Health Manager (Malualkon –Aweil East County) At International Rescue Committee

South Sudan, an independent nation since 9 July 2011, is emerging from decades of brutal civil war rooted in disputes over religion, ethnicity, resources, governance, and self-determination. The security situation remains unpredictable, and the operational context is challenging. IRC has operated in South Sudan for over 30 years now delivering humanitarian relief, post-conflict assistance, and development programs in both refugees, internally displaced and host community settings. IRC operates in 9 field offices including in Juba with field program portfolio covering health, nutrition, child protection, Economic Recovery and Development (Livelihoods), women’s protection and empowerment and general protection. IRC continues to provide life-saving assistance and humanitarian aid to vulnerable South Sudanese and continues to work with the affected to rebuild their lives and restore peace.

Program Background

The IRC has been working in South Sudan since 1989. During this time, strong and sustainable relationships with local community structures has been established. The IRC implements programs in South Sudan through 7 field offices distributed across Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Unity, Lakes, and central Equatoria States. In Unity State, IRC delivers health, nutrition, women’s protection and empowerment, child protection and livelihoods projects across 5 Counties. This is done in close collaboration stakeholders. IRC provides health and nutrition services as the lead Health Pooled Fund Partner in Lot 21 (Koch, Leer, Mayendit and Panyijar Counties) and Lot 17 in Aweil East County.

Job purpose:

Based in Malualkon, the Health Manager (HM) is responsible for the coordination of all project activities and staff at the field level. S/he will be responsible for technical leadership and administrative oversight of the program and will serve as the principal liaison to the donor and state government entities. S/he will manage a team of health technical specialists, engage closely with County and State Ministry of Health officials and community representatives, and ensure quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all services and activities generated under the grant. The Health Manager is expected to have strong leadership qualities and in-depth technical and management expertise. S/he also provides strategic leadership and supervision of sub-grantees and sub-contractors while ensuring the security, feasibility, and sustainability of the program and contribution to the overall objectives of the International Rescue Committee and Health Pooled Fund project.

Specific responsibilities:

1. Project Implementation

• Ensure implementation of the agreed plan for the HPF project in compliance with The International Rescue Committee strategies and priorities.

• Provide management and technical support to health staff and partners at the County level as appropriate

• Direct and oversee grant implementation, ensuring that all strategic objectives are met through proper design, staffing, implementation, and quality assurance.

• Supervise a team of technical specialists and engage closely with the County Health Department and State Ministry of Health staff with skills across a diverse set of technical areas in health.

• Take lead in coaching, technical advice and other capacity building methodologies or inputs for the national staff and county health department staffs that are implementing the program.

• Provide technical oversight and lead quality of care improvements at the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and neonatal care centers in Aweil East County.

• Establish and maintain effective project reporting, evaluation, and communication systems.

• Submit timely accurate and professional reports that meet donor requirements.

• Manage grant/project budget within approved spending levels and ensure accurate and timely financial reports to donors

• Liaise with local government officials, local communities, donor representatives and other stakeholders as appropriate.

2. Grant Planning & Implementation

• Prepare and maintain/update detailed work plan(s) that support and achieve the project’s activities and indictors within the grant timeline.

• Provide direction and monitor staff to ensure quality and timeliness of project implementation. Share relevant feedback to the team to improve quality and achieve timelines.

• Approve expenditures to the designated level; manage/monitor monthly expenditures and track budgets to ensure that all spending is in line with approved budgets and timelines, including developing procurement plans, monthly program spending plan and cash forecasts.

• Assure appropriate and timely spending of grants to achieve program goals, grant reporting contributions, use and distribution of supplies and resources.

3. Coordination & Representation

• Work closely and coordinate with IRC Global Supply Chain, finance, and grant departments to ensure timely implementation of program activities and expenditures, including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings as necessary.

• Undertake/participate in liaison, coordination, and information sharing activities with local committees, national NGOs, international organizations, donors, and government representatives.

• Ensure that information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate

4. Partner Management

• Serve as the main focal point in the field for IRC’s implementing partners; maintain respectful and constructive relations and ensure regular meetings and ongoing coordination.

• Regularly monitor performance of the partners to achieve the project’s set objectives; provide technical support and guidance; share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines.

• Review partner’s financial and narrative submissions, including M&E data; provide advice and guidance to improve accuracy and quality as required.

5. Program Development

• Lead on data collection, assessments, and proposal development for the sector.

• Working with the Monitoring and Evaluation team to ensure HMIS data recording in the IRC supported health facilities, support the compilation of data and generation of quality reports on a regular and timely manner.

6. Monitoring responsibilities

• Undertake regular field monitoring visits to assess progress, conduct QOC assessments and identify technical quality issues and/or other implementation issues. Provide solutions and implement modifications as required.

• Ensure all monitoring activities are fully documented, including systematic and timely data collection as required under the grant and for IRC M&E purposes

• Produce/contribute to IRC and donor reports as per set schedules (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually) (including grant activities, indicators, and achievements).

Other duties

• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Qualification and experiences:

• Qualified health professional a Medical Doctor with (MPH preference) with at least five years of relevant health experience preferably in INGOs. MUST have medical background.

• At least 3 years humanitarian project management experience coordinating, implementing, and managing health programs in emergency contexts and/or refugee settings.

• A wide range of technical expertise, professional competence, and relevant academic background in human capacity building in the health sector, particularly maternal and child health and family planning.

• Demonstrated leadership, communication, training, and coordination skills

• Experience in leading and managing large grants in a complex environment.

• Experience managing sub grants and contracts under grants for complex projects.

• Excellent knowledge on rules and regulations governing implementation of FCDO funding

Required:

•Experience in South Sudan and/or in other African countries is a strong asset

• Knowledgeable on Health System Strengthening approaches in South Sudan

• Excellent computing skills including Microsoft Office packages including MS Word, Excel, Power Point Epi-Info/SPSS, and Outlook and Database

• Able to analyze large data sets for use in reporting.

• Fluency in both written and spoken English.

Working environment

Security level orange: The situation in the country remains tense and unpredictable; concerns include criminality, presence of armed troops, and looting. There is active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and states.

The position is based in Malulakon – Aweil East location. Lodging is in a basic private bedroom and shared facilities – with electricity, internet, and cable TV. Food is the individual’s responsibility. Ganyliel field offices housing is more basic, with shared facilities such as latrines and showers. Movements are restricted, curfew in place and flooding is common through most of the year.

Standards for Professional Conduct: All IRC staff must adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies. These include Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Narrowing the Gender Gap: The International Rescue Committee 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 a flexible hour (when possible), maternity leave, transportation support, and gender-sensitive security protocols.

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, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.