Technical Advisor, Health Program

Background: Over the past 81 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in helping people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Health programs represent the largest single sector within which IRC currently operates, constituting approximately 45% of the international budget and with activities in 25 countries.

IRC health programs worldwide are implemented in partnership with Ministry of Health and/or non-governmental organizations. IRC is also engaged in direct provision of health care, safe drinking water and sanitation support to beneficiaries where needed. Currently, IRC supports or manages 75 hospitals, 1,256 health centers and 788 health posts through a network of over eight hundred public health and clinical staff employed by IRC country programs. The facility based care is complemented by community level primary health care work implemented by about 9,000 community health workers.

Country-based health staffs are supported by a 34-member health technical unit that contributes to the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of IRC primary health care programs through technical support, staff development, and institutional learning. The Technical Advisor, Health Programs will be a key member of the health unit.

Job Overview/Summary: The Technical Advisor, Health Programs serves as the primary source of health technical support for designated IRC country programs. The position may also be responsible for initiating and leading special initiatives in the health unit and participating in joint initiatives with other IRC technical units. This position currently supports programs in our Francophone countries.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Provide timely and adequate technical support to designated country health programs, including guidance on health assessments, project/program design, fund-raising, project monitoring and evaluation, and service quality monitoring and improvement. This will involve: monthly call with country health teams; at least one visit a year to each supported country; liaison with colleagues in the health unit, country management (primarily country director and deputy director of programs), regional offices (primarily deputy regional director for programs and program officers) and other technical units.
2. Support designated country programs in the recruitment of senior health team members (particularly for expatriate positions), and contribute to the development of field staffs through training, mentoring, and other guidance.
3. Assist country health teams to document and share lessons learned and best practices, including inputs on health program reports and technical publications.
4. Provide necessary technical guidance to country programs for the development of health sector strategic plans.
5. Serve as an alternate resource for IRC headquarters and technical units for information on designated country health programs, particularly for external communication, advocacy and fundraising purposes.
6. Initiate and lead special initiatives in the health unit, and participate in joint initiatives with other IRC technical units as agreed upon by the supervisor and senior health director
7. Represent the health unit and the IRC in academic forums, donor meetings, inter-agency working groups, and various global/regional forums as assigned by the supervisor and senior health director.
8. Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Job Requirements:

-Clinical degree with a Master of Public health or equivalent.

-A minimum of 5 years experience in public health, including at least two years in developing countries in a senior technical or management position and one year field experience in humanitarian setting

-Demonstrated technical expertise in more than one of the following areas: drug management, child survival, primary health care, MISP and reproductive health care, nutrition, health systems strengthening, research and evaluation; and demonstrated experience in project design, proposal development and fund raising

• Ability to work with remote, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams
• Excellence in writing and presentation
• Training Skills: Able to transfer technical knowledge and skills
• Proficiency in both English and French proficiency required
• Travel Requirement: 30 - 40% of the time