Senior Health and Nutrition Manager

Job Description

Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. IRC has been working in Ethiopia since 1999 and is implementing integrated, community-managed programs aimed at improving the quality of lives and recover of livelihood of disaster-affected population’s through promoting individual participation, strengthening institutions and emergency response. Currently, IRC is operating in the Oromia, Benishangul, Gambella, Tigray, SNNPR and Somali regions on Emergency Response, refugee’s assistance, and livelihood projects. Our vision is to provide integrated life-saving recovery and resilience programs to refugees, returnees, IDPs host and local communities to save life and bring lasting change.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND: The IRC Ethiopia Health and Nutrition (HN) programs are currently being implemented in three distinct settings: refugee, local community and emergency responses. Refugee health program has been implemented in eight refugee camps (Sheder, Kebribeyah, Aw bare, Sherkole, Bambasi, Ashura, Tongo, and Tsore) focusing on Reproductive Health (RH) and HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Local community programs which are operational in six regional states (Somali, BGRS, Gambella, Tigray and Oromia) of Ethiopia include: basic services under Peace and Development Program (PDP), integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) of childhood illness, Core Group Polio project and Maternal and Neonatal Health projects. Emergency responses projects respond to acute onset HN emergencies across the country directly or through partners.

SCOPE/JOB PURPOSE:

The Senior Health and Nutrition Manager (SHNM) will be part of the Health and Nutrition (HN) unit in Addis Ababa supporting design/development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation for a variety of projects. The SHNM is responsible for technical oversight and successful implementation projects implemented in various field offices. S/he will provide technical support to field-based staff, track performance progress and guide project teams to meet project targets. S/he will conduct regular monitoring visits as well as assist the HN Coordinator in new business development initiatives and on other strategic assignments related to the assigned field offices.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Technical

- Support assigned field office staff to track project performance against key performance indicators and to achieve projects targets, - Identify performance gaps and design and develop action plans in collaboration with field office Health managers to improve quality of services, - Ensure quality of projects activities and services provisions in IRC supported HN facilities according to national and international standards, - Support the HN Coordinator/Assistance HN Coordinator in providing timely and quality inputs for new project designs and funding proposals, including writing of technical narrative content, developing logical frameworks, and budgeting, - Provide technical support for all IRC projects in designated regions for directly and/or sub-granted projects, - Represent IRC for the assigned regions in all relevant forums, working groups, and coordination meetings relevant to assigned regions, - Maintain documentation of relevant information and communicate with the HN Coordinator and field offices regularly, - Ensure that HN interventions in the assigned regions adhere to IRC’s core policy documents and guidelines, including IRC’s Strategy Action Plan and Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF), - Promote the quality of the IRC’s health programs by setting up quality assurance systems and checks in collaboration with Health and Nutrition staff and Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning colleagues.

B. Program and Grant Management

- Ensure that HN grants in assigned field offices are implemented according to internal IRC and donor regulations, - Participate in Project Cycle Meetings for all relevant grants and ensure that the same process is implemented in assigned field sites, - Support field staff in use of grant management tools such as the budget tracking tools, activity progress monitoring tools, procurement and spending plans, etc.

C. Budget Monitoring

- Ensure that budgets are spent according to plan and as per contractual agreements with respective donors, - In collaboration with field staff, develop spending and procurement plans and monitor the implementation of these plans for each grant, - Work with HN Coordinator and/or Assistant HN Coordinator and other relevant staff to streamline and build capacity of program staff to effectively use budget tracking and other project management tools, - Conduct monthly BVA reviews and make appropriate recommendations to Finance and Supply Chain staff in Addis, as well as to the assigned field-based HN staff, - Coordinate technical team inputs to, and directly provide inputs when needed to, project/budget amendments and work with Finance to undertake budget recoding as required

D. Monitoring & Evaluation

- Ensure that the stated goals and objectives of all projects overseen by the position are met, - Participate in the design and delivery of robust M&E plans and design/adapt health information systems including surveillance systems for the IRC HN programs, - Review all reports prepared by the assigned field offices staff and provide appropriate feedback to the concerned staff, - Support the HN Coordinator and/or Assistant HN Coordinator in preparation of Donor and HQ reports, - Conduct regular project review meetings with field-based staff to assess the level of achievement of project targets for the various HN grants.

E. Human Resource Management

- Support the HN Coordinator with staff development plans for field office HN staff based on performance reviews in collaboration with the human resources department and contribute to strengthening capacity of HN staffs (mentoring, on-the-job sessions as well as formal trainings), - Support the HN coordinator, in reviewing applicants for HN positions and assist in recruitment of qualified HN staff for assigned field offices,

F. Representation

- Represent IRC to local communities, government departments, international agencies, local partners and donors as required as requested by the HN Coordinator, - Attend and document relevant meetings and share notes with all concerned.

Miscellaneous

- Support with updating of the IRC’s staff Health protocols and train staff, as necessary, - Other duties as assigned by the HN Coordinator.

Qualifications

Job Requirements

Essential

- Masters level education in Health related field such as RN or MPH. Must have health clinical background (nursing, health officer, MD) - Three years’ professional experience in implementing and managing health programs and related budgets. - Demonstrated experience supervising, managing, and providing technical support and assistance to field-based program/project staff. - Demonstrated experience in proposal development, including practical experience with budgeting, log-frame development, and writing of technical descriptions. - Excellent English writing skills (candidates will be asked to demonstrate these skills in a practical exam if shortlisted). - Excellent oral and written communication skills. - Strong organizational and interpersonal skills. - Ability to work effectively and efficiently both with minimum supervision and as part of a team. - Result oriented

Desirable

- Experience managing SRH projects. - Experience in conducting health assessments. - Experience with an international NGO in a similar role is a plus.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply!

IRC is an 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 or disability.

Standards of Professional Conduct: 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 carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law