Senior Technical Specialist HSS at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Overview / Summary:

• The Senior Technical Specialist (HSS) is a senior position within the Health and Governance Technical Units (H/G TUs).
• The incumbent is responsible for ensuring strategic leadership for the HSS workstream to set the foundations to put forward Systems Strengthening as one of IRC’s Strategy 100 Phase 2 ambitions starting in FY2025.
• He/She will contribute to building HSS capacity within TUs and where required support IRC’s country programs on business development, while promoting a continuous learning and communication culture across the organization.
• This position will work in close collaboration with the Health and Governance Unit Senior Management teams, Senior Technical Advisors and other technical staff working in different HTU sectors.
• This position will also play an important role in partners and donor engagement, advocacy, and IRC representation related to delivery of HSS programming.

Major Responsibilities:

Technical Influence

• Build on the existing resources and governance structures (HSS steering committee, HSS working group) established by H/G TUs to update and develop HSS-related strategic guidance documents and tools that will ultimately feed into the development of IRC’s Systems Strengthening ambition.
• Lead the internal dissemination process and ownership building of the above-mentioned key resources among TU and CP staff through seamless coordination and communication
• Develop a capacity building plan for TU staff and support capacity building/recruitment of systems strengthening country program staff as needed.
• Contribute to global workstreams on HSS such as the HSS in fragile settings WG, donor-led HSS workstreams, etc.
• Ensure internal dissemination and use of donor and operational partner strategies on HSS

Partnership and Resource Mobilization

• Contribute to the design of HSS proposals and the HSS component/strategy of health proposals.
• Support country facing TAs in identifying and building strategic partnerships that will improve health outcomes at the national and sub national levels, in close working relationship with the HU Director for Partnerships and Program Development, AMU, Grants, Operations & Analytics Team (GOAT).

Technical Assistance to country programs

• Support health and governance TAs to provide result-oriented technical assistance to existing strategic health projects. This may include engagement with local and national health authorities to facilitate discussions on innovative approaches or reforms.
• Guide and coordinate evidence generation around HSS, documentation of best practices and lessons learned including on models of service delivery, human resources, medications and technologies, health information systems, financing, and governance and leadership.
• Contribute to quality assessment of HSS projects.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of Collaborating, Learning and Adapting processes that involves key partners.

Key Working Relationships: 

• Position Reports to:  STA – SS, Governance Unit and STA Country Support, Health Unit (Management in Partnership)  
• Directly supervises: May temporarily supervise interns or consultants
• Other Internal contacts: This position requires a collaborative working relationship with health and governance unit teams, other technical units, Awards Management Unit, Grants, Operations & Analytics Team, Private Fundraising, country programs and regional offices and departments – particularly with other STAs in the health unit and other technical units. 

Job Requirements: 

• Public administration and management in the health sector, or other related experience plus degree in MPH or equivalent
• Experience in designing and supporting the implementation of the WHO HSS six core components or “building blocks”: (i) service delivery, (ii) health workforce, (iii) health information systems, (iv) access to essential medicines, (v) financing, and (vi) leadership/governance
• 6-8 years of public health experience in senior technical and management positions, designing, implementing, managing and evaluating HSS programs and activities for developing countries including provision of remote technical support.
• Demonstrated expertise in primary health care service delivery in humanitarian and development settings and strategic areas (e.g., governance, health systems strengthening and research), and program management and fund-raising (e.g., program development, proposal writing, monitoring & evaluation, and management of donor relations).
• Excellent team player - the ability to work with multidisciplinary team, motivate staff and promote productivity, resolve conflict, and contributes to a pleasant work environment.
• Excellent communication skills - the ability to write professional documents, and create and deliver presentations to different audiences: project/program staff, management staff, mature professionals, policy makers, donors etc.
• Solid organizational skills - the ability to be flexible and work well under pressure, dealing with competing priorities, in a fast-paced team environment.
• Professional-level fluency in English; French proficiency would be a strong advantage. Proficiency in Arabic and Spanish would be a plus
• Ability to travel approximately 20% of the time.