BMET Country Coordinator Engineering World Health Rwanda

Engineering World Health retains staff members to manage biomedical equipment technician (BMET) training programs. The purpose of these programs is to provide practical technical training to developing world hospital technicians in their home countries. The goal of the program is to increase the technical capacity of the target country by developing a wide base of skilled technicians within the country who can repair and maintain medical equipment to improve health care. As an outcome, the country should have a sustainable program that can continue to train technicians at a local educational institution after direct EWH involvement in the country comes to an end.

EWH has received funding to manage programs in four countries: Rwanda, Cambodia, Ghana, and Honduras. The overall program from EWH perspective will last approximately three years. Experienced and successful coordinators have opportunities in future country assignments as well. Each country can have a BMET country coordinator who is responsible for executing the program, though the same person may be responsible for multiple countries (program scope dependent).

We are currently looking for a full-time staff person to manage the general BMET training in Rwanda. This person can be remote to our headquarters in Durham, NC, with frequent travel and stays in Rwanda to manage the programs and conduct training. The entire BMET training program will be under the direct supervision of the BMET director, and each country coordinator will report to the EWH BMET director. Remote home location is flexible depending on experience, but proximity to a major airport is desirable.

In each country, the BMET country coordinator will be responsible for the following duties:

·         Performing in-country assessment trips: Before classes begin, the coordinator will need to visit the country to meet with any stakeholders in the training program, possibly including governmental agencies, educational institutions, and NGOs. It will be important to consult with these organizations to determine the best strategy for implementing the training program. EWH works in collaboration with Duke University for assessment. The initial assessment has been completed for Rwanda.

·         Assisting with the development of an appropriate training curriculum: Based on information gathered on the assessment trip, a curriculum needs to be developed that is suitable for the target country. The curriculum will be developed in collaboration between the country coordinator and an educational partner, such as Duke University.

·         Instructing or arranging instructors for the training courses: The coordinator will be responsible for delivering classroom instruction either personally or by arranging for visiting instructors with relevant expertise in collaboration with the BMET director. Classroom sessions will typically occur twice per year for duration of one to two months.

·         Managing on-the-ground staff and/or volunteers: The BMET training program will deploy an on-the-ground coordinator (OTGC) to act as a teaching assistant and facilitator during instruction periods and to assist students as they work in their respective hospitals between training sessions. The country coordinator will manage the work of the OTGC to ensure the quality of their performance in assisting students and as an ambassador for EWH. The country coordinator will also provide the OTGC with any information or materials necessary to be effective. Rwanda currently has working OTGCs in place.

·         Seeking opportunities for expansion of the EWH BMET Training Program: While the country coordinator is performing their duties in their assigned country and at the EWH office in Durham, NC, they will look to identify, investigate, and secure locations and funding sources for expanding the BMET training program where possible.

·         Evaluating success of program and student progress: The coordinator will assist EWH educational partners with developing and recording measurements of the success of the program. These could include student performance, numbers of students trained, and impact on the local hospitals, health care systems, and patients.

·         Ensuring sustainability of the training program after EWH direct involvement ends: Thus far, EWH has received funding for 3-year training programs. An educational institution must be identified who is dedicated to continuing the training program after this time period.

·         Adhering to any project reporting requirements: EWH’s funders typically require periodic written reports on the progress of the program before authorizing continued financial support.   EWH also has internal reporting requirements to maintain costs, schedule, and quality.

·         Managing the budget: The country coordinator must manage and record the program’s expenditures to ensure that each aspect of the program receives sufficient funding and that the entire program does not run over budget. Financial details and decisions will be reported to the EWH business manager and approved by the EWH BMET Director.

 

The ideal candidate will have the following minimum requirements:

·         BME or BMET degree

·         Previous developing world experience

·         Organizational skills

·         Speaking / instructional skills

·         Experience managing projects and projecting budgets

·         Strong desire to make a difference and work to help people.

 

To apply for this position, please email EWH BMET Director at EdHutton@ewh.org with a cover letter and an attached resume. Use a subject line of “BMET country coordinator”. You may also call EWH at 919.682.7788 to inquire about the position. We are looking to hire someone very soon, so don’t hesitate!