Increasingly, non-profit organizations like Population Services International (PSI) and Marie Stopes International (MSI) are applying commercial franchising strategies—like those employed by McDonald’s and Subway Sandwiches—to improve health in developing countries. Social franchising unites healthcare facilities and providers in a network with a common brand, strict quality standards, and specified health services at affordable prices. With years of experience behind them, PSI and MSI are the two leading organizations in franchising for health.

Under the Support for International Family Planning Organizations (SIFPO) projects funded by USAID, PSI and MSI recently launched the Social Franchising for Health course on the USAID Global Health eLearning Center.

The course outlines the health system challenges that social franchising is designed to address, including:

• An unmet need for greater access to quality, affordable health services,
• An overburdened public health system,
• An under-regulated private sector,
• Low participation of the private sector in the delivery of preventive health care,
• Lack of incentives for health providers to deliver quality health care,
• Limited professional development opportunities for health care professionals.
• Limited access to health financing mechanisms for the private sector health system.

Social franchising typically taps into the broad reach of the private sector to increase delivery points for essential health services and strengthen quality. When clients go to the brand-name clinics and pharmacies that make up a social franchise, they can trust that their healthcare will be affordable, high quality, and delivered with respect. Social franchises can reach under-served populations who may not otherwise have convenient access to health services while reducing some of the burden on public health facilities and strengthening the overall health system.

Through interactive content and real-life country examples, course participants will learn about these and other aspects of the social franchising model. They will be able to articulate how success is measured, how social franchising strengthens health systems, and what best practices are emerging.

To take the short course free of charge, register here.

TITLE:  SOCIAL FRANCHISE TECHNICAL ADVISOR (LAC)

DEPARTMENT:  LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN (LAC) START DATE:   SEPTEMBER 2014 (subject to approval of funding)

PSI is a leading global health organization with programs targeting malaria, child survival, HIV and reproductive health. Working in partnership within the public and private sectors, and harnessing the power of the markets, PSI provides life-saving products, clinical services and behavior change communications that empower the world's most vulnerable populations to lead healthier lives.

PSI's core values are a belief in markets and market mechanisms to contribute to sustained improvements in the lives of the poor; results and a strong focus on measurement; speed and efficiency with a predisposition to action and an aversion to bureaucracy; decentralization and empowering our staff at the local level; and a long term commitment to the people we serve. PSI has programs in over 60 countries.  For more information, please visit www.psi.org.

The Pan American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO) is a non-profit social marketing organization, operating in Central America (from Belize to Panama).  PASMO is a network member of Population Services International (PSI), the world’s leading non-profit social marketing organization. 

Be Part of Something Powerful and Different

PSI aims to make it easier for people in the developing world to be healthy and plan their families by marketing affordable health products and services (think contraceptives, condoms, HIV testing and more).  We are a $560m enterprise based in Washington, DC, operating in the private and public sectors in more than 60 countries.  We are also a leader in social franchising, an approach we use to improve the way health care is delivered through private sector channels in the developing world, that aims to guarantee access to quality health care at affordable prices.

A bit about LAC and social franchising

PSI currently implements programs in LAC in several different health areas (HIV/AIDS prevention, reproductive health, maternal-child health, nutrition, and diabetes, with a particular focus on gender and gender based violence). 

PSI is looking for a values-driven leader… someone who believes commercial business approaches can generate lasting social good.  The Social Franchise Technical Advisor will lead our regional strategy and operations for social franchising in LAC.  We are looking for someone who understands franchising and is able to manage change.  Over the past five years, PSI has launched several social franchises across the Latin America region.  PASMO currently operates its social franchise, Red Segura, in Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.  The franchise has recently expanded to the Dominican Republic, and will soon expand into Honduras, and possibly other countries in the region.  Additionally, the Technical Advisor will provide support to Haiti’s nascent social franchise, Plis Kontwol.  The successful candidate will lead on executing a regional strategy for Red Segura within Central America, aiming to improve the sustainability of the business model.

This job requires significant focus on the development, and subsequent implementation, of a truly regional strategy.  The position will be hired by PSI, and will be based in the PASMO Regional Office (RO) in Guatemala City, Guatemala, with an estimated 40% travel. This position will report directly to the PSI Regional Director.  If required and with good reason, this position can possibly be located in another country in the region. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities under this position include, but are not limited to:

·         Lead the development of a cohesive Red Segura regional strategy, key stakeholder positioning, and                   brand messaging/execution

·         Develop and implement a sustainability plan for the franchises including products, integration of services,           insurance and other third party pay mechanisms

·         Develop/review, implement and monitor social franchise strategies and operations (e.g. sustainability,                marketing, quality standards), across the established networks in the region

·         Develop regional selection criteria and recruitment policies for franchisees that can be adapted and                   adopted within each Red Segura country, as well as other social franchises within LAC

·         Develop Standards and Procedures for Franchise standards

·         Coordinate with the Marketing team to develop the franchisee brand

·         Ensure adherence to PSI’s Global clinical quality and business standards and procedures

·         Work with PSI-HQ on tracking and reporting

·         Provide in country technical assistance to franchises

·         Liaise with PSI/W and the LAC RD and DRD on all matters related to SF

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

·         BA/BS degree or local equivalent

·         At least 5 years of experience working in/with franchises, preferably commercial and international 
          franchises

·         Preference for at least 3 years of proven experience in the field of social marketing and/or health

·         Must have an understanding of business planning/management

• Exceptional managerial and operational experience, preferably in managing complex, multi-national/regional activities involving coordination with multiple program partner institutions
• Excellent interpersonal and cross–cultural skills

·         Exceptional written and oral communication skills in Spanish and English, with French as a added                       strength

·         Team player, commitment to meet deadlines, client oriented

The successful candidate should be able to thrive in a complex management setting, be a creative, innovative and strategic thinker, team player and will have demonstrated experience and successful track record. S/he will have a proven ability to produce results in programs dependent on National-level performance within a regional program context. Above all else, a successful candidate will be a results-driven implementer.

STATUS: 

§  Exempt

§  Level 6

APPLY ONLINE at http://www.psi.org. 

 

PSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals

regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.