Senior Health and Nutrition Manager -Tigray, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 40 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in ten regions, in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Program Background: 

The IRC health program in Ethiopia currently implements activities in different settings: Emergency Response Mechanism (ERM), focusing on IDPs site and will monitor targeted health facilities at the project implementation areas that is involved in the delivery of Lifesaving primary health and Nutrition care servcies for the affected communities.

Currently, IRC started a new project funded by BHA aiming at Promoting stability and strengthening basic lifesaving emergency health service delivery for host communities and other displaced populations in Somali region, Hargele and Dolobay woredas of Afder zone Somali Regional states of Ethiopia. The objectives of the project are to improve access to and quality of health services, including Lifesaving health and Nutrition intervention, and other displaced people and to promote peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and reconciliation/resolution.

This position will be based in Melkadida/ Haloweyn under Jijiga field office and will directly reports to Jijiga Field Coordinator and technically reported to IRC Addis Senior Health & Nutrition Manager, Health and Nutrition coordinator/Senior Health and Nutrition coordinator.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Health and Nutrition Manager in Afder zone will be responsible for managing and

ensure lifesaving essential health service and Consultation of under-five, PLW and Nutrition screening and case management services and other health-related programs are properly implemented in high quality and are based on standard protocol on implementation of the project activities through MHNT at target areas. Internally the position involves technical, grant, and budget management, monitoring and evaluation, and human resource management. Externally it needs communication, coordination, and representation with the host government, Regional Health Bureaus, Zonal health department, and Woreda health offices and partners.

Responsibilities: –

Technical

• Support the goals, objectives, and activities of the health projects are met by working with team members, partners, and clients. Ensure lifesaving essential health service and Provision of under-five and Nutrition screening and case management services and other health-related programs are properly implemented in high quality and are based on standard protocol.
• Guarantee that the capacity of targeted health offices, health facilities, and health service providers in project target areas are built.
• Assess the gaps related to clinical RH services at the camps (health facilities) and take remedial action timely with the health team.
• Provide technical support for the IRC senior health officer, health officers, and RH Clinical Mentor officers.
• Prepare relevant MHNT content guiding materials for Health social workers, most at-risk populations, and mother-to-mother support group facilitators.
• Stay up to date on health-related humanitarian situations in the country specifically on sexual reproductive health rights and comprehensive abortion care.
• Collect and compile bi-monthly updates, monthly progress reports, and quarter and annual donor reports and submit them to the Field Coordinator, Sr. Health & Nutrition manager, health MEAL manager, before the due date.
• Prepare monthly project performance review for each active grant and share with Addis technical units.
• Facilitate workshops, pieces of training, and program review meetings for health professionals, community volunteers, and other team members.
• Coordinate and communicate with partners working in the operation area and coordinate activities.
• Routinely collect, compile, and organize data from monitoring and supervision activities and translate data into graphics and presentations, and reports.
• Assure adherence to IRC’s standards for program management and technical quality.
• Participate in technical meetings, team meetings, and periodic team building exercises.

Grant Management

• The health and Nutrition manager will manage and coordinate the appropriate spending of active grants under the sector.
• Ensure proper and smooth budget management with periodic development and monitoring of procurement plan, spending plan, and burn rate monitoring.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Develop donor reports in collaboration with the senior health officers, MHNT Nurse health Officers, MHNT Mid wife Nurse, field coordinator, and Addis’s health technical units.
• Supervise and evaluate the activities of health and EPI officers who are based at the field office and Woreda level.
• 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,
• Ensure that the stated goals and objectives of the projects are met.
• Provide monthly progress and quarterly reports to the concerned and work closely with MEAL Officer and Technical units.
• Provide periodic input into the Assosa field office, and Addis’s database & ensure proper follow-up.
• Conduct regular project review meetings with field-based staff to assess.

Human Resource Management

• Manage and coordinate and leads the program activities of the MHNT and MHNT as well.
• Undertake timely performance objectives setting, regular reviews, supervision, feedback sessions, and evaluation of all staff under the sector.
• Build capacity of staff under supervision based on the identified gaps.

Other duties

Any other relevant activities as deemed by the immediate and technical supervisors and Filed coordinator.

Key Working Relationships

Internal

Work with senior health and Nutrition Manager, MHNT, Field coordinator, Sr. health & nutrition coordinator, Health and nutrition coordinator, Assistant health and nutrition coordinator, Admin, Finance, and supply chain.

External

• Work with the Regional health Bureau, Zonal health department, woreda health office, and Community volunteers and other IPs as well.
• Represent IRC in health sector-related meetings and collaborate with all other partners.
• Collaborate closely with government officials at regional, zonal, and woreda levels and with other concerned organizations to ensure smooth communication and work teamwork.

• Masters level education in Health-related field such as RN or MPH. Must have health clinical background (MD, nursing, health officer)
• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in managing health & nutrition projects in emergency contexts.
• Experience leading project implementation in a complex international development environment and/or conflict zones.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, managing, and providing technical support and assistance to field-based program/project staff.
• Previous experience in managing projects funded by BHA, UNICEF, WFP, BPRM, UNICEF and GAVI reporting, budgeting, procurement, and project management procedures.
• Proven capacity to negotiate and work with governments at different levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside IRC.

Educational Requirements:

• MPH with clinical background and must have a first-degree graduate in medical doctor (MD), nursing, Midwife and/ or health officer field of study.

Skills required:

·  Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time

·   Strong analytic problem-solving skills.

·   Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure

·   Highly proficient in Microsoft Office.

·   Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

·   Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

·   Excellent management and coordination skills (project management, multisectoral coordination, multicultural technical teams, etc.).

·   Professional expertise on operational planning and strategy in refugee, host and IDPs set up,

·   Demonstrated experience in proposal development, including practical experience with budgeting, log-frame development, and writing of technical descriptions.

·   Has excellent interpersonal skills in English, Tigrigna, Amharic, and other languages