Aga Khan Health Service, Tanzania: Overview

The Aga Khan Health Service, Tanzania (AKHST), an institution of the Aga Khan Development Network, completed a major Phase II expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam in 2018. This expansion aimed at improving the hospital’s quality of facilities and infrastructure to become an ultramodern 170-bed facility to increase its capacity as a provider of high-quality medical care, leading to a tertiary care, referral, and teaching hospital.

Clinical Services Expansion

The Phase II development focused on expanding key clinical services, including:

• A comprehensive cardiology programme
• Oncology services
• Neurosciences
• Orthopaedics and trauma
• Diagnostic imaging
• Critical care
• Women and child health programmes

Accreditations and Educational Role

The hospital is JCI accredited, achieving a level of quality and patient service equal to the best hospitals in the world. It serves as the teaching site for The Aga Khan University, which offers Postgraduate Medical Education programs leading to Master of Medicine in:

• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Surgery
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Paediatrics and Child Health

It is also an accredited internship site.

Outreach Health Facilities

As part of an integrated health systems approach, AKHST plans to establish 35 outreach health facilities across Tanzania. Currently, 19 such clinics have been established across the country and are linked to the main hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Job Opportunity: Head of Material Management

AKHST is seeking enthusiastic, qualified, and experienced personnel for the following position:

Position: Head of Material Management (1 Position)
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer and Regional Director, Purchasing & Supply Chain Division

Position Summary

The Head of Materials Management is responsible for developing and implementing objectives, strategies, and tactics for material management in support of AKHST’s goals and objectives to promote efficient and effective patient care. This role also administers strategies to ensure optimal levels of departmental customer service and communication efforts.

Roles and Responsibilities

• • Plans, coordinates, and administers the operational, financial, administrative, and technical operations of material management.
  • Provides strategic direction for materials and supply chain distribution functions for AKHST in the areas of inventory management, quality assurance, and value improvement.
  • Leads procurement of high-end medical equipment (radiology, laboratory, critical care, operating room, etc.) through a detailed survey of international and local markets to find the best equipment (best price and quality).
  • Prepares the procurement and supplies budget, conforming to the overall institutional budget.
  • Prepares and implements strategies for reducing inventory holding, improving lead time for supply, and achieving continuous savings through inventory management techniques.
  • Ensures sufficient coordination between the warehouse, inventory control, and purchasing functions.
  • Serves as an operational and technical resource to materials management in the communication and resolution of related issues, negotiates successful resolutions, and provides education about materials management.
  • Prepares submissions and presents to the Purchasing Committee, Product Evaluation, AKDN Purchasing Committee, Pharmacy Therapeutic Committee, and Health Network Purchase Program.
  • Develops and maintains control systems from purchasing, warehousing, to the final consumer to ensure supplies and hospital funds are utilized properly.
  • Ensures proper and timely payment is made to hospital suppliers to maintain a good relationship with long-term buyer-seller dynamics.
  • Plays a leadership role in managing the performance of reporting staff, including providing guidance, developing goals and objectives, engaging them in budget and planning activities, and taking responsibility for performance management.
  • Undertakes any other roles assigned by the Supervisor or their designee.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in Material Management from a recognized university.
• Registration with the Procurement and Supplies Professionals and Technicians Board (PSPTB).
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive responsible experience in a healthcare setting, including 4 years of experience in the management of resources, materials, supplies, or sterile processing.
• Experience implementing a supply chain new ERP system.
• Experience and expertise in healthcare warehouse and stock management for at least 4 years.
• Participation in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Ensures compliance with policies and procedures regarding department operations, fire, safety, and infection control.
• Effectively and consistently communicates administrative directives to personnel and encourages interactive departmental meetings and discussions.
• Maintains regulatory requirements of both local and international regulations.
• Always represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Complies with all organizational policies and standards regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, ethics, and goals of the organization.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Environmental Commitment

AKHS is concerned about the climate and environmental crises we face and is doing everything possible to reduce our own impact, encouraging others to do the same, and advancing understanding in this field. AKHS has set itself the task of getting as close to net-zero carbon operations as possible by 2030. We expect all staff to contribute to achieving these aims in the context of their roles. We encourage applicants with previous experience or an interest in this field to apply.