Reproductive Health Manager

IRC began working in South Sudan in 1989. South Sudan declared independence in July 2011 following decades of brutal civil war rooted in disputes over religion, ethnicity, resources, governance and self-determination. The security situation remains fragile and testing operational challenges abound. IRC-South Sudan operates a country office in Juba, field offices in Lakes, Unity, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria states. Currently, IRC South Sudan implements programs in primary health care, community case management, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection and access to justice and livelihoods.

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Reproductive Health (RH) Manager is the focal point for the IRC’s Emergency Reproductive Health care services in South Sudan. The Emergency RH Manager ensures that proposed emergency RH interventions are guided by the MISP (Minimum Initial Service Package for RH in Crisis Situations).

He/she reports to the Emergency Health Coordinator and works closely with the Health Managers in those program sites where he/she will be supporting the RH program teams and activities.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the Health Coordinator, the RH Manager is responsible for:

Program support & development

• Ensure that proposed emergency RH interventions are guided by the MISP (Minimum Initial Service Package for RH in Crisis Situations), including the following services/activities: Facility deliveries, Emergency Obstetric Care (EMOC) or referrals for EMOC, Early neonatal care, Family Planning, Post-Abortion Care, Screening of blood donors and safe blood transfusions, Clinical Care for Survivors of Sexual Assault (CCSAS), antenatal and post-natal care services;
• Ensure that all stated RH goals and objectives are met, that projects are monitored, and that reports are submitted in a timely manner; 
• Ensure proper RH data recording in the IRC supported facilities, assisting with the compilation of data and production of RH reports on a regular and timely manner;
• Provide technical oversight and training to field-based health staff in the area of RH, with an emphasis on national staff capacity building;

Scale up of Community Mobilization on RH; 

• Implementing strategies to increase Family Planning (FP) uptake with a special focus on community awareness raising and ensuring the availability of FP supplies in IRC supported facilities;
• Implement trainings to create capacity for MVA and long term family planning service provision at all supported PHCCs; 
• Assisting the Health Coordinator in proposal writing for RH funding opportunities;
• Continuously assessing RH needs and suggesting new projects to address identified unmet needs;
• Work closely with the IRC’s WPE or GBV teams at the field level to implement holistic programming to meet the diverse and unique needs of women and girls;
• Promoting a culture of learning whereby lessons-learned and good practices are documented and shared for institutional memory;
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Grants Management & Reporting

• Manage and oversee all the RH budget lines by means of work plans, spending and procurement plans to ensure that project deadlines are met and targets achieved;
• Participate in Grants Opening, Mid-Term and Closing meetings;
• Prepare internal and external reports within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required;

Staff Management 

• Undertake RH capacity-development activities/training  for RH and clinical health staff; 
• Work closely with Health Managers to build their capacity to oversee RH activities.

Coordination and Representation

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders - including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, community based organisations and other IRC sectors to enhance cooperation and coordination;
• Ensure that information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate;
• Represent the IRC in coordination mechanisms and meetings with other agencies, including the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNFPA and other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, or donors.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Health professional (MD, RN, PA or CO) with strong public health background, MPH preferred;
• 3 years experience in coordinating, implementing and managing reproductive health programs in emergency contexts and/or refugee settings;
• Experience in technically supervising reproductive health staff in a complex setting;
• Thorough understanding of gender-based violence response protocols and service provision;
• Ability to validate and interpret health data;
• Demonstrated ability to support and build staff capacity;
• Ability to work independently and as a collaborative team member;
• Fluency in English;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to live in a high security environment;
• Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, EpiIinfo/SPSS, Outlook and the internet.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Security level orange. The situation in Juba is calm at the moment but remains tense and unpredictable; concerns include criminality, presence of armed troops, and looting. There is active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and other states.

Lodging in Juba is in a private bedroom, with en suite bathroom, in a shared IRC guesthouse. In field sites, accommodation ranges from tents to traditional huts to permanent structures. Field compounds have latrines and showers. All IRC sites have electricity and internet at least several hours per day. Food is the individual’s responsibility.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in 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.