Job Opening at JSI: Data Use and Innovation Advisor

[Anne LaFond]

The Data Use and Innovation Advisor

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Description:

John Snow, Inc. (JSI) has been strengthening health systems around the world and across the US for more than 35 years. While the use of evidence and data have always been central to our work, there is increased focus on creating the necessary conditions, capacities and drivers to ensure that the large quantities of data generated within health systems is used strategically and effectively and contributes to improving health system performance.

The Ethiopia Data Use Partnership (EDUP) is a 5-year project that aims to improve the collection and use of high quality routine information in the health sector in Ethiopia, contributing to improved quality, efficiency and availability of primary health and nutrition services at all levels. Beginning in late 2016, the project will be implemented on a national scale in both urban and rural settings and aims to transform the health information system (HIS) architecture and build local capacity in governance, data management and information use by supporting the government’s plans and working in close partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) to identify, introduce, and scale the most effective HIS solutions. EDUP is structured across two pillars-cultivating an information culture and digitalization and scale-up of priority HIS-and an overarching HIS governance that stress country leadership, ownership, and strong coordination among diverse stakeholders. The Ethiopia Data Use Partnership (EDUP) is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is leading a team to implement this project.

Responsibilities:

Position Overview :
The Data Use and Innovation Advisor serves as the focal point for exploration, strategy development, intervention execution, and learning related to EDUP efforts to identify and address barriers to data use at all levels of the health system. The Advisor works within the EDUP team based in Ethiopia to manage a portfolio of change management and data use activities, framing and managing human centered design activities in the project and forging strong working relationships among fellow professionals in EDUP, the MOH, and other stakeholder groups to advance the national agenda for creating a culture of data use. Working with MOH representatives, s/he will develop and guide EDUP strategies for integrating human centered design techniques and processes into the national HIS and the project, establishing data use innovation labs, and building organizational and individual capacity to manage change processes using HCD, innovation labs and other techniques. The advisor oversees and collaborates with our partner - GoBee - an HCD firm that brings specialized capacity and experience in HCD processes in the context of health information system design and data use in subSaharan Africa, liaising between the government, stakeholders and the design partner.

Description:
Building a culture of information use is the outcome against which performance of EDUP will be assessed. We are seeking a new team member to join us to help make health data come alive. The team you will work with has a blend of health information system, ICT, health program and policy, organizational capacity development, and design expertise, and is passionate about working to ensure that health data are used to improve health services and health status. In our team you will help us co-design strategies, strengthen systems, coach and collaborate, and build long term capacity in data collection and use. As the data use and innovation advisor, you will be a key player in EDUP, and find support from EDUP colleagues and US-based advisors in the JSI Center for Health Information, Monitoring and Evaluation (CHIME), among other groups at JSI.
We’re focused on finding the right person with a blend of public health, change management, health information system and data use improvement experience as well as a solid understanding, and potentially experience, in human centered design, as we engage with our Ethiopian and other partners to improve data use.

Your day-to-day work will vary depending on the project priorities, and will be managed by the EDUP Director. Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the conceptualization, introduction and institutionalization of human centered design as a strategy for increasing the use of health data at all levels of the health system in Ethiopia.
  
• Shaping and managing the work plan for the data use portfolio of the project including overseeing and supporting the HCD partner.
  
• Defining the concept of data use innovation labs, and facilitating the integration and adoption of HCD in the Ethiopia MOH through these innovation labs.
  
• Working with the HCD partner for EDUP, overseeing, facilitating and supporting HCD processes to identify barriers to data use and generate solutions to address those barriers.
  
• Facilitate training on data use and related topics and coach field based teams, including taking creative approaches to providing training support in low-bandwidth environments.
  
• Tracking activities and performance related to data use and change management, documenting our work and engaging and enthusing stakeholders related to project learning in these areas.
  
• Liaising with Ethiopian university partners to prototype, test and scale data use interventions and strategies, and to build capacity on data use with a focus on the woreda(district) level.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) or professional experience in public health or health systems strengthening with a focus on the collection and use of health information for improving health system performance
  
• 6 to 8 years of professional experience in designing and implementing interventions aimed at transforming health systems and health system operations in low resource settings; change management in public sector systems; with demonstrated expertise working with cross cultural teams and all levels of the health system
  
• Experience working with health data
  
• Knowledge of and experience working through human/user centered design processes
  
• Coaching, mentoring and capacity building experience
  
• Team player with strong written and oral communication skills focused on helping teams and projects succeed: well-organized, good time management skills, proactive, able to balance multiple activities, and a transparent communicator
  
• Prior work experience related to sub-Saharan Africa (preferably Ethiopia)
  
• Fluent in spoken and written English

Please submit your CV and a cover letter through http://jsi.com/JSIInternet/Careers/jobdescription.cfm?id=104785&intern=0 describing what makes you a great fit for this unique role on our team.

Those selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be asked to submit 2-3 samples of your data use and design work. We look forward to meeting you!