Institute Overview

Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) is a leading research organization in Africa with a strong track record in developing, testing and validating innovations for health. Driven by a core strategic mandate for research, training and services, the Institute's work now spans a wide spectrum, covering biomedical and ecological sciences, intervention studies, health-systems research, service delivery and policy translation.

Position Summary

Ifakara Health Institute under Maternal and Newborn Health Program is seeking a Biomedical Engineer to support a portfolio of programs aimed at implementing comprehensive Maternal and newborn care through innovative lifesaving technologies, providing technical and clinical capacity-building, implementing clinical and technical education programs, and building a sustainable distribution network. The Biomedical Engineer will support the programs efforts to improve the availability and reliability of medical equipment in partnership with the Medical Stores Department (MSD), the local distributor, Regional BMEs and facility BMEs. The ideal candidate must be ready and available to assume duties immediately upon appointment.

Responsibility:

• Liaise with MSD and the local distributor to plan, track and confirm accurate distribution and installation of equipment at implementing sites, in line with the programs equipment list and site readiness.
• Track deliveries from dispatch to receipt, confirm each site receives the right equipment, quantity, and specification, and provide the BME Coordinator with regular status updates by site.
• Follow up on installation, commissioning and handover with regional BMEs, and check that delivery notes, installation reports and handover records are complete, and the equipment is registered in the system.
• Monitor facility Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) and Corrective Maintenance (CM) through the Medical Equipment and Infrastructure Management Information System, ensuring PPM is completed on schedule and CM requests are closed within agreed timelines, with complete records of work done, parts used, and outcomes.
• Flag overdue or stalled maintenance, repeat failures and high downtime; review trends by region and facility; and follow up with regional BMEs.
• Work with regional BMEs to resolve delayed repairs, spare parts gaps and vendor support needs, including follow-up on service contracts and warranties, so equipment stays functional.
• Hold regular review meetings with regional BMEs and facility BMEs on equipment functionality, backlog and priorities, and give technical guidance on complex faults.
• Check data quality in the system, follow up on missing or inconsistent entries, and recommend improvements to system settings and workflows.
• Produce reports on equipment functionality, PPM compliance, downtime and repair turnaround to guide decisions by the BME Coordinator and program team.
• Use system data to identify equipment that is near end of life, costly to repair or repeatedly failing, and advise on replacement, procurement and service contract needs.
• Assist in the coordination and conduct of facility BMEs and user training on the comprehensive maternal and newborn technologies, covering correct use, basic care and first-line troubleshooting.
• Assist in the development of job aids, videos & training curriculum for MOH technical and clinical staff
• Prepare weekly or monthly reports, contribute to quarterly donor reports on equipment functionality, PPM and CM performance and results against targets, and keep records of donor-funded assets for audits and monitoring visits.
• Ensure maintenance follows program procedures and national medical device regulations, and report equipment safety incidents to the BME Coordinator.
• Provide oversight, guidance and mentorship to Regional and Facility-based BMEs supporting their ongoing work with program implementation.
• Perform other duties assigned by the BME Coordinator.

Skill :

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven skills in engineering, including experience with multi-site programs and hospital-related maintenance, particularly with regard to neonatal equipment
• Strong skills in engineering and design software, including Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, LabVIEW, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, MATLAB, Ansys, etc. preferred.
• Ability to work in a team environment, including ability to coordinate effectively with diverse individuals and stakeholders to achieve results.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills, including Excel and dashboards, with attention to data quality and presentation skills.
• Good understanding of medical equipment lifecycle management, service contracts, vendor management and coordinating equipment distribution and installation with suppliers.
• Willingness to travel to regions and facilities for supportive supervision and review visits.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Qualification Required:

• Bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering, or a related engineering field (electrical or medical equipment technology).

Experience :

• At least 2-3 years of experience in medical equipment management, including planning, coordinating or supervising maintenance (CM and PPM).
• Experience using a computerized maintenance management system or medical equipment information system to track equipment and maintenance.
• Proven experience working with ministries of health, NGOs, or international health programs.

Preferred Language Skill :

• Good written and spoken English and Kiswahili.

Remuneration

An attractive and competitive remuneration package shall be offered to the successful candidates as per IHI salary scales.

• Liaise with MSD and the local distributor to plan, track and confirm accurate distribution and installation of equipment at implementing sites, in line with the programs equipment list and site readiness.
• Track deliveries from dispatch to receipt, confirm each site receives the right equipment, quantity, and specification, and provide the BME Coordinator with regular status updates by site.
• Follow up on installation, commissioning and handover with regional BMEs, and check that delivery notes, installation reports and handover records are complete, and the equipment is registered in the system.
• Monitor facility Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) and Corrective Maintenance (CM) through the Medical Equipment and Infrastructure Management Information System, ensuring PPM is completed on schedule and CM requests are closed within agreed timelines, with complete records of work done, parts used, and outcomes.
• Flag overdue or stalled maintenance, repeat failures and high downtime; review trends by region and facility; and follow up with regional BMEs.
• Work with regional BMEs to resolve delayed repairs, spare parts gaps and vendor support needs, including follow-up on service contracts and warranties, so equipment stays functional.
• Hold regular review meetings with regional BMEs and facility BMEs on equipment functionality, backlog and priorities, and give technical guidance on complex faults.
• Check data quality in the system, follow up on missing or inconsistent entries, and recommend improvements to system settings and workflows.
• Produce reports on equipment functionality, PPM compliance, downtime and repair turnaround to guide decisions by the BME Coordinator and program team.
• Use system data to identify equipment that is near end of life, costly to repair or repeatedly failing, and advise on replacement, procurement and service contract needs.
• Assist in the coordination and conduct of facility BMEs and user training on the comprehensive maternal and newborn technologies, covering correct use, basic care and first-line troubleshooting.
• Assist in the development of job aids, videos & training curriculum for MOH technical and clinical staff
• Prepare weekly or monthly reports, contribute to quarterly donor reports on equipment functionality, PPM and CM performance and results against targets, and keep records of donor-funded assets for audits and monitoring visits.
• Ensure maintenance follows program procedures and national medical device regulations, and report equipment safety incidents to the BME Coordinator.
• Provide oversight, guidance and mentorship to Regional and Facility-based BMEs supporting their ongoing work with program implementation.
• Perform other duties assigned by the BME Coordinator.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven skills in engineering, including experience with multi-site programs and hospital-related maintenance, particularly with regard to neonatal equipment
• Strong skills in engineering and design software, including Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, LabVIEW, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, MATLAB, Ansys, etc. preferred.
• Ability to work in a team environment, including ability to coordinate effectively with diverse individuals and stakeholders to achieve results.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills, including Excel and dashboards, with attention to data quality and presentation skills.
• Good understanding of medical equipment lifecycle management, service contracts, vendor management and coordinating equipment distribution and installation with suppliers.
• Willingness to travel to regions and facilities for supportive supervision and review visits.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office.

• Bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering, or a related engineering field (electrical or medical equipment technology).