Career Level: Senior (8-12 years)

Employment Type: Full time 9 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of people required: 1

Work Experience: 8-12 years

Background:

JSI is a global nonprofit dedicated to improving people’s lives around the world through greater health, education, and socioeconomic equity for individuals and communities, and to providing an environment where people of passion can pursue this cause. We are more than 4,000 public health care and education experts working across 46 countries around the world and across eight offices in the United States driven by a passion to improve health and education services for all. Our fundamental goal is to ensure that all individuals can live their best and healthiest life, regardless of age or circumstances. 

JSI is a US-based public health nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality technical and managerial assistance programs throughout the world. In Ethiopia, JSI has been working to improve health outcomes for more than 30 years, implementing more than 60 projects and working in every regional state of Ethiopia. JSI has historically managed a large portfolio of projects focusing on the quality and equity in access of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services, primary health care, including community health programs, digital health, health information systems, supply chain management, public health emergency responses, and social and behavior change. 

Project description

In this project, JSI will work closely with the Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service (EPSS) to improve the management and maintenance systems for cold chain equipment (CCE). The identified gaps of the current system focus on a range of components and processes that, if revised and supported for improved uptake and use, could improve coordination across all partners and document and track maintenance actions in support of evidence-driven decisions for longer-term planning for CCE procurement, installation, maintenance and management. 

Summary

The Senior Cold Chain Maintenance Technical Advisor will work closely with EPSS center and hubs cold chain technicians that are responsible for leading and coordinating both preventive and corrective maintenance of WICR/FR. In addition to this, coordinate all Senior level cold chain maintenance activities, data use for the maintenance system, and to build and maintain capacity for maintenance technicians. There will be one National Senior Cold Chain Maintenance Technical Advisor on this project who will report to a national-level System Strengthening Technical Lead based in Addis Ababa, who will be his/her supervisor. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide expert technical support and guidance on cold chain maintenance, including troubleshooting and resolving complex issues.

• Coordinate senior-level maintenance activities including but not limited to walk in cold room (WICR)/Freezing Room (FR) and other Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) installation, relocation, maintenance 

• Provide hands-on training for technicians for CCE maintenance and systems use, particularly related to maintenance activities.  

• Strengthen WICR/FR and refrigerated vehicle (van) temperature monitoring system.

• Support routine cold chain inventory updates, active temperature monitoring, strengthen contingency planning systems and monitoring of the maintenance activities.

• Coordinate use of data for maintenance and equipment monitoring action

• Coordinate with EPSS and regional health bureau technicians to improve planning and conduct of maintenance activities. 

• Prepare maintenance tool kit item list and specifications for senior level cold chain technicians.

• Support the updating of processes and procedures for CCE maintenance, followed by an appropriate roll-out. 

• Support CCE maintenance technicians to adopt procedures and processes, complete reporting requirements, and plan maintenance activities based on data and evidence. 

• Support the development/improvement of spare parts selection and quantification for EPSS WICR/FR and related cold chain equipment. 

• Lead the development of a peer-to-peer learning and exchange platform, ensuring the perspectives of the maintenance technicians are represented. 

• Develop and implement strategies for maintaining and improving cold chain systems in collaboration with different teams, ensuring they meet industry standards and regulatory requirements.

• Identify and implement innovative solutions to improve cold chain systems, including the adoption of new technologies and practices.

• Engage with various stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector partners, and international organizations, to promote best practices in cold chain maintenance.

• Reinforce the use of peer-to-peer learning and an exchange platform for CC maintenance technicians. 

• With the maintenance technicians, reinforce best practices for corrective and preventive CCE maintenance. 

• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of cold chain systems to ensure they operate effectively and efficiently.

• Support the EPSS technicians to maintain detailed records of maintenance activities and provide regular reports on the status and performance of cold chain systems.

• Document lessons learned on cold chain equipment maintenance activities and provided regular reports to the supervisor in Addis Ababa. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

Job Requirements

• MSC or bachelor’s degree in cold chain engineering, Biomedical engineering, refrigeration engineering, or related discipline are required. 

• A minimum of eight (8) years of work experience in cold chain and/or cold chain maintenance, hands-on technical work, refrigeration systems, or a related field.

• Proven technical expertise in cold chain systems, including cold chain technologies, temperature monitoring, and maintenance protocols. 

• Analytical skills with the ability to assess complex refrigeration systems, identify issues, fix WICR/FR failures, and support the implementation of government-led effective solutions to improve cold chain performance. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with experience in conducting practical training sessions and capacity-building activities for Senior Cold Chain Technicians. 

• Ability to serve as an early adopter and advocate for trying and demonstrating new ideas and approaches for strengthening cold chain maintenance systems. 

• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills in English and Amharic, excellent interpersonal skills, and a results-driven approach to program and team. 

• Willingness to travel within EPSS regional hubs to support project implementation, capacity building, assessment of program effectiveness, and to learn from problems faced at lower levels. 

Certifications: 

• Relevant certifications can be highly beneficial. These might include certifications in refrigeration and air conditioning, senior level cold chain maintenance, cold chain management, or other specialized areas. 

Required Skills

• Analytical skills

Communication

How to Apply

Interested applicants who met the minimum requirements should send and apply using THIS LINK. Please submit your application letter with your CV in English detailing your experience and skills that are relevant to the post.

Please do not attach copies of your transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters with the application. You will provide them upon request.

JSI/WEI is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children is a priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suited to work with the children served by our programs.

JSI/WEI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions. M/F/V/D