University Research Co., LLC (URC)

URC is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With a non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 45 countries, including the United States.

Established in 1965, URC offers a range of technical assistance to strengthen health and social systems and service quality by empowering communities and health workers to identify and scale up locally appropriate solutions to critical problems. Internationally, we expand access to and improve the quality of services addressing maternal, newborn, and child health; infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; reproductive health and family planning; food and nutrition; and vulnerable children and families. In the US, we focus on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.

URC’s mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide. Please join us in carrying out our mission (http://www.urc-chs.com/).

Division & Project Overview:

The Quality and Performance Institute (QPI) is a division of URC that has implemented quality improvement and operations research programs in health care since 1981 and continues to be at the cutting edge of health care improvement work in countries around the world.

The USAID Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project (www.usaidassist.org) is QPI’s leading project that is dedicated to improving health, population and nutrition services through technical support to service delivery institutions, country Ministries of Health, USAID country missions, and cooperating agencies. The project carries on the work of the USAID Health Care Improvement Project (www.hciproject.org) and is focused on building the capacity of host country providers and managers to apply modern quality improvement methods, make essential services accessible to all who need them, and ensure that care is delivered in compliance with standards and client needs, for every client, every time.

An important global objective of the ASSIST Project is knowledge management: to facilitate documentation and sharing of evidence for improvement of specific care processes, based on the work of individual QI teams, large-scale improvement efforts, and/or research, and to make this information readily available through Web technology.

Roles and Responsibilities:

URC seeks a Project Officer-Quality Improvement to be based in Western Kenya for USAID funded project Applying Science to strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST). The project is a global leader in the implementation, advocacy, development and promotion of cost-effective methods to design and improve healthcare services and systems in developing and middle income countries.

Reporting to the Senior Quality Improvement Advisor in-charge of health service delivery and under the supervision of the Quality Improvement Advisor, the project officer will work closely with ministry of health officials in the target counties and other local implementing partners to lead in the applications of improvement methods in integrated clinical settings.

Under the supervision of the Regional Quality Improvement Advisor, the incumbent will:

· Provide project management support in selected counties and districts.

· Work closely with APHIA Plus and sub county level health management teams within selected counties to support improvement work in line with the Kenya Quality Model for Health (KQMH).

· Support regional Trainers of Trainers (TOTs) in quality improvement.

· Support Quality Improvement Teams and the Work Improvement Teams in the target counties.

· Provide support to develop quality indicators, data collection, analysis and reporting.

· Develop and update materials for training, coaching and learning sessions.

· Ensure project compliance with USAID rules and regulations.

Minimum Qualifications:

Required Experience & Qualifications

· A Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and registered with the Nursing Council of Kenya. Those with additional training in public health and project management will have an added advantage.

· Skills in management of projects and documentation; demonstrated leadership skills and ability to build networks and partnership; excellent verbal, written, facilitation, communication and presentation skills; administrative and financial skills.

· Ability to work and produce result within the set timelines.

· Proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

· Prior experience of working with district/ sub-county health management teams.

· Ability and willingness to travel in the field as and when required.

· Fluent in English and Kiswahili.

Please note: Only candidates who are eligible to work in the Kenya for an indefinite period without a need for sponsorship will be considered for this position.

To Apply:

Qualified applicants should send a cover letter and detailed curriculum vitae indicating your present employer, and position, daytime telephone number, current salary, names and addresses of three work related referees to hrkenya@urc-chs.com. The closing date for submitting applications is 21st November, 2014.

For immediate consideration, please visit URC’s Career Opportunities page at www.urc-chs.com/careers.

You must upload your CV/Résumé and your Cover Letter where indicated.Also, please complete your application form and attach a completedUSAID Form 1420 Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet as well.

Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, only candidates who have met the required experience & qualifications for this position will be contacted. No phone calls please. However, since we are active around the world in the field of public health, we may wish to retain your CV in our database for other/future opportunities, unless you direct us otherwise. Thank you very much for your interest.

URC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

We value and seek diversity in our workforce.

Our client, a global security printing, papermaking and cash handling Systems Company, is looking to hire a Process Improvement Lead. The Process Improvement Lead will ensure that all company processes are working at optimal efficiency on a continuous basis. They will evaluate company processes, assess opportunities for improvement, implement required process and other changes to deliver process and non-process improvement to increase efficiencies and productivity. As a culture change agent for the site, the selected person will be a strong leader with good influencing skills. S/he will need to leave a positive impact on the business.
Review and improve work flows in different departments across the business.Assess processes and where applicable recommend improvements including through the set-up of SOPs, 6S and other lean manufacturing tools.Lead continuous improvement programme, championing and implementing best practice throughout company operations.Facilitate, train and support CI initiatives also through training multidisciplinary improvement teams.Identify redundant processes that compromise quality output.Encouraging employee ownership and involvement in continuous improvement projects.Be the site knowledge repository of Manufacturing KPIs (OEE, Yield and OTIF).Use relevant KPI’s to install best practice and drive initiatives to enable delivery of targets.Preparing periodic reports to management on various projects being undertaken.To always act and behave in a way compliant with all company guidelines and policies, especially those relating to Environmental Health and Safety, ethics and codes of conduct.Maintain an up-to-date record of training and development ensuring full participation in performance review processes.A university degree and professional qualification Engineering/Finance/ Strategic Management/Business Administration/Operations Management and/or in a related field.5 years’ experience in process improvement gained in a busy manufacturing environment, and a proven track record of achievements.Be familiar with process improvement techniques ideally with application of six sigma and lean methodology.Excellent computer skills i.e. Microsoft Office and Outlook SkillsExcellent facilitation and problem solving skills with ability to deliver training.Excellent communication and project management skills.Excellent interpersonal skills.Ability to demonstrate leadership.Ability to drive change.A good understanding of modern manufacturing techniques and lean manufacturing principles is essentialAbility to lead, motivate, coach and develop people and work within a team environment.Have a proven track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams.Remuneration: The salary for this position is competitive. The package is negotiable dependent on experience and demonstrable contribution.
If you are interested in the position and have the skills we are looking for, we would like to hear from you. Please apply for this position on-line and attach a copy of your updated resume that outlines in detail your experience in process improvement projects together with details of your current salary and benefit package, to http://www.careers.tgagroupea.com/ by 7th May 2014. Interviews will however commence immediately upon receiving appropriate applications.
Please Note: We do not charge individuals any fee to accept or hold their applications in our database. We therefore do not accept any applications from agencies who charge their clients for submitting their resumes.

Quality Improvement Specialist/Consultant
Jacaranda Health is a social venture that aims to set a new standard for maternity care in East Africa. We are combining business and clinical innovations to provide affordable maternity and reproductive health services to low-income urban women. We have launched one clinic in Nairobi last year, and are currently expanding to other locations in the region. We strive to be a data-driven company which improves its operational efficiency through informed decision making on the costs and pricing mechanisms in the health care market. Please visit www.jacarandahealth.org  for more details.

Job Summary
In addition to performing the duties of a Quality Improvement Specialist, this role provides additional consultation, leadership and education to managers, supervisors and employees on matters related to performance measurement and quality improvement. Represents Hospital Quality and Patient Safety perspectives and activities on an organizational level, synthesizing a variety of results and initiatives and guiding collaborative efforts toward effective quality planning. Applies professional Quality theories in facilitating diverse groups, delivering public presentations and providing work team leadership.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership, consultation, advice and recommendations, coaching, education, and decision-making support to managers, supervisors, employees and professional peers related to clinical practices, adverse outcomes, policies and procedures and performance measurement and quality improvement activities Obtains and interprets data from a variety of sources into relevant and cohesive information for the purpose of guiding stakeholders in developing action plans designed to achieve the organization's quality objectives.Develops and tracks goals, strategies, tactics, and action plans for the assigned departments and serves as a resource for recommendations and next steps.Conducts and oversees investigations into adverse events, developing sufficient documentation to identify and evaluate human factors and system failures for the purpose of recommending changes to prevent recurrence and/or ensure patient safety.Integrates the tenets of a 'just culture' into consulting activities and written reports.Serves as a primary steward to patient safety and hospital quality on a clinical arena level, pursuing understanding of the services being provided within the arena, the nature of patient needs and the challenges unit and arena staff face in fulfilling assigned roles.Demonstrates proficiency in effective communication and negotiation skills.Seeks and capitalizes upon opportunities to provide education in performance and quality improvement, human factors and lean/six sigma theories.Acts as a leader in issues of performance measurement, quality improvement, and patient safety.This job description is not all encompassing.Masters Degree in Public Health or quantitative field (e.g. business, engineering, mathematics), Lean/Six Sigma Certification, Quality/Process Improvement BackgroundThree (3) years of applicable quality improvement experience  such as participating as a quality committee member, involvement with self-governed work teams, abstraction and interpretation of performance data, or demonstrated use of CQI tools and techniques is preferred.Demonstrated use of Quality processes and tools (Root Cause Analysis, FMEA, Lean, Six Sigma, etc.), Utilization Management, and/or Risk Management principles and practices.Demonstrated ability to develop constructive interpersonal and professional relationships with diverse populations (administrators, physicians, nurses, aides, technicians and other personnel).Demonstrated self-motivation and ability to work independently and as a contributing team member.Proficient in PC based computer skills, as well as Excel and PowerPoint.Proficient facilitation and presentation skills preferred.Demonstrated knowledge of statistics, systems theory and organizational behavior preferred.Exceptional written/oral communication skills, demonstrated ability to facilitate teams and serve as a consultant to diverse groups preferred
Interested candidates should send their application cover letters and CVs to jobs@jacarandahealth.org with the subject line Quality Improvement Consultant.

Preference will be given to candidates who will send their applications by May 31, 2013 

Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications received, we will be unable to confirm all applications.

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Career Advancement Opportunity

Our client, an integrated commercial security printer and papermaker is looking for a candidate to fill the position of a Process Improvement Leader.

Reporting to the Process Manager, the position holder will be responsible for aiding our client’s leadership in assessing opportunities for improvement, implementing required process and other changes to deliver process and non process improvement.

Main Responsibilities:

Lead continuous improvement programme, championing and implementing best practice throughout factory operations.Be the site knowledge repository of Manufacturing KPI’s (OEE, Yield and OTIF)Use relevant KPI’s to install best practice and drive initiatives to enable delivery of targetsHigher National Diploma or a Degree level in Engineering or equivalent.Familiar with Process Improvement tools such as Six Sigma or Lean MethodologiesExcellent computer skills Excellent facilitation and problem solving skills with ability to deliver trainingExcellent communication and project management skillsAt least 3 years experience in a busy manufacturing environmentIf you have the requisite experience and qualification for this role, we would like to hear from you.

Please email your application letter together with a copy of your updated curriculum vitae to recruit@resourceassociates.co.ke before close of business 28th April 2012