Health AMR Trainee

The IRC is delivering healthcare services in humanitarian settings around the world, including conflict-affected countries and refugee settings. The IRC’s vision is to lead the humanitarian field by implementing high-impact, cost-effective programs for people affected by crisis and by using our learning and experience to shape policy and practice.

The health technical unit is organized in three sectors; Health (comprehensive primary healthcare including sexual and reproductive health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, MHPSS and child health), environmental health and nutrition. In addition, the Health MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) team is committed to the development of systems, tools, and processes that enable country programs to collect and analyze quality data across IRC’s health, nutrition, and EH programming, and its ambition is to utilize data to design, monitor, and evaluate projects and support the collection and dissemination of learning at a global level.

In partnership with USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the IRC will lead a baseline assessment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within two humanitarian settings, guided by a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) convened to develop a set of global recommendations, for how to address AMR within complex humanitarian contexts.

The assessment will include six data collection methods: desk review, key informant interviews (KIIs), Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) surveys of community members, clinical staff, and health NGO staff, as well as an AMR Quality of Care (QoC) facility assessment.

Job Overview/Summary:

Are you passionate about IRC's mission, making a positive impact and cultivating people’s work lives? Interested in a career as a humanitarian? Then join us! This position will serve as Health Unit Trainee, based in New York City or remotely within the US.

In this role, as the Health Unit AMR Trainee, you will assist the KAP and QoC assessments with the TAG. You will then use the learnings from the assessments and evidence from the desk review and global best practices to support the work in the development of global recommendations on AMR in humanitarian crises.

You will have unparalleled exposure to everyday work in the health unit, research projects, data analyses and reporting, and understanding of humanitarian work and settings and ways of working in a global organization. You not only play a part in delivering content and analysis, but also participate in a positive and inspiring global culture in which gender equality, diversity, and inclusion are reflected in our day-to-day work and interactions.

We are looking for someone interested in joining a fast-paced global organization, enjoys working with people from different cultures, and is inspired by knowing they are helping people achieve our humanitarian mission!

Major Responsibilities:

Support the AMR assessment:

• Conduct initial desk reviews of AMR in humanitarian crises and low resource settings, focused on two locations selected by the TAG and then write up evidence summary.

• Evaluate current IRC and other KAP AMR survey tools, including questionnaires, methodologies, reporting systems, and analysis plans. Collaborate with technical advisors to document together key AMR KAP survey themes, pinpoint essential features, and recommend modifications. This can, if sufficient time, be extended to Quality of Care (QoC) survey tools on AMR and IPC and to the support for the related ethical review submission process.

• Draft slide decks for AMR KAP and QoC roll out for presentation to technical advisors to formulate TAG presentation.

• Review study data and take part in the analysis of data from KAPs and QoC surveys with technical advisors.

• Conduct continuing evidence review on global best practices regarding AMR in humanitarian crises and any updates on related KAP AMR surveys.

• Draft slides and initiate write-up of key findings to discuss with technical advisors and to prepare for wider dissemination.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the period, the trainee will have:

- Gained knowledge on AMR and humanitarian contexts.

- Improved understanding of the use of KAP surveys in humanitarian contexts

- Improved understanding of the steps involved in developing, revising, and implementing tools for training staff working in humanitarian contexts.

- Improved knowledge of monitoring and evaluation within humanitarian contexts

- Enhanced professional communication skills and capacity to solicit input and critical feedback from stakeholders working in different locations and contexts.

- Increased ability to apply principles of qualitative/quantitative research in humanitarian settings (preparation, data collection, analysis, and dissemination).

- Learned more about academic publishing, ethical review, and policy development, especially for humanitarian contexts.

Position Reports to:

Communicable Disease Advisor, Health Unit

Working relationships:

Health Unit Health Researcher, Health MEAL Advisor, MEAL, Health and EH staff in country programs

as well as: Technical Advisory Group members, Health and Environmental Health Technical Advisors for countries selected for assessment.

Job Requirements:

Education: student or a postgraduate in public health, who has taken a course of survey methods. Helpful but not required: statistics and epidemiology coursework and any coursework on AMR or outbreaks in humanitarian crises.

Work Experience: Some experience with survey development is preferred, but not required. Experience working in international organization setting and/or with healthcare or community health preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated interest in healthcare, especially communicable diseases, including primary health care and/or environmental health

• Excellent writing and editing skills

• Excellent organizational skills: Good interpersonal skills, the ability to multi-task, learn quickly, and work independently and productively in a fast-paced and detail-oriented environment

• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills

• Previous experience in developing training, research, or educational materials helpful

• Excellent in Excel; Proficient in Microsoft Office Tools, including PowerPoint and Teams

• Added bonus, but not at all necessary: R, python, Stata, GIS, and/or other statistical packages

Language Skills: English fluency required. French is preferred, but not required.

Certificates or Licenses: N/A

Working Environment:

• Standard office working environment, including in remote settings

• Approximately 20 hours per week

Compensation:

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:

IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Gender Equality:

IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Professional Standards:

The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles. #LI-ON-SITE

Qualifications