Deputy Team Leader at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Requisition ID: req8213
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Sector: Health
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: Yes

Job Description

• The conflict in North East Nigeria has displaced over 1.9 million people and shattered livelihoods of many more. Since 2014 IRC has been delivering support to communities affected; across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, with field offices in Maiduguri, Monguno, Gwoza, Damaturu, Yola and Mubi and a country office in Abuja.
• With over 700 staff we deliver humanitarian support and longer term recovery programming in health, nutrition, WASH, education, protection, economic recovery and livelihoods.
• We work in coordination with State government Ministries, WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR, UN OCHA and other development organisations.
• IRC is an active participant in coordination mechanisms to contribute to improved impact.

Project Overview

• DFID Health Resilience of North East Nigeria Service delivery project in Borno and Yobe states will support delivery of quality integrated primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services and improve evidence based decision making, accountability at all levels of service delivery.
• The Project team will work alongside state 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 programme 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 consoritunm and LGA authorities to design and deliver health system strengthening components of the project.
• In consultation with the TL, the DTL will regularily liase with state and LGA government authorities, development actors and stakeholders. This position will be based in Maiduguri, Borno State, with regular trips to the field.

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
• Line management of  technical coordinators of the three consortium partners (only technical and 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 the community scorecard, 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.
• Closely coordinate with key donor suppliers including DFID Lafiya contractor.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant Health related subject, post-graduate medical degree (MPH, MD, RN, PA, or midwife), or other relevant degree
• At least five years’ experience in design and implementation of health (ideally HSS) programs in developing countries, insecure environments and areas affected by crisis
• Demonstrable technical expertise and working knowledge of 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
• Fluency in English (spoken and written)
• 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.