About the Role
We believe that strategic engagement with policy leaders is critical to fulfilling our mission to improve access to affordable, high-quality, and appropriate medicines at scale. We recently secured Stage 2 funding from USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to test a more transparent and accountable model of delivery of global health funding. This model enables point of care reimbursement for essential health products via mobile money, which has the potential to transform fundamentals of health financing in low- and middle-income countries. We are looking for an individual with extensive experience working with key national and global health decision-makers to help us engage and iterate with them on our value proposition. The ideal candidate will:
Deeply understand the perspectives, incentives, constraints, and synergies across the health policy landscape
Align and communicate the value of Maisha Meds with the objectives of decision-makers and funders at a national and global level
Position Maisha Meds as a thought leader and trusted expert in improving access to affordable, high-quality, and appropriate medicines
Inform policies that draw from our lessons learned that will help make Maisha Meds model ubiquitous across sub-Saharan Africa
We are looking for a strategic and focused leader with experience engaging in-country bodies like the Country Coordinating Mechanism and Council of Governors, as well as global decision-makers in Geneva, Washington DC, and Seattle. In this role, the VP Market Access will lead Maisha Meds policy efforts in Kenya and across the region. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you will:
Lead policy strategy and execution for Maisha Meds: With support from our CEO and experts across the organization, you will establish policy targets and objectives aligned with our scale pathway, and oversee all activities relating to achieving those policy targets. Our VP Market Access will:
Work closely with leaders across the organization to develop our policy strategy and refine it over time
Set policy targets, define policy OKRs, and ensure these are aligned with our long-term vision for scale and sustainability
Manage all activities relating to achieving policy objectives and targets
Motivate our team to align their work streams in support of policy targets and objectives
Drive funding commitments for point-of-care subsidies from national, regional, and global decision-makers: You will identify and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders and serve as the primary relationship manager for these partners. You will:
Conduct need-finding and identify pain points among key in-country, regional, and global policy leaders
Synthesize lessons learned and research outcomes from Maisha Meds, and work with policy leaders to translate these research findings into innovative, data-driven programs
Secure funding agreements to implement point-of-care subsidy models in Kenya and elsewhere
Develop systems for ongoing management of these relationships, and direct our team how to most effectively engage as needed
Lead engagement with policymakers and advisers: You will manage ongoing engagement with potential public sector users of the system, ensure national-level familiarity with our system, and engage regularly with our recently-assembled board of world class policy experts. You will:
Facilitate regular policy meetings with policy advisory board to address strategic and tactical questions to advance our policy goals
Present to and engage relevant technical working groups and regulators throughout the region to secure relevant approvals
Lead public sector adoption of our system, from two counties currently using it to the 45 others that may be interested
Ensure all relevant national stakeholders are aware and briefed on our value proposition and support data systems integration and data security and compliance approvals
Qualifications
We are seeking exceptional health policy experts with 6+ years of policy experience working within and engaging with African health systems. Candidates who fit the following criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:
Strategic leader with a track record of successfully building relationships to find common ground, build consensus, and strengthen collaboration among diverse stakeholder groups and achieve high-level policy objectives
Experience working with in-country coordinating mechanisms, national health insurance, and global health funders in Geneva, Seattle, and DC
Experience developing relationships with senior government officials, leaders of development agencies, and private sector representatives
Humility and personal stability. We are looking for passionate professionals that combine strong leadership skills with good humor, patience, and a humble approach to service
Collaborative team player who can engage leaders across the organization to meet strategic objectives
Ability to identify opportunities or resources and motivate relevant team members to pursue them
Conversant in the language of both business and government policy
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
Swahili language skills
We would prefer to have you based in Nairobi, but would be open to a part-time remote position for the right person.
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