Deputy Team Leader, HeRON at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Requisition ID: req22494
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Sector: Health
Employment Category: Regular
Open to Expatriates: No

Project Overview

• FCDO Health Resilience of Northeast Nigeria Service delivery project in Borno and Yobe states supports delivery of quality integrated primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services, to improve evidence-based decision making, accountability at all levels of service delivery.
• IRC leads a consortium of humanitarian and development implementing partners (Action Contre la Faim – ACF, Society for Family Health Nigeria).
• The Project team will work alongside states and local government authorities, building their capacity to effectively deliver quality integrated primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, and newborn and child health and nutrition services.

Scope of Work

• IRC is seeking a dynamic and experienced health and governance professional to provide program management and technical leadership.
• Reporting to the Team Leader, the Deputy Team Leader (DTL) will be responsible for directly working with the technical coordinators of the project consortium members (IRC, ACF and SFH) with particular focus on program quality and reporting as well as for ensuring an aligned approach across the consortium and LGA authorities to design and deliver health system strengthening components of the project.
• In consultation with the Team Leader (TL), the DTL will regularly coordinate with states and LGA government authorities, development actors and stakeholders. This position will be based in Maiduguri, Borno State, with regular trips to the field.

Major Responsibilities
Management:

• Develop, review, and monitor in coordination with key project staff, annual work and performance plans to ensure long-term and short-term priorities are on track
• On a day-to-day basis, manage financial and operational support to optimize resources through sound budgets and consistent financial tracking
• Coordination with technical leads of the 3 consortium partners (technical program reporting)
• Manage the reporting process, including coordination with internal and external stakeholders in accordance with contractual requirements
• Maintain active and cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders, including government officials, project partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions
• Support project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility; Matrix manage a core project team to ensure that the project deliverables are met              
• Contribute to the development of field staff through training, mentoring, and assisting with professional advancement
• Ensure that the health system strengthening (HSS) aspects of the program are implemented according to defined work plans in order to achieve program deliverables. Through strong planning and monitoring, identify potential obstacles to programmatic success in a timely fashion, and implement corrective actions as needed
• In consultation with the TL, develop a clear strategy to enhance program complementarity and synergy across all major donor funded health and nutrition programs within target areas.
• Introduce quality assurance initiatives to address efficiency, effectiveness, or compliance concerns.

Technical Support and Coordination:

• Develop a strategy for mainstreaming governance principles and processes aimed at increasing participation, responsiveness, and accountability in the delivery of reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health services
• Responsible for overseeing the overall quality of service provision and ensuring that implementation strategies across technical areas reflect governance principles and best practice
• Provide leadership in the development or adaptation of service delivery models / systems, especially organizational development of LGA Primary Healthcare Departments (PHD), and implementation of social accountability approaches, to allow for greater participation and responsiveness of the health system
• Provide leadership in analyzing and providing strategies to improve the management of the health system at the LGA PHD and facility level, notably planning, budgeting, human and financial resource management
• Provide capacity assessment, capacity-building, monitoring and implementation support to other technical specialists, to ensure equitable access to health services and that spaces for user voice and mechanisms to respond effectively are strengthened
• Identify, document, and disseminate best practices in systems strengthening
• Work in close collaboration with other technical specialists to ensure integrated programming.

Advocacy and Representation:

• Advocate and collaborate with MoH, SPHCDA, local authorities, and CSOs to incorporate best practices and international standards in service delivery
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationship between IRC and other partners
• Provide expert contribution to the development or adaptation of national policies, guidelines and standards that promote quality service provision in Northeast Nigeria that is accessible, responsive, and accountable to citizens, and allows their voices to be heard.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to: Team Leader – HeRON Consortium
• Position directly supervises: Consortium Senior managers
• Indirect Reporting: Consortium finance manager, Pharmacy procurement manager, M&E Senior Manager

Other Internal and/or External Contacts:

• Internal Collaboration: Technical Advisors (HQ), Supply Chain Managers, Grants Managers
• External Coordination: Implementing partners, Donors, UN Agencies, States and LGAs Officials.

Qualifications
Education:

• Master’s Degree in relevant Health related subject, post-graduate medical degree (MPH, MD, RN, PA, or midwife), or other relevant Degree

Work Experience:

• At least five years’ experience in design and implementation of health programs in developing countries, insecure environments and areas affected by crisis
• At least two years’ experience in management of health system strengthening (HSS) programs, working directly with national, state, and/or local health actors to strengthen the quality and responsiveness of services.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrable technical expertise and working knowledge in advocacy, HSS and health governance; Technical skill in participatory processes, and methodologies, preferably in a conflict or post-conflict environment, preferably Africa
• Demonstrable technical expertise in public finance and public sector management and especially as applied to a health system context
• Experience running large, geographically dispersed teams and working in tandem with local and international partners
• Proven track record of successfully providing technical assistance Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively interact with a wide range and levels of organizations (government, private sector, NGOs, research institutions)
• Demonstrated good judgment and decision-making skills
• Excellent IT skills (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to handle a large and dynamic workload, work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Previous work experience in Africa, field experience in Nigeria is preferred
• Strong internal and external communications skills, experience with advocacy an advantage.

Language Skills: 

• Fluency in English (spoken and written)

Certificates or Licenses:

• N/A.

Working Environment

• This position is based in Maiduguri, with frequent travels to project locations.
• Work environment of the office is standard; while group housing is provided, with internet connections, electricity and amenities.

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.