Health Manager at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) – 2 Openings Full Time

Job Title: Health Manager

Requisition ID: req41335
Locations: Gusau and Anka, Zamfara
Employment Type: Full-Time
Employment Category: Regular
Sector: Health
Open to Expatriates: No
Ability to Travel:  5 % of time if applicable

Project Overview

• The BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance) project, “Integrated Emergency Response to the Displaced Population in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina States, Northwest Nigeria” depending on fund availability will be carried out by a consortium led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in collaboration with the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima), Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), and Life Helpers Initiative (LHI), aims to leverage each partner’s expertise to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people populations through area-based approach.
• The Consortium partners will provide an integrated multisectoral intervention in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Protection, and Multi-purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) activities in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states in collaboration with state governments, UN organizations and other key actors in Northwest Nigeria.
• The project will be implemented by a dedicated support, quality assurance, and coordination team, who will work closely with all partners through a management unit of well-structured consortium governance for the activity.

Job Overview / Summary

• Under the direct supervision of the Health Coordinator, the Health Manager Gusau is the focal point for IRC integrated primary health care services in Gusau and Anka Zamfara state.
• He/she will be responsible for supervising health staff in Gusau and Anka LGA and will be responsible for project implementation, monitoring, support with the overall capacity building of health program staff, and progress reporting of health projects.
• He/she reports to the health coordinator and also works closely with the Senior Health Manager, Senior Reproductive Health Manager and the base manager for daily administrative issues.

Major Responsibilities
Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy:

• Health program management:
• Provide overall managerial oversight for implementation of the health program activities.
• Ensure health projects implementation are of high quality and meets  the IRC/MoH/International standards;
• Support health officer and medical supervisor to prepare project work plans with clear targets/achievement benchmarks based on project indicators;
• Provide technical support to health staff and provide them necessary mentoring and trainings as needed to build their capacity and enabling them to perform their tasks, including project management skills;
• Participate in emergency assessments when necessary and develop plans for rapid and appropriate responses in consultation with WASH, protection, nutrition, WPE and others.
• Supervise the ORP teams, including community and outreach activities in the targeted LGAs.
• Coordinate with Gusau and Anka LGAs and other actors in the response and maintain good relations with them,
• Participate in the Meningitis, Cholera or other disease Outbreak Control Coordination Team and carry out community-based public health interventions during communicable disease outbreaks.
• Monitor quality performance indicators ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices, and donor guidelines.
• Coordinate all referrals of patients as per IRC referral guidelines.
• Seek out and nurture quality partnerships with community structures.
• Foster inter program linkages, exchange information and experiences and contribute actively to protection and disaster risk reduction mainstreaming in the health program
• Collaborate with other relevant sectors especially Environmental Health, as well as Nutrition, Women Protection & Empowerment, and Child Protection to ensure holistic service package is available in response to the needs.

Program Development / Grant Management:

• Contribute to design, planning, and drafting new proposals.
• Contribute to donors’ reporting whenever necessary.
• In collaboration with Sr. Health Managers, develop and expenditure plan, review budget vs. actual expenditure for health grants on a monthly basis and take necessary actions.
• Ensuring budgets are used appropriately and efficiently and spending is in line with the IRC financial procedures and donor requirements.
• Ensure data collection, data compilation, timely preparation and submission of all internal reports including weekly and other associated monthly, quarterly, donor and special reports.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Required for all positions with supervisory responsibility, if special considerations are needed (e.g. remote management), make this additive to the base language here.
• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the team in Zamfara state and Northwest region Nigeria.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Research, Learning and Analysis:
Monitoring health program implementation:

• Monitor project implementation and provide on-spot support to field teams and propose modifications as necessary.
• Ensure regular health program data analysis and review, take follow up action on project implementation and prepare relevant action reports.
• Supervise and provide technical oversight in the interpretation of data for improved programming and implementation.
• Monitor and promote integrated programming in a way that increases overall impact of health program at the community level.

Coordination & Representation:

• Represent the program to Local government representatives, partner agencies, etc. as required.
• In coordination with the Health Coordinator actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders with government actors, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Attend all relevant meetings in relation to the health program as may be required and feed in the IRC priorities during meetings.
• Facilitate field visits for internal and external stakeholders, when required.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to:  Consortium Deputy Team Lead
• Indirect/Technical Reporting: Health Coordinator, Senior Health Manager, Senior RH Manager, Assistant Health Coordinator, Consortium Team Lead.
• Position directly Supervises: Senior Health officer, medical supervisor and Health officer.

Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program:  SPC, Deputy Director Program, Finance Manager, Supply chain Manager, Senior Area Manager, DDFM, Region/Global:

Key External Contacts:

• INGO Partner in Gusau and Anka

Qualifications
Education:

• Health professional (MD or RN with a MPH is preferred) with strong public health background.
• A mature person of high professional discipline and moral integrity, able to work independently and under stress as the situation may dictate.

Work Experience:

• At least 3 years’ experience in managing and implementing primary and secondary health programs.
• Able to lead a team and have experience in staff management.
• Experience in outbreak response interventions
• Ability to work with displaced communities with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Experience in donor report writing and proposal development.
• Have experience in general management including financial and budget management, HR and logistics management.

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Background in situation analysis, health assessments M&E and program implementation.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Skills and experience of remote management
• Flexible, diplomatic and have ability and willingness live and work under pressure of workloads.

Languages:

• English

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.  Add position-specific (e.g. accounting software, statistical software, etc.).

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.