Health Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) 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, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, IRC currently addresses the needs of war-affected Syrians from several operational bases in the region. Our activities in northern Syria focus primarily on the supply of vital medications and medical equipment, non-food items, water and sanitation and child protection and form part of an over-arching humanitarian response in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Syria that seeks to assist refugees, IDPs and war-affected Syrians survive conflict and displacement.

SCOPE OF WORK:
The Health Coordinator (HC) will support the Senior Health Coordinator in providing leadership, strategic vision and technical support to all aspects of the health program. The HC will contribute to the identification of programmatic priorities, design and direction for health programming in northeast Syria. In addition, the HC will ensure that the health program is implemented in accordance with international protocols, guidelines and best practices. He or she will promote the quality of care provided through the IRC health services.

POSITION OBJECTIVES:

• To increase access of targeted emergency affected populations to curative, preventive and health promotion services.
• To ensure that emergency affected population of reproductive age have access to reproductive health services (in accordance with MISP standards)

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program implementation

• Provide technical and management leadership to the IRC emergency health program in northeastern Syria in accordance with best practice and IRC policy.
  • Provide technical advice including supportive supervision to IRC’s staff working in all health projects
  • Ensure robust monitoring systems are in place and that reviews are undertaken periodically
  • Adapt and develop where necessary functional health systems including health information, drug management, infection control and referral systems
• Support the development and maintenance of a coherent health strategy IRC’s emergency health intervention in northeast Syria in collaboration with the Senior Health Coordinator and the relevant sectors and departments in IRC country office.
  • Identify and monitor other unmet health needs in the affected area and explore the potential of the IRC addressing those needs. Conduct additional needs assessments, as required.
• Support development of plans, proposals, and budgets for new projects and extensions of projects in conjunction with the Senior Health Coordinator.
  • Overall responsibility for effective and efficient management of project implementation in northeast Syria consistent with the project management cycle, program objectives, activities and indicators
  • Ensure that health interventions in northeastern Syria adhere to donor agreements and IRC’s core policy documents and guidelines, including the Program Framework, IRC’s DM&E guide and log-frame, IRC’s Health Unit policies and guidelines (Minimum and Core indicators, HIV strategy etc)
  • Feed into progress reports

Human Resources Management

• 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.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probation reviews and annual performance reviews.
• Overall responsible for staff work plans, work and vacation schedules, and staff training/development activities
• If required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures
• Discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback regarding performance, including timely implementation of the annual staff performance management system.
• Clearly define the training needs of health staff and ensure they are able to access training and professional development resources appropriate to their skill gaps/needs.
• 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 including staff development plans.
• Provide leadership support for the successful implementation of and adherence to the IRC Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures
• Lead with commitment, integrity and accountability to the “IRC Way” – Global Standards for Professional Conduct

Coordination & Representation

• Support the Senior Health Coordinator to develop and maintain effective coordination and long-term relationships with health partners, representing IRC positions, promoting long-term strategy and resolving problems/conflicts
• Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and complaint program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings

Professional Standards
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Standards for Professional 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, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Medical Doctor, Master in Public Health an asset
• Minimum of 4 years professional experience in management of health emergencies
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.
• INGO experience required
• Proposal writing acumen and experience
• Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others
• Interpersonal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multicultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace
• Fluent in spoken and written English
• Functional Arabic strongly preferred

OTHER: The position will be based in Turkey with potential for future travel to Syria.