Senior Medical Doctor

BACKGROUND: 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 Senior Medical Doctor in Charge will work directly with the County Health Department (CHD) and State Ministry of Health (SMOH) on a daily basis to ensure the Health Pooled Fund (HPF) programme design of comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care (CEmONC) is understood and implemented with close partnership between the CHD and IRC, while consistently building and strengthening the capacity of the CHD to manage the  Comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care services in the County.  The Senior Medical Doctor will work hand in hand with the CHD/SMOH and through a phased approach hand over responsibilities to the CHD/SMOH. S/he will be the focal point for supporting the Comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care in the County through the government Malualkon PHCC covered by the HPF, ensuring the implementation of a quality health program for the population in accordance with the accepted national and international standards.    

S/he will provide technical oversight to the field-based health staff in the area of Emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC), with an emphasis on coaching the national staff to build their technical and professional capacities.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Program Management & Development

Oversee the implementation of the comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care program and ensure that program goals, objectives, targets and activities are met, as stated in the HPF agreed project work plan and log frame.

• Prepare program work plans jointly with the CHD and in coordination with the HPF Coordinator and the Field Coordinator/Manager. 
• Ensure that the project is properly monitored and evaluated.
• Ensure that the CEmONC program is implemented in line with the IRC and HPF Program Framework principles:  promoting and protecting rights, participation, capacity building, partnership and holistic programming.
• Promote the culture of learning and documentation so that lessons learned and good practices are documented and shared for institutional memory and learning. Ensure that field experiences are documented and used to advocate on behalf of the communities.
• Assess unmet needs in the health sector with a special focus on Emergency obstetric and neonatal care and suggest new IRC health projects to address identified unmet needs.
• Strictly following up the medical and operational supply chain system, stock recording, timely ordering for the supplies and accountabilities in relation to the warehousing and using of the supplies including medicines and medical items.
• Work closely with other IRC programs present in the same location, such as Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Community Case Management and nutrition, and integrate program components to the extent possible. 
• Participate in the development of proposals, budgets and concept notes for future health interventions by the IRC in coordination with HPF Coordinator and Health Coordinator.

Clinical Duties

• Treat diseases of female organs
• Care for and treat women during prenatal, natal, and postnatal periods
• Prescribe or administer therapy, medication, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness,disease, or injury.
• Perform cesarean sections or other surgical procedures as needed to preserve patients' health and deliver babies safely.
• Analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patients.
• Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients
• Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary
• Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
• Refer patient to medical specialist or other practitioner when necessary.
• Consult with or provide consulting services to other physicians.

Grants Management & Reporting

• Manage and oversee the Malualkon CEmONC grant, and work with the HPF Coordinator and Field Coordinator to develop work, spending and procurement plans for all projects and maintain these plans updated.
• Participate in Grants Opening, Mid-Term and Closing meetings.
• Prepare internal and external reports (such as narrative reports, DHIS data reports) within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required.
• Review Budget vs. Actual reports with the health staff and the CHD on a monthly basis, recommend actions to correct identified problems.
• Assure appropriate and timely spending of grants to achieve program goals, grant reporting contributions, use and distribution of supplies and resources in coordination with the CHD, Field Coordinator and HPF Coordinator .
• Prepare a weekly HIS report for the HPF Coordinator and Health Coordinator and provide a brief analysis of the particular health cases seen during the week.
• Work with the finance and HR teams to produce CHD payrolls and spending forecasts for submission in due time.

Staff Management

• Maintain updated job descriptions, recruit national staff in conjunction with the Human Resources Department, orient new staff to the IRC and the Health program.
• Supervise CEmONC facility staff directly, providing ongoing leadership to the project team and overseeing implementation and coordination. 
• Set performance objectives for the supervised staff, routinely monitor their performance and evaluate them at the end of the performance period.
• Strengthen and build up the programmatic, managerial and operational skills of the CHD and the IRC health staff through on-job mentoring and coaching and feedback mechanisms.
• Determine personnel needs for the CEmONC facility activities; develop job descriptions in coordination with the CHD and the HPF Coordinator and interview candidates, whenever needed.
• Recommend promotions and disciplinary actions for the facility staff through consultation with the CHD and the HPF Coordinator.
• Develop ongoing education programs for the staff in consultation with the CHD and the HPF Coordinator.
• Address and mitigate staff complains and conflicts in coordination with the CHD, HPF Coordinator and the Field Coordinator.

Coordination & 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.
• Represent IRC to the donor agencies, the State Ministry of Health (SMoH), UN Agencies, partners and other stakeholders as advised by the HPF Coordinator and the Field Coordinator. 
• Attend the County and state level health coordination meetings and other meetings/workshops related to the CEmONC program.
• Organise advisory board meetings and other health facility meetings regularly

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Medical Doctor ( MD or equivalent, with surgical skills preferred) with strong EmONC background
• At least 3 years of   experience in implementing and managing CEmONC programs, preferably in complex humanitarian and/or emergency settings
• Strong ability to support and build the capacity of the health national team and strengthening of health systems (building the capacity of and working with local government counterparts)  
• Experience supervising a multi-national staff in a complex, insecure emergency setting
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to live and work under pressure in an unstable security environment
• Additional qualities: ability to multitask, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, cultural and environmental sensitivity
• Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, Power-point, Outlook and Internet

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.