Malaria Advisor – USAID/Sierra Leone Strengthening Integrated Health Services Activity (SIHSA)

Job Description

Background

The International Rescue Committee’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded over 80 years ago, the IRC is a leading humanitarian and development organization with presence in more than 40 countries. Across contexts, the IRC is committed to delivering innovative, high-impact programs tailored to the needs of communities affected by crisis.

Position Summary:

IRC is seeking a Malaria Advisor for an anticipated USAID-funded 5-year project in Sierra Leone to improve public health outcomes, the Strengthening Integrated Health Services Activity (SIHSA). The Malaria Advisor will be responsible for the project’s malaria technical assistance efforts, and provide specialized, senior-level expertise for all aspects related to malaria in accordance with IRC, USAID, and international best practices. The Malaria Advisor will work closely with the Chief of Party (COP), Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), MEL Advisor, and technical staff to ensure technical quality of project activities, fidelity across targeted locations, and effective collaboration with USAID, partners, and other key local stakeholders.

The position will be based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project, and selection of final applicant is subject to USAID approval. The project is anticipated to begin in February 2023.

Job Responsibilities:

· Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for the project’s malaria technical assistance efforts, ensuring the integration, quality, and sustainability of interventions.

· Provide day-to-day technical oversight for design, planning and implementation of activities in support of project goals and objectives.

· Establish and implement a system to ensure technical quality of project activities and fidelity across target regions and districts.

· Develop and/or update evidence-based training materials, standards, job aids, and curricula, supervisory systems needed for implementation of the project to meet USAID and the Government of Sierra Leone’s expectations

· Actively participate in relevant technical advisory/working groups and professional forums representing the consortium.

· Identify appropriate facility- and community-based strategies and lead the formulation of innovative approaches to strengthen malaria control, treatment, and prevention interventions.

· Identify training needs for clinical and community healthcare providers and assist in the design and implementation of measures to address those needs.

· Work closely with the COP on setting malaria-related project priorities and directions, and responding to requests for support from local counterparts.

· Work with M&E staff to design, implement a plan to track data/results and lessons learnt related to malaria control, treatment and prevention to inform adjustments in project implementation andquality improvements

· Collaborate with all local stakeholders and implementing partners, especially the Ministry of Health and other implementing partners, to ensure that all activities conform to regulations and best practices.

· Provide effective management to the technical team to set priorities and ensure effective programming including quality, timeliness and impact

· Document successes, lessons learned and challenges in implementation as well as reports of project activities and results to the project and donor, including contributing relevant inputs to routine quarterly and annual reports.

· Contribute to abstracts, presentation, and articles for journals and conferences.

· Supervise technical staff.

· Manage technical contributions of subgrantees, including defining scopes of work and offering technical support, as needed.

· Provide technical leadership on the development of the project strategic plan, work plans, and project monitoring, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders to ensure timely implementation and compliance to the requirements and regulations of the award.

Requirements:

· Advanced degree (PhD or masters degree) from an accredited university in public health or another health-related discipline; equivalent experience may be substituted for a graduate degree;

· Minimum of eight years of experience implementing and/or providing technical assistance for malaria control programs and/or health systems strengthening projects; experience should include direct supervision of professional and support staff.

· Demonstrated experience in implementing and/or providing technical assistance to large, donor-funded multi-year international health sector projects that have implemented activities in malaria prevention and control.

· Demonstrated experience training clinical and community-based healthcare workers in malaria prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

· Demonstrated experience providing capacity building assistance at individual and organizational levels.

· Skills in at least two or more of the following technical areas: strengthening service delivery projects; training; pre-service education; performance and quality improvement; monitoring and evaluation.

· Demonstrated experience with a mix of practical technical skills in malaria prevention, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for strengthening related service delivery at the regional, national, clinical, and community-level.

· Experience working in West Africa and/or Sierra Leone on health programming; in-depth understanding of the healthcare system in Sierra Leone ideal.

· Familiarity with USAID’s administrative, management and reporting procedures and systems.

· Strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop relations with local counterparts, donors, and other stakeholders.

· Strong communication skills, both oral and written.

· Fluency in English required.

Local candidates in Sierra Leone strongly encouraged to apply!

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

IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.

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Qualifications