Project Summary
The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), under the U.S. Department of State-funded Controlling HIV Epidemic Program (CHEP), supports the Government of Zambia in achieving and sustaining HIV epidemic control in line with national and global targets, including the 95-95-95 goals.
The CHEP project focuses on strengthening HIV prevention, care, and treatment services through a person-centered approach, while enhancing maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) and Global Health Security (GHS) outcomes. The project operates in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) at national, provincial, district, and facility levels to ensure sustainability, country ownership, and transition readiness.
Job Summary
Senior Technical Support Officer. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing data quality control and assurance activities, coordinating mentorships and trainings on data collection and reporting systems, and ensuring continuous quality improvement across all supported facilities, including SmartCare Pro implementation and utilization.
Main Duties
- Ensures all data collection tools, reporting systems, and program indicators are clearly understood and correctly utilized across all supported facilities, including DHIS2 and SmartCare Pro.
- Develops, implements, and monitors routine quality control and assurance measures to identify data gaps, improve reporting accuracy, and provide timely feedback to facilities and relevant teams.
- Coordinates and oversees data cleaning exercises, be part of data quality assessments, and prepare data quality reports to support continuous improvement in data management processes.
- Mentors Data Associates, Data Coordinators, and facility staff on data collection procedures, data entry practices, and resolution of common data quality issues.
- Reviews and strengthens data verification processes, identify areas for process improvement, and support implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality performance.
- Monitors trends in facility-level and individual data quality errors, provide feedback to staff, and identify training needs to improve data management capacity.
- Develops, maintain, and update documentation materials, frequently asked questions, SOPs, and reference guides to support data quality assurance and staff capacity building.
- Develops mechanisms for tracking, monitoring, and evaluating improvements in data quality over time across all supported facilities.
- Develops training plans, schedules, and materials for data quality mentorships, eFirst transitions, SmartCare Pro support, and other data systems strengthening initiatives.
- Coordinates and supports training activities for Data Associates and facility staff to improve competency in data collection tools, reporting systems, and data quality standards.
- Maintains an up-to-date inventory of training needs for Data Associates and facility data staff, and coordinate capacity-building interventions based on identified gaps.
- Supports the transition of facilities to eFirst and SmartCare Pro systems through mentorship, readiness assessments, and follow-up support to ensure successful implementation.
- Assists in testing SmartCare Pro functionality, validate reports, and ensure that all identified system and data quality issues are followed up and resolved in collaboration with relevant teams.
- Works closely with District Data Coordinators, M&E teams, and other departments to ensure all recommendations for data quality improvement are implemented effectively.
- Supports routine supervision, monitoring visits, and stakeholder engagements related to training, data quality assurance, and systems improvement initiatives.
Qualifications
- Higher Diploma in Information Management, Computer Science, Monitoring and Evaluation, or related field.
- 2 years work experience in systems training, data quality management and data collection.
- Experience working in a health setting environment involving HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
- Experience supporting SmartCare Pro, eFirst, or other health information systems will be an added advantage.
- Experience with DHIS2 and Other reporting tools.
- Excellent understanding of SmartCare Pro, data collection tools, reporting systems, and data quality assurance processes.
- Strong mentoring, training, and facilitation skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong communication and report-writing skills.
- Ability to identify data quality gaps and implement practical corrective actions.
- Very good interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
- Ability to support SmartCare Pro data quality monitoring, mentorship, and reporting functions.
Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply. However, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Priority will be given to candidates who stay in the town where we have vacancies.