Health Coordinator at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Requisition ID: req3414
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Sector: Health
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time

Background

• The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression and violent conflict in 42 countries. The IRC is committed to bold leadership, innovation and creative partnerships. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women's empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home.
• IRC entered Nigeria in October 2012 in response to a widespread flood disaster. Since then, the IRC has expanded its scope and size of the programs as new areas became accessible after prolonged conflict and insecurity, in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. The IRC’s response to the humanitarian situation includes integrated Health and Nutrition services, Reproductive Health care and Women Protection services, Environmental Health, Child Protection, Economic Recovery and Development, Education and General Protection. In 2015, IRC Nigeria developed a five-year long term Strategy Action Plan: The plan has Health, Education and Economic Wellbeing as high priority program areas.

Scope of Work

• The Health Coordinator is the focal point for health programs in Nigeria and ensures the implementation of quality primary healthcare programing in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
• The Health Coordinator will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all partners, including the Ministry of Health, UN agencies and other NGOs, and will also be responsible for fulfilling IRC’s strategic objectives for the health sector.
• The Health Coordinator supervises all health staff, and reports to the Senior Program Coordinator.
• The Health Coordinator will receive technical support from the regional Technical Advisor for Health Programs.
• The position is based in the IRC Maiduguri field office in Borno state with regular travel to supervise IRC’s emergency health and health systems-strengthening programs throughout the northeast.

Areas of Responsibilities

• Oversee the implementation of all emergency health and health systems-strengthening programs as well as operational research projects implemented by IRC Nigeria.
• Provide technical supervision and guidance of all IRC health projects. Extend technical support and supervision to subordinates and the IRC’s implementing partners as the need arises.
• Ensure that health programs utilize standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as outlined by the Federal Ministry of Health and WHO. Ensure that all health activities are consistent with established best practices.
• Promote the quality of the IRC’s health programs by setting up quality assurance mechanisms and checks in collaboration with other staff and IRC’s M&E Team.
• Ensure sound data collection and information management systems are in place for ongoing performance analysis and programmatic action based on data and identified needs.
• Participate in the design of robust M&E plans and design/adapt health information systems including surveillance systems for the IRC health programs in Nigeria.
• Ensure that the stated goals and objectives of all health projects are met with strong monitoring and evaluation (M&E) followup, including any required operational research, with technical support from the Health Information Management team in the New York-based Health Unit and the regional Technical Advisor as needed.
• Provide technical support to the health team for program design, proposal development and reporting, ensuring that IRC programs are of high quality and that programs are driven by data and learning, working in conjunction with other colleagues in the IRC Nigeria program.
• Ensure all designed health projects use the relevant IRC theories of change and that interventions are evidence-driven.
• Update IRC Nigeria’s health sector strategy according to prevailing needs and country priorities
• Work with other IRC sector leads to actively integrate and improve quality of programs.

Management:

• Provide supportive supervison to the health team to develop work plans to guide implementation of approved grants. Support the field teams in the implementation and monitoring of the work plans ensuring that activities reflect the commitments IRC has made to donors and communities.
• Review Budget vs. Actual expenditure for health programs on a monthly basis with staff and set course corrections as necessary.
• Ensure that periodic data reviews are conducted in coordination with M&E Managers and relevent technical advisors for course correction as needed.
• Participate in the development of staff development plans for health staff based on performance reviews in collaboration with the human resources department and contribute to the training of health staff (mentoring, on-the-job sessions as well as formal trainings). Conduct performance evaluation of health staff in the field.
• Develop/organize training opportunities to build the capacity of the health staff and local partners in order to transfer skills. This includes staff training in program management areas such as reporting, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, and supervision.
• Oversee the implementation of health sector priorities, ensuring that program growth is in line with country strategic plans.
• Review all reports prepared by the health staff and provide appropriate feedback to the concerned staff, and ensure that reports are written and submitted to concerned bodies in a timely manner.

Representation and Advocacy:

• Serve as Co-lead for the Health Sector, working closely with the Ministry of Health and WHO.
• In coordination with the Senior Emergency Prorgram Coordinator, actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders in Nigeria including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Develop strategic partnerships with local organizations wherever possible.
• Represent IRC to local communities, government departments, international agencies, local partners and donors as required.
• Assist in organizing donor site visits by supporting field staff in the smooth design and implementation of agendas and visit activities.
• Develop evidence-based advocacy points to be presented through the Health Sector, INGO Forum, Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and Operational Humanitarian Country Team (OHCT).

Key Working Relationship:

• Position Reports to: Senior Program Coordinator  
• Position directly supervises: Senior Health Manager, Health Managers
• Other internal and/or external contacts: All Other Sector Leads, Health Cluster working group, the Ministry of Health and WHO.

Professional Standards:

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.
• These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.
• In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Requirements

• Health professional with an MPH or other suitable Public Health Degree and experience.
• Five years experience in coordinating, implementing and managing health programs in developing countries. Experience working in Nigeria/West Africa a plus.
• Experience implementing health programming in insecure environments, hard-to-reach areas, and displaced communities.
• Experience implementing both emergency and development-oriented health programming.
• Experience integrating health programs with other sectors (nutrition, WASH, protection, etc).
• Demonstrated skills in project design/proposal development and grant management.
• Experience in capacity building and mentoring of national and international staff.
• Knowledge and experience in participatory design methods, community development and partnership.
• Background in situation analysis, health assessments, and program implementation.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, and facilitation skills; ability to delegate responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent coordination and networking skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively in Nigeria.

Specific Security Situation/Housing:

• The Health Coordinator will be based in Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria with travel throughout the sites where IRC has a presence. The security situation in the North-East Nigeria continues to be volatile in with the security level at 3 (orange). The candidate should be prepared to implement programming in insecure environments.
• This is a non-accompanied position. The Health Coordinator will live in shared housing.  

Standards for Professional Conduct:

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.
• These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.
• In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.