Product Technical Manager

The Partnership for Supply Chain Management Job Description

 

TITLE:                          Product Technical Manager

REPORTS TO:         Strategic Supply Chain Director

LOCATION:             Management Office, Woerden, Netherlands (PMO-NL), or
                                 Remote: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, or Nairobi, Kenya preferred;
                                 other East/Southern African hubs may be considered.

STATUS:                   Full-time

 

Organization description

The Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM) focuses on strengthening and managing secure, reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable global supply chains to enhance health and well-being in low- and middle-income countries by increasing access to quality and affordable health products. We assist governments, non-profit organizations, commercial firms, and humanitarian agencies in achieving their public health objectives through cost-saving procurement, efficient logistics, pharma-grade storage, last-mile delivery solutions, and real-time data tracking. PFSCM is dedicated to customer satisfaction and service excellence, which is reflected in our adherence to an ISO 9001:2015 certified Quality Management System and alignment with ISO 20400 for Sustainable Procurement, which underpins all our processes and services.

PFSCM, an affiliate of JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), a leading international public health and education consultant company in the U.S., operates from its project management headquarters in Washington D.C., and has an operational facility in Woerden, Netherlands. Additionally, we leverage the extensive network of 25 JSI offices around the world, allowing us to access their technical and operational expertise.

PFSCM's global team includes a diverse array of professionals from various countries who contribute to the effectiveness of our services. This diversity enriches our ability to connect with clients and collaborate internally. We believe our mission can be achieved by fostering a purpose- and results-driven culture. We strive to create an environment where our values of collaboration, learning, proactivity, problem-solving, and outcome orientation are reflected in our daily work.

 

Overall responsibilities

Product technical expertise is a cornerstone of PFSCM value proposition of world class healthcare procurement and supply chain services to clients, suppliers and other stakeholders. As such the Product Technical Manager is responsible for determining PFSCM’s product and service specifications in close collaboration with Business Development, Sourcing, and Quality Assurance teams. 

The Product Technical Manager is responsible for the development, maintenance of technical expertise as well as the effective and efficient dissemination, application and use of this expertise in our business processes to support PFSCM’s efforts to reach Client goals across multiple disease treatment programs. 

The Manager will lead a small team of laboratory and biomedical technical advisors and is responsible for technical decisions related to laboratory and medical device product standardization, specifications, and definitions used in PFSCM documents and publications, including the Health Supply Portal and other PFSCM product catalogs.  The Manager is expected to stay up to date on next generation products and services in the sector and reflect market changes in PFSCM’s product offerings. 

The product technical (PT) team participates as subject matter experts in PFSCM’s cross functional category management teams, as such the manager is responsible for specific product technical deliverables (client facing tools, whitepapers, briefs, webinars, trainings etc); the proactive support of Sourcing in RFP response reviews and evaluations to ensure alignment with product strategies; maintaining an up to date product portfolio in close collaboration with QA and Product Information Management units; supporting Client Services with product selection and technical support in working with clients.  

 

Specific responsibilities

• Lead and manage the technical specifications of PFSCM's product offerings embodied in the category strategies in close collaboration with category team members (Sourcing, QA, PIM, CS/Log) and ensure that the organization is operating in coordination with quality and regulatory standards, client and organizational expectations, and an efficient procurement process.
• Collaborate with client services, logistics and client account management units to ensure efficient and responsive procurement and delivery processes.
• Develop strategy and processes around selection, updating, and standardizing product offerings in close coordination with the Product Information Management  (PIM) team. 
• Lead harmonization activities to ensure that products selected by our clients are harmonized with relevant national policies and validated testing algorithms, 
• Ensure guidelines and standard operating procedures are established for development, implementation, and monitoring to maintain required conditions for the international, regional, or local procurement and delivery (including installation) of laboratory equipment across the supply chain in collaboration with QA.
• Collaborate and network with technical counterparts in donor/other organizations including participating in meetings, (international) conferences, and presenting on behalf of PFSCM; ensure and coordinate support from other PT team members with these efforts .
• Gather market analysis and identify public health trends, opportunities (next generation), and challenges that present implications to the supply chain.
• Disseminate & build technical knowledge within the organization and externally, e.g. white papers, training modules, fact sheets. 
• Define catalog offerings, by defining specifications and reviewing new technical agreements with relevant Units.
• Provide technical assistance and consultation on products to all PFSCM units, as requested.
• Contribute to PFSCM’s business development efforts as requested. 
• Lead and manage the unit in full accordance with PFSCMs Quality Management System, policies, standard operating procedures, and work instructions.
• Manage staff and unit performance at a global level and individual level and provide ongoing feedback.
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities to enable the simplification of the procurement of products and services. 
• Maintain an on-boarding training program and regular refresher training for internal teams, new hires, and external stakeholders for alignment on processes and SOPs.
• Represent PFSCM and serve in external technical working groups as appropriate.

Qualifications

Professional and Technical Knowledge

• Master’s Degree in Clinical or Medical Laboratory Technology.
• 10+ years’ experience in laboratory technology, virology, microbiology, biochemistry, and/or hematology.
• 5+ years’ experience working in clinical laboratory services including experience with tests, equipment, reagents, and techniques required for the diagnosis and monitoring of COVID, HIV, TB, Malaria, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Hepatitis B and C essential, including rapid diagnostics.
• 5+ years’ experience liaising with equipment manufacturers or their representatives to manage instrument warranties, repairs, and maintenance contracts.
• Experience with product catalogue development.
• Experience working in laboratories in resource limited settings in Africa, Asia, or Latin America.
• Knowledge of global health programs like, HIV, Malaria, and Tuberculosis.
• Knowledge of relevant country  and donor quality and regulatory requirements. 
• Advanced computing skills in standard software systems and databases required.
• Willingness and availability to travel internationally up to 25%, and perform other duties as assigned.
  

Leadership/Strategic Thinking

• Strong leadership and proven ability to recruit, direct, train, and manage a team of personnel.
• Strong action management including the ability to manage projects in the most cost efficient manner; resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgement, and the ability to make sound decisions under pressing conditions.

Interpersonal skills/Communication 

• Excellent written/verbal communication and interpersonal skills with strong sense of customer service. Fluency in English required; another business language preferred (French, Spanish, or Portuguese).
• Ability to prepare and deliver public presentations on laboratory and diagnostic product categories and related supply chain management.
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills with client relations experience and demonstrated ability to contribute within a global cross-unit functional team environment.
• Demonstrated leadership and collaboration skills.

Continuous improvement/Innovative

• Experience with continuous improvement initiatives and change management activities.

Priority Setting, Problem Solving, & Detail Orientation 

• Able to work productively and produce deliverables according to an established work plan.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills at a senior level with major international manufacturing companies.
• Strong organization skills with an eye for details, ability to plan, prioritize, and implement long range strategies in a fast moving, dynamic, and time-bound environment. 

Disclaimer:

PFSCM is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees and to fostering a workplace free from discrimination. We believe in upholding the values of individual merit, hard work, and excellence, and we actively oppose any practices that promote illegal preferences or actions in hiring, contracting, or other employment decisions or practices. We strive to create an environment where every individual is treated with dignity and respect, and we are dedicated to promoting a culture that recognizes and rewards individual initiative and achievements.

If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and unable to apply online for an available position, you may submit your request for reasonable accommodation by calling Human Resources at 617-482-9485.