Health Coordinator

BACKGROUND:

Inside Syria, 7.6 million people are internally displaced and 12.2 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 4.8 million in hard-to-reach areas. There are 3.8 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis with an annual budget in excess of $140 million and a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1,250 staff in the region. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, education, women’s protection and empowerment, NFI and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

IRC’s activities in northeastern Syria focus on providing basic health services, food and non-food items, livelihoods assistance, and services for women and girls, forming part of a regional humanitarian responses.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Health Coordinator will provide leadership, strategic vision and technical support to all aspects of the health program in northeastern Syria. S/he will contribute to the identification of programmatic priorities, design and direction of the program. In addition, s/he will ensure that the health program is implemented in accordance with international protocols, guidelines and best practices. S/he will promote the quality of care provided through the IRC health services. This position supervises the senior health services officer, community health manager and reproductive health officer and reports to the deputy director.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Quality & Implementation

• Provide technical and management leadership to all health programs in eastern Syria in accordance with best practice and IRC policy.
• Support the development and maintenance of a coherent health strategy across all health interventions in Syria through close cooperation with IRC’s Turkey based program.
• Identify unmet needs in the health sector in the selected area and identify potential means for the IRC to address those needs. Conduct needs assessments both a facilities and communities’ level, as and when required.
• Coordinate and develop plans, proposals, concept notes and budgets for new projects and extensions of projects in conjunction with the Senior Country Management Team.
• Overall responsible for the effective and efficient management of project implementation consistent with the project management cycle, program objectives, activities and indicators.
• Ensure that health programs utilize standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as prescribed by the local Ministry of Health, leading agencies and WHO. Ensure that all health activities are consistent with established best practices.
• Ensure that health interventions adhere to donor agreements and IRC’s core policy documents and guidelines, including the Program Framework, IRC’s Design, Management & Evaluation guide and log-frame, IRC’s Health Unit policies and guidelines (Minimum and Core indicators, HIV strategy etc).
• Ensure robust monitoring systems are in place and that reviews are undertaken periodically in conjunction with the team, project partners and relevant local stakeholders.
• Adapt and develop where necessary functional health systems including health information, drug management, infection control and referral systems.
• Ensure regular communication with Health Unit technical staff for feedback, updates and guidance as required.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Directly recruit and supervises all health program staff.
• 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 along with on-job staff mentoring.
• Overall responsible for program organizational chart, staff work-plans, work and vacation schedules, and staff training/development activities.
• If/as required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Deliver and execute a plan to hire, train and build capacity of staff.

Partner Management

• Identify implementing partners when necessary and oversee the IRC – partner relation.

• Ensure regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives; provide technical support and guidance.
• Ensure regular capacity building activities for partner organizations.

Coordination & Representation

• Develops and maintains effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders in the health sector, representing IRC positions, promoting the program strategy and resolving problems/conflicts.
• Work closely and coordinates with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and complete program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings

Other

• Contributes to the development of country program strategy and plans
• Leads sector specific strategy development and technical proposal design
• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Professional Standards

• All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Public health Professional; clinical background as a Doctor, Nurse or allied health professional preferable but not required.
• Minimum of 5 years professional experience in management of health emergencies, INGO experience required. Prior experience working in emergency settings or insecure environments preferred.
• Adapt and develop where necessary functional Primary healthcare systems and services that can include: Reproductive health, Child health, Communicable diseases, Non-communicable Diseases, health information, drug management, infection control, referral systems, etc.
• 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.
• 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.
• Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Fluency in English required. Arabic an asset but not required.

OTHER:

The position will be based in northern Iraq. Shared housing will be provided.