for delivery of health services at the government and private health care facilities.
• Ensure the development of job training/mentorship materials to supported districts;
• Regularly provide coaching and technical support in QI methods for maternal, newborn, child health care, and family planning evidence-based interventions at the health facility and community levels in the proposed project areas.
• Collect and manage data on quality improvement processes and outcomes, in collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager.
• Work with project staff to identify and document best practices through CQI knowledge management briefs and case/success stories.
• Ensure the timely writing and submission of quality and accurate reports quarterly, monthly, and at all other requested times.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public health, development studies, business administration or an equivalent related area of study.
• At least ten years of experience in international/regional health services quality improvement (preference in Nepal/Southeast Asia).
• Excellent facilitation and training skills in a variety of health and organizational development topics.
• Strong knowledge of Quality Improvement Science and methods.
• A thorough understanding of the underlying causes of ill health and social determinants of health in Nepal.
• Deep knowledge and experience with the Nepal health systems, including social protection systems, health equity funds, and health insurance programs.
• Technical expertise in family planning and maternal and child health.
• Experience working with and improving the quality of private sector health care services.
• Demonstrated ability to work in concert with team, partner organizations, and key government stakeholders to achieve results; experience in partnership building especially with the Government of Nepal, USAID, NGOs and private sector a plus.
• Experience with health management information systems (HMIS) and use of data and evidence for quality improvement.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (including in making presentations); high degree of political savvy in interacting with senior government and civil society stakeholders.
• Ability to travel and work well under pressure with minimal supervision.
• Excellent English, oral and written skills. Conversational Nepali a plus.