Vector Control Manager

Job Description

The World at Abt

Solving the world’s most pressing issues and improving the quality of life for people worldwide is what we do every day at Abt Associates. Creating a more equitable world is no small task, but we are driven by big challenges.

We are a team of 3,000+ people in over 50 countries working in unison and focused on the bigger picture. Only by sharing our commitment, energy, and innovation do we affect change and push the boundaries of what’s possible. We welcome diverse ideas, backgrounds, and viewpoints – joining Abt means access to exceptional thinkers at the top of their game.

To thrive at Abt is to embrace flexibility and collaboration. Our open culture allows you to balance your work and personal life as needed to optimize personal well-being. Creating a more equitable world starts from within – we look after people around the world, and we’ll do the same for you.

Ready to embrace rewarding and meaningful work? Now’s your chance.

The Opportunity

Abt Associates is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Vector Control Manager for a US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) funded comprehensive malaria project:  Zimbabwe Assistance Program in Malaria (ZAPIM II). The five-year project is working to support and strengthen the capacity of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) at the national, provincial, district, and community levels, in the areas of case management and malaria in pregnancy, long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) distribution, indoor residual spraying (IRS), environmental compliance, social and behavioral change communication (SBCC), surveillance/monitoring evaluation, and research.

Under the supervision of the Technical Director, you will provide technical and managerial leadership for the project’s Vector Control Team covering IRS, LLINs, and environmental compliance in providing TA to the NMCP.

Core Responsibilities

• Directly lead and supervise the project’s integrated TA in the areas of IRS, LLINs distribution, and environmental compliance operations.
• In consultation with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) and PMI, develops a clear scope of work for the project’s technical support role in IRS, national mass and routine LLIN distribution, and environmental compliance; and establishes performance benchmarks for the project.
• Work closely with the NMCP and other partners to establish a rational vector intervention program that includes LLINs distribution and IRS.
• In addition to leading the project’s Vetor Control Team, the Vector Control Manager shall be technically responsible for one vector control intervention, either IRS or LLINs.
• Specific duties under IRS will include:
• Manage TA to the MOHCC and other partners’ in overall planning and implementation of all project spray operations, including:
• Providing TA during the development of annual operations activity schedules.
• Providing TA during geographic reconnaissance in preparation for IRS.
• Supporting the identification and overseeing of the preparation and renovation of spray operation sites/base.s
• Facilitating and organizing annual planning meetings with the NMCP, other local stakeholders, and spray districts.
• Providing TA on determining spray operation labor requirements and supports the recruitment of seasonal spray personnel.
• Supporting quantification of requirements for insecticides, sprayers, personal protective equipment (PPE), and all other equipment and supplies.
• Confirming specifications for PPE and all other equipment and supplies procured locally.
• Providing technical support during organization and facilitation of micro-planning meetings.
• Coordinate technical support to NMCP on supervising and monitoring spray activities, to ensure:
• The application of correct spray techniques.
• Quality and accuracy of primary data.
• Data forms are promptly and safely delivered to data centers.
• Supervision and monitoring tools are used as required.
• Provide TA on overseeing the management of warehouses and stores, including:
• Ensuring adherence to USAID/PMI Best Management Practice for IRS.
• Ensuring that there are adequate stock levels of commodities, equipment and supplies at all operation sites.
• Ensuring that all store records are up-to-date throughout the spray campaign.
• Coordinate training-of-trainer courses and the trainings of the different categories of spray personnel
• Oversees information, education, and communication activities and community mobilization.
• Recommends spray personnel performance targets and tracks progress against spray campaign targets and timelines.
• Achieves operations-related monitoring and evaluation and quality control indicators of the project.
• Develops the operations component of the country capacity building plan to transfer skills to local institutions.

Specific duties under LLINs will include:

• Lead/coordinate capacity development of the NMCP, provincial, and district officials in all aspects of the planning, implementation, and monitoring of mass and routine LLINs distribution campaigns.
• Coordinate the development of planning documents, tools, and materials to support the implementation of LLINs distribution campaigns.
• Together with the project technical director, participate in national meetings and other discussions that may be held with the MOHCC and donors. Participate in national, regional, and local planning and review LLINs meetings, trainings, supervision activities and workshops.
• Organize field visits to regions, sectors, and health areas to interact with partners to assess preparedness for LLINs distribution campaign, identify bottlenecks and help address them.
• Support the preparation and implementation of micro planning of LLINs distribution campaign at the local level.
• Coordinate with the logistics team leader the pre-positioning of the LLINs within distribution sites.
• Review the LLINs campaign budget and propose relevant budgetary revisions in accordance with the campaign action plan.
• Review training plans for the campaign and oversee the organization of the training activities.
• Work with the project’s SBCC team to prepare and create materials for high level advocacy for the campaign.
• Establish an appropriate strategy to monitor and report on the distribution and hang-up of the LLINs.

What We Value

• Masters Degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, or other relevant field.
• At least seven (7) years of professional experience managing operations in an international development environment, with significant experience in vector control programs.
• Significant management and supervisory experience.
• Prior experience at USAID-funded programs, and basic knowledge of Federal and AID Acquisition Regulations (FARs and AIDARs), are highly desirable.
• Excellent writing, computer, and organizational skills.
• English language fluency.