National Advocacy Focal and Health Coordinator (National Position)

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and currently provides assistance to displaced persons in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Mae Hong Son provinces

Job Overview/Summary: IRC provides primary health care and environmental health services in several refugee camps in Thailand. Primary health care services work to maintain low morbidity and mortality rates, while increasing the capacity of refugee-trained health care workers to provide curative and preventive treatment. IRC and community-based partner organizations also lead provision of clinical services in the camps, including reproductive health services and neonatal care. Clinical services include out-patient department (OPD) and in-patient department (IPD) care; laboratories supporting IPD/OPD and reproductive health clinics; pharmacy services for essential drugs; community health education, and mental health care. Environmental health services aim to create a healthy living environment for refugees living in the camps through the provision of quality water and sanitation facilities, leading efforts to improve access to chlorinated water, sanitation, and hygiene in the camps.

Under the direct supervision the Senior Health Coordinator and the overall guidance of the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP), the National Advocacy Focal/Health Coordinator assists the Senior Health Coordinator to develop the strategy, design, implementation, and management of technical and operational aspects of IRC’s Health portfolio including primary health care, reproductive health, community health, environmental health, and psychosocial support. Health Coordinator will assist the Senior Health Coordinator in managing and coordinating the day-to-day of IRC and partner implemented programs to ensures all clinical activities are on track and in compliance with programs objectives and donor regulations. The Health Coordinator will support the and provide technical assistance, capacity strengthening, mentoring and capacity building of health staff in the field offices. National Advocacy Focal/Health Coordinator will be the focal person and reporting to DDP for IRC advocacy strategy development and implementation.

The Health Coordinator plays a key representational role with various stakeholders at different levels, particularly Thai public hospitals, Ministry of Public Health, and other national/ local level counterparts/partners (i.e., UN agencies, civil society organizations and community-based organizations) in the health sector.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Management, implementation, and program monitoring - With the guidance of Senior Health Coordinator, provide strategic direction, leadership, and overall program management to all health programs within CRRD Health Program in line with the country strategy action plan (SAP), IRC global standards as well as donor regulations - Oversight and support the functional primary healthcare systems and services including reproductive health, primary health, environmental health, psychosocial support, health information, warehouse management, infection control , nutrition and health promotion in all IRC supported sites - Assist the Senior Health Coordinator in implementing and monitoring of IRC’s health programs, interventions and activities through effective planning, monitoring and coordination to ensure efficient and effective implementation in accordance with IRC global standards as well as donor regulations, best practices and local requirements per the Thailand Ministry of Public Health, and Burma Border Guidelines, IRC guidelines, thereby ensuring the programs address the needs of the most vulnerable beneficiary populations in the most cost-effective manner. - Provide support for the development of curricula, training, and support to organize training of trainers (TOT) for IRC Health staff and Camp -based assistants including community health workers, health assistants and medics, laboratory staff, nurses in collaboration with partner organizations, external consultant and in accordance with the Committee for Coordination of Services to Displaced Persons in Thailand (CCSDPT) Health Sub-Committee standards. - Coordinate and oversight day-to-day implementation of the health activities, particularly the program management and clinical aspect of the health program in all IRC supported sites. Provide other technical and clinical support, mentoring and quality assurance support and facilitate IRC efforts to support the organizational and leadership development of IRC Field-Based and Camp- Based health workers - Conduct regular communication and program monitoring meetings with field-based Senior clinical managers, Psychosocial Program Manager, and the Environmental Health (EH) manager. - Conduct regular field visits to each of the camps to ensure program efficiency and quality and address issues and concerns, working closely with the Senior Health Coordinator. - Facilitate quality assurance activities, following all monitoring and evaluation tools used within the current health program and ensure they provide relevant data to measure results / impact of the health program. - Lead coordination meetings among health program team for program performance reviews and ensure feedback sessions happen with project staff to discuss corrective action.

Grants Management, Reporting and proposal Development. - Coordinate with Grants and Program Unit to ensure grant management and compliance to donor requirements, review progress in achieving program objectives and targets in collaboration with the Senior Clinical Managers, the technical leads and the Program Unit - Participate in the development of new proposals and initiatives for the IRC health program in line with the Country Strategic Action Plan and the outcomes and evidence framework. - Ensure effective development and management of project work plans and budgets, spending plans, procurement plans, and accurate reporting in line with IRC and donor regulations. - Assist the Senior Health Coordinator in reviewing technical aspects of internal and external reports prepared by the managers within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required, and review quarterly reports to ensure that they are of highest quality. - Lead the development of consolidated health program work plan of 7 camps, monitor, and follow up with program team in all sites to ensure workplans for the health programs are on track.

Partnerships, Coordination, and advocacy - In collaboration with Thai officials and key stakeholders, create the informal and formal channels of institutional support for capacity building of camp-based stipend workers. - Work with IRC program coordinators and field coordinators in leading IRC’s advocacy strategies and efforts relating to healthcare services at the national level with Thai authorities (e.g., the Ministry of Public Health) example (e.g. provision of ART, immunizations program, management of outbreak responses; COVID 19- testing and treatment among the refugee communities, vaccines, etc.) - Work with other technical coordinators and field coordinators in managing, documenting, and analyzing national level health issues impacting the overall IRC health service provision and programming. - Attend relevant technical and other meetings to represent the IRC’s Thailand health as needed. - Develop and maintain relationships, communications, and partnerships with local health actors operating in IRC’s implementation areas - Support the strategic partnerships in the field that enhance the best use of resources and complement health service delivery to shared catchment areas. - Coordinate with Field teams to ensure field concerns and challenges are brought to relevant stakeholders for the improvement.

Strategy Development and Implementation - Work with Advocacy Strategy Consultant and key staff in leading IRC’s advocacy strategies and efforts for refugees to work outside of the camp and relating to healthcare services at the national level with Thai authorities - Ensure progress of implementation plan for Advocacy strategy and review the progress quarterly together with extended SMT - Advise on the design and budgeting of advocacy activities in new business development Evidence Based Advocacy - Monitor the evolving operational and political context influencing opportunities for refugees to work outside of the camp - Provide regular briefings to Senior Management Team and key program leads on status of strategy, implementation, stakeholders, and relevant context identifying barriers and opportunities

Alliances and Partnerships - Work closely with CCSDPT, ADSP, and others to develop joint advocacy initiatives when and as relevant. - Represent IRC together with the Country Director, on CCSDPT advocacy initiatives. - Liaise with the Government, inter-government agencies, UN agencies, local and international NGOs and other partners at the country level to find areas of cooperation, joint initiatives and where applicable negotiate joint agreements for further advocacy

Staff Management and Development - Supervise and provide technical support and build capacity of the team to implement IRC programs to a high-quality standard service. - Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including setting clear expectations, annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews. - Approve attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews. - Identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these. - Adhere to IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations. - Participate in training and mentoring of health and other staff members in response to capacity building needs.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Senior Health Coordinator for Refugee Health, Deputy Director of Programs for implementation on Advocacy Plan

Position closely working with Country Director and Coordinators on any IRC’s advocacy project related to Thailand

Position directly supervises: Field-based senior clinical health manager(s) and clinical manager(s); and program officers.

Indirect Report(s): Health staff in the IRC field office

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Country Director, Deputy Director of Programs, IRC health staff in all Thailand sites, Bangkok-based program/sub-grant unit, Protection and Empowerment program team in all Thailand sites; Finance Department and Operation Department

External: Local community-based partner organizations, CCSDPT Health Sub-Committee, Thai public health authorities, non-governmental organizations, World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations agencies engaged with IRC programs.

Qualifications

Job Requirements: - Post graduate degree in public health, tropical medicine or another health-related field. Medical degree (MBBS or MD) is a plus. - Minimum of five years of experiences working in humanitarian and/or development assistance health programs, including a minimum of three years in a management position and experience related to advocacy works with government and stakeholders - Demonstrated successful experience in capacity building. - Demonstrated experience and expertise in managing comprehensive primary health care programs with expertise in Primary Health Care, Reproductive and Child Health, and/ or Health Information Systems. - Demonstrated ability to foster strong collaborative partner relationships particularly with government authorities - based on principles of mutual trust and respect, mutual accountability, reciprocity, inclusion, and transparency – with an ability to promote a common project vision among a wide array of diverse partner organizations. - Ability to manage sizeable multi-cultural team delivering assistance involving a wide array of program stakeholders. - Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written. - Strong writing and analytical skills, including ability to communicate technical matters to a range of audiences. - Competent in Windows, MS office programs, emails, and relevant health database (HMIS, DHIS etc.). - Fluency in spoken and written Thai and English is required; Burmese is a plus. - Able to travel regularly to Bangkok and along the Thailand-Myanmar borders and able to travel to refugee camps and other project areas on a regular basis.

Working Environment: The position will be based in the IRC office in Mae Sot, with extensive travel to Bangkok for advocacy works, the refugee camps and the Thailand-Myanmar border area.

Standards of Professional Conduct The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others. Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.