Senior Public Health Emergency Management Advisor

Internal / External Vacancy Announcement

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) wants to recruit employees in the following vacant positions the details of which are mentioned bellow.

About the Ethiopian Red Cross Society

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) was established in 1935 and is one of the oldest and largest humanitarian organizations in Ethiopia. ERCS provides services to communities affected by natural and manmade disasters through the provision of emergency responses, ambulance and first aid, family reunification, essential drugs, water and sanitation, and other humanitarian services. ERCS also runs disaster risk reduction programs with the aim of creating resilience households and communities. Currently the ERCS has a structure consisting of 12 Regional Offices, 34 Zonal Branches and 131  District/Woreda Branches, 599 Woreda Red Cross Committee  and 5871 Kebele Red Cross  committees.

ERCS also runs disaster risk reduction programs relating to food security, climate change adaptation, livelihood diversification, and institutional capacity building interventions, with the aim of creating resilience households and communities. ERCS works in partnership with the Ethiopian Government, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), partnering National Societies, International NGO, members, volunteers and the communities we serve.

Introduction

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is seeking a Senior Public Health Emergency Management Advisor for a potential five-year USAID/Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) project in Ethiopia with collaboration of ERCS . The project’s overall purpose is to strengthen PHEM to mitigate the impact of disasters on the health system and primary care and strengthen the capacity of Ethiopia’s institutions and communities to effectively manage disaster risks.

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) saves lives and improves health by helping public and private organizations throughout the world to effectively manage people, medicines, money, and information. Working from more than 30 country offices and our Arlington, Virginia and Medford, Massachusetts US headquarters, our staff from 65 nations is highly regarded for its technical expertise, integrity, and commitment to making a lasting difference in health. We live our mission to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

Duties and responsibilities

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) Advisor (“the incumbent”) will be responsible for providing technical and operational guidance for the program. The incumbent’s primary responsibilities will be to ensure the local health system is resilient, and particularly, the Public Health Emergency Management system is responsive to any shocks with due attention to building the sub-national capacity to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks or emergencies, and ensure the health system continues to deliver essential services under duress.

SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITY

In consultation and cooperation with the senior management of PHEM and local government bodies, the Senior Public Health Emergency Management Advisor will accomplish the following activities:

Inline with the national PHEM strategy and guideline of the country:

• Develop tailored local strategies and plans on emergencies prevention, preparedness, detection and response to the zonal, woreda, health facilities, and community levels.
• Strategize on leadership and management capacities development at Zonal, Woreda, health facilities, and community levels.
• Develop strategies and plans on how to continue the essential health services during emergencies.
• Assist the local government in the development of a coordinated, multisectoral emergency prevention, preparedness, detection, and response.
• Develop gender in emergency strategies, plans and guidelines.
• Lead the implementation of the annual plans at zonal, woreda, health facilities, and community levels in the targeted project areas.
• Together with the team, design innovative emergency financing mechanisms at local level.
• Collaborate with the Senior Surveillance and Data Management Advisor in strengthening the surveillance, data management, analysis and use for action.

Work unit: Disaster Risk Management Department

Reporting to: Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director

Terms of employment: Contract for one year, with possibility of extension

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s Degree in any area of Health/Public Health or related areas.
• A minimum of total seven (7) years of resilience or emergency management relevant to practical work experience at a senior level in an area of health systems and resilience health, specifically in PHEM or outbreak response and management is required.

Other skills & Competencies

• Work experience in areas of humanitarian assistance and response and/or prior experience in Emergency Operations Center will add value.
• Deep understanding and knowledge of the health system particularly public health emergency management: preparedness, response and recovery.
• The capability, qualification and experience of managing similar health projects/programs preferably in managing epidemic/ pandemics and any hazard.
• Demonstrated core competencies and experiences in project management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Must possess core competencies and experiences in teamwork, problem solving, conflict management, partnership with local governments and negotiation skills.
• Excellent planning, analytical, communication, supervisory and interpersonal skills, demonstrated leadership, and the ability to work collaboratively across technical disciplines.
• Demonstrated decision making ability, competency to work independently when required and under stressful conditions, and the experience of operating in a management culture built on consensus and results.
• Experience with USAID programs/projects strongly preferred.
• Fluency of English and Amharic in reading/writing/speaking (Level IV) is required.