Health Manager - HeRoN at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Description

• The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.
• At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Contextual Background

• The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damaturu of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods

Job Overview / Summary
HeRON Project Overview:

• USAID/FCDO Health Resilience of Northeast Nigeria (HeRON) 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 Against Hunger - AAH/ACF, Society for Family Health Nigeria).
• The Project team is working work alongside states and local government authorities, strengthening their capacity to effectively deliver quality integrated primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, and newborn and child health and nutrition services.

Scope of Work

• The HeRoN project manager will report to the HeRoN senior project Manager.
• S/he will be responsible for working with the Yobe State ministries, departments and agencies and local government health authorities to ensure implementation of HeRoN health system strengthening approaches and initiatives is in line with the States Strategic health plans and Health Sector priorities.
• Maintain collaborative working relationships established among key government officials
• The position requires experience working with government health care system,
• Experience of working in partnership with or directly with the Ministry of Health,
• Ability to plan and collaborate with States &LGAs, and an Ability to manage a wide range of stakeholders for collaboration, coordination, and consultation.
• S/he will work collaboratively with program managers from other HeRON implementing partners (AAH and SFH) to achieve harmonize concept, approaches and capacity buildings at states and LGA levels.

Major Responsibilities
Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy:

• The HeRoN project Manager will report to the HeRON Senior Project Manager, he/she is the focal point for IRC’s HeRON program implementation at the facility and LGA level in the state of assignment and will directly supervise a team of Senior capacity building officers and other project field staff.
• The HeRON project Manager will coordinate with the state’s ministry of health to ensure activities implemented align to Government needs, plans and priorities, and in compliance with donor guidelines.
• He/she will collaborate with the facility staffs, local Government health authority and community structures to identify gaps in quality health care service delivery and take the necessary steps to address those gaps.
• S/he provides technical support to the LGA and states in planning, implementing, and monitoring of high impact interventions and provides technical support and mentoring to the actualization of health system strengthening initiatives  
• Participate in the development of HeRoN field implementation work plans, budgets, and track the implementation of the plans at the health facility, LGA and state levels to improve the delivery of basic health package at the facility level.
• Work with the state and LGA to carry out joint integrated supportive supervision adopting the existing National ISS tools, design action plan based on the findings of the ISS, follow up and provide technical guidance to the implementation of the plans
• Organize regular review meetings with the LGA and state to discuss successes, challenges and design roadmaps for sustainability and impact
• Work with community-based organizations at the communities of intervention to improve community and social accountability through enhancing functionality of community structures (WDCs, CHIPs) to provide oversight to the health facility activities.
• Work in close coordination with the HeRON governance manager to track effective implementation of the PDIA approach and organizational development plans.
• Coordinates with the Consortium leadership to regularly review and track progress of the engagement and sustainability plans
• Conduct regular reviews of project implementation with the senior capacity building officers to track progress against set targets and deliverables.
• Coordinate with other IRC departments to respond to acute emergency needs as approved by the donors and collaborate with other USAID funded partners to maximize effective use of resources within the state of assignment.
• Monitor, review the performance of the senior capacity building officers and organize meetings and provide mentoring to ensure their organizational set targets and objectives are met contributing to the overall client’s quality of care
• Monitor the purchase and use of materials, equipment, and supplies
• Identify opportunities for program development and coordinates with other actors and technical working groups
• Perform any other relevant task as directed by the supervisor.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of project team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of his/her team.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train, and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures; and communicate through words and examples a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Coordination & Representation:

• Participate in all HeRON internal coordination meetings
• Participate in technical Coordination meetings (TWGs, Cluster meetings, etc.) at State level, as required.
• Facilitate the planning processes at LGA levels and states levels to ensure an inclusive approach that engages stakeholders and communities to reflect health needs in the local context
• Jointly planning with stakeholders and organizing LGA and facility level meetings
• Participate at program coordination meetings with consortium and implementing partners (SFH/AAH)
• Coordinate with other consortium partners program managers to ensure harmonization of implementation of activities at field level
• Facilitate and support field monitoring visits for internal and external stakeholders, as required.
• Coordinates/liase with the consortium leadership for mentoring and guidance.

Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to:

• Line Manager: HeRoN Senior Project Manager
• Dotted line / Technical Reporting: Senior Consortium Manager
• Position directly Supervises: Senior capacity building officers, Other Project Field Staff in the State of assignment

Key Internal Contacts:

• IRC’s Technical Coordinators (Health, Nutrition, EH/WASH), HeRON M&E, HeRON Consortium Managers (Health Governance & Pharmacy),  HeRON Deputy Team Leader, Supply Chain, Consortium Finance.

Key External Contacts:

• HeRON Implementing partners: AAH & SFH (Program managers)
• Ministry of Health, HeRON Technical Staff seconded to MoH, Health Facility staffs, LGHA, Community Leaders and Members and other USAID funded partners in the State of assignment.

Qualifications

• Graduate Health professional (Nurse, Clinical or Medical Officer), or any other relevant health related field with public health/system strengthening and Governance background.
• Post-graduate training in public health, added advantage
• Master’s in public health added advantage

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience, of which 1 - 2 years in health system strengthening, or in humanitarian/development settings
• Previous experience in similar role and responsibilities preferred
• Experience in local governance, social accountability, public administration, institutional development, public-sector capacity building or related technical areas highly desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of governance in service delivery, particularly in health, highly recommended
• Previous work experience with INGO, especially with project planning and reports writing, is an added advantage
• Previous experience working with USAID funded projects preferred
• Have experience in general management (including financial and budget management, logistics management, etc.)
• Familiarity/ knowledge of operational contexts (Yobe/ Borno States).

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Background in situation analysis, Health System strengthening, health assessments M&E and program implementation.

Demonstrated Managerial / Leadership Competencies:

• Flexible, diplomatic and have ability and willingness live and work under pressure of workloads
• A mature person of high professional discipline and moral integrity, proactive and able to work under stress as the situation may dictate.

Languages: 

• English. Knowledge of local languages is an added advantage.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Ability to Travel:

• 30 % of time.

Standards of Professional Conduct:

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Code of 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, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and several others.

Gender Equality:

• IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions.
• We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Working Environment:

• This position is based at IRC field offices (Maiduguri/ or Damaturu).