HERON Manager at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Overview/Summary

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 Ability to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders through coordination and consultation. S/he will work collaboratively with program managers from other HeRON implementing partners (AAH and SFH) to achieve harmonized concepts, approaches and systems strengthening at the state 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 in the State of assignment, at the LGA and facility levels, directly supervising HeRON Senior capacity building officers
• The HeRON project Manager will oversee the planning and implementation of HERON program activities at the LGA and facility level, coordinate with the state’s ministry of health to ensure activities implemented align to Government needs, priorities, and health sector priorities and in compliance with donor guidelines.
• He/she will collaborate with the facility staff, local Government health authorities, community structure and leaders 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 HeRON supported facilities.
• Work with the state and LGA to plan and 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 organization in the project intervention locations to improve community and social accountability through enhancing functionality of community structures (WDC’s, 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 senior managers to regularly review and track progress of the engagement and sustainability.
• Conduct regular reviews of project implementation with the senior capacity building officers to track progress against set targets
• Coordinate with other IRC departments to respond to acute emergency needs as approved by the donors and collaborate with other USAID funded partners in the state of assignment to explore synergies and complementarity to maximize effective use of resources and avoid duplication of efforts.
• Coordinate and Work with the LGA LMCU to support the states in forecasting and quantification of medicines medical supplies and consumables.
• Provide TA and Support to the Supply Chain system  of the states and support Health Commodities distribution and redistribution within the States and across program
• 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
• To develop and track the implementation of work plans, and contribute to project reporting.

Coordination & Representation:

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

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: 

• Line Manager: HeRoN Senior project Manager
• Position directly Supervises: Senior capacity building officers, HeRON Nutrition Stabilization Centers Staff (Medical Doctor & Matron)
• Key Internal Contacts: HeRON M&E, HeRON Pharmacy Manager, HeRON Consortium Senior Managers, HeRoN governance manager, HeRON Deputy Team Leader, Supply Chain, Consortium Finance.

Key External Contacts:

• HeRON Implementing partners (HeRON Project managers for SFH and AAH/ACF)
• Ministry of Health, HeRON Technical Staff seconded to MoH, Health Facility staffs, LGHA, Community Leaders and Members and other USAID funded partners

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience, of which substantial experience in health system strengthening, or in humanitarian/development settings
• 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
• Experience working with USAID program fundings
• Have experience in general management (including financial and budget management, logistics management, etc.)
• Familiarity/ knowledge of operational contexts (Borno State)

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