Senior Health and Nutrition Manager At International Rescue Committee

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 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The International Rescue Committee has been working in Somalia since 2006, providing essential services to conflict and disaster affected communities. The IRC has been operational in Central Somalia (Mudug and Galgadud regions) and Mogadishu implementing interventions in the areas of livelihood, WASH, Governance and peacebuilding, GBV, Nutrition, education and health reaching out to more than 200,000 conflict and drought affected people.

Scope:

This is a senior management position responsible for overseeing all primary healthcare and Nutrition aspects of IRC’s health and Nutrition programs in Somalia in close collaboration with the Health and Nutrition Coordinator (SHNC). Responsibility of the position will be to oversee IRC’s primary healthcare interventions in the health and Nutrition sector, Reproductive health sector, immunization, child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, pharmacy, and other areas as needed. The senior Health and Nutrition Manager (Snr HNM) will be based in Mogadishu, Somalia with frequent travel to filed sites. The Snr HNM will work with the health and nutrition Coordinator and Health Technical Unit to roll out and follow up on submission of solicited/ unsolicited proposals as well as donor and government reports.

The Senior Health and Nutrition Manager will report to the Health and Nutrition Coordinator

Responsibilities:

Technical

• Participate in the development of new proposals and initiatives for the IRC health program in line with the SAP and the outcomes and evidence framework.
• Oversee the projects implemented under the health program including immunization, reproductive health and Safe Motherhood activities, child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as any other health projects assigned for the position.
• Collaborate with the MOH and UNICEF/UNFPA to ensure the availability and adaptation of the reproductive health guidelines and protocols by all relevant staff at field level.
• Support the health/Reproductive/Nutrition managers at field in developing key healthcare assessment questionnaires and conduct health assessments in collaboration with the HNC.
• Ensure that health and nutrition interventions in Somalia adhere to IRC’s core policy documents and guidelines, including the Program Framework, IRC’s M&E guide and logical framework, IRC’s Health Unit policies and guidelines (Minimum and Core indicators, etc.).
• Provide relevant input for the development of new proposals and initiatives for the IRC health program per identified needs in each program site.
• Ensure that all health grants are implemented in a timely manner in accordance with the internal IRC and donor regulations.
• Support the implementation of quality health programs while liaising with the Health Managers and partner Hospital directors and identifying challenges that may hinder proper implementation.
• Lead the healthcare staff capacity development through identification of trainings needs via development of robust training needs assessments, identifying competent consultants for proposed trainings, and overseeing the training implementation and follow up.
• Work with the Community Health Manager to develop appropriate BCC strategies relevant for the various field program sites targeting primary healthcare activities, and ensure that these are supported by comprehensive job aids and tools for staff use at facility level.
• Assist in identifying other unmet needs in the health sector and explore the potential of IRC in addressing those needs.
• Provide technical supervision of all IRC health projects in designated region(s). Extend technical support and supervision to the IRC’s implementing partners.
• Ensure that health programs utilize standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as prescribed by the IRC, Ministry of Health and WHO. Ensure that all health activities are consistent with established best practices.
• Ensure that appropriate communication channels are maintained with the Health and Nutrition Coordinator.
• Monitor evolving needs of the target communities, conduct assessments on health needs in new project areas and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary in collaboration with the Community health Manager.
• In collaboration with the Community Health Manager, ensure undertaking of regular client feedback and response activities at facility level by working with the HNC and the Governance TAs to develop context appropriate tools and ensure client exit interviews occur at each IRC-supported health facility on a biannual basis and provide feedback to both health staff and the communities.
• Ensure that health interventions in Somalia adhere to IRC’s core policy documents and guidelines, including the Program Framework, IRC’s DM&E guide and log frame, IRC’s Health Unit policies and guidelines (Minimum and Core indicators, HIV strategy, etc).
• Promote the quality of the IRC’s assigned health programs by setting up monthly quality of care assessments and analysis of findings and feedback to supported health facilities. This will include maternal audit reports, and checks in collaboration with the Nairobi and field based health staff.
• In collaboration with the HNC and the health TAs, develop a standard QoC assessment tool for use in Somalia.
• Roll out the implementation of quality of care audits in supported health facilities. This will involve setting up of quality improvement committees in each IRC-supported health facility, training the committees and monitoring their activities.
• In collaboration with the HNC and TAs, develop strong pharmacy management systems at all field sites to support quality implementation of primary healthcare services.
• In close collaboration with the Health and Nutrition Coordinator, ensure that appropriate communication channels are maintained with the Health Unit Technical staff in NY.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Ensure that the stated goals and objectives of all health projects overseen by the position are met with strong monitoring and evaluation follow up and reports are written and submitted to concerned bodies in a timely manner.
• Participate in the design of robust program’s M&E plans and design/adapt health information systems including surveillance systems for the IRC health programs in Somalia.
• Be the focal point for COMET within the health sector and work closely with the M&E Manager to ensure that all health data is kept up to date, analyzed and provided in a timely manner to the HNC to promote the generation of accurate and comprehensive reports.
• Conduct monthly review of all health program epidemiological and pharmacy data including appropriate analysis and develop monthly reports, while ensuring monthly submission of COMET data to aid in assessment of program progress or highlight areas requiring closer supervision.
• Conduct program performance reviews for all primary healthcare programs on a quarterly basis, in collaboration with the HNC and field-based Health Managers and ensure feedback sessions happen with project staff to discuss corrective action.
• Prepare regular reports as required for the respective donors and for IRC New York Health Unit.
• Conduct regular project review meetings, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data, with field based staff to assess the level of achievement of project targets for the assigned health grants.
• Work with the field teams to develop specific implementation plans and M&E systems for each assigned health grant in collaboration with the HNC and the M&E Manager.
• Monitor program implementation against work plans and overall project objectives, documenting progress and achievements, providing analysis and adapt program strategy and implementation accordingly.
• Ensure effective and high quality reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use, capturing best practice to support program decision making.
• Lead and coordinate the capacity building for field based program staff, as well as partner organizations’ staff where appropriate, on monitoring, supervision and evaluation, as well as other identified areas to build the knowledge and implementation of M&E activities throughout the project. Relevant trainings may include basic concepts, qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection, analysis and use of M&E data.
• Maintain regular communications on program work to the Health Coordinator

Program Management

Grant Management

• Ensure that all assigned health grants are implemented according to internal IRC and donor regulations with an overall review by the Health and Nutrition Coordinator.
• Participate in grant opening, midterm review and grant closing meetings for all health grants and ensure that the same process is implemented in the field.
• Support field staff in use of grant management tools such as the budget tracking tools, activity progress monitoring tools, procurement, and spending plans, etc.

Budget Monitoring

• Conduct monthly BVA reviews and make appropriate recommendations to the finance and logistics staff as well as to the field-based health staff.
• Ensure that assigned budgets are spent according to plan and as per contractual agreements with respective donors.
• In collaboration with field staff develop spending plans and monitor the implementation of these spending plans for respective grants.
• Work with finance to undertake budget recoding as required.

Human Resource Management

• In collaboration with the Health Coordinator, lead the health sector staff development plans for project staff based on performance reviews in collaboration with the human resources department and contribute to the training of health staffs (mentoring, on-the-job sessions as well as formal trainings).
• In consultation with the Health and Nutrition Coordinator and Admin & HR Coordinator, review applicants for all health positions and assist in the recruitment of qualified health staff.

Representation

• Represent IRC to local communities, government departments, international agencies, local partners and donors as required.
• Attend relevant meetings and prepare meeting notes as required and share these with all concerned.**

Qualifications

• Education: Medical doctor or equivalent with a Master’s/post-graduate degree in Public Health.
• Work Experience: Minimum of 4-5 years professional experience in some combination of project management,
• Experience in project management, technical tools and materials development and monitoring and evaluation is highly desired.
• Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Demonstrated expertise in working with donors, project design, proposal development, and monitoring and evaluation, with the ability to turn concepts and strategy into measurable action. Able to work with remote, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Communicate effectively and clearly, has strong interpersonal verbal and written communication skills and ability to facilitate collaboration.
• Comfortable in a high-visibility, individual contributor role with the ability to work cross-functionally and with all levels of the organization.
• Language Skills: Fluency in English and proficiency in Somalia is an advantage.
• Working Environment: Up to 50% travel will be required depending on the security situation in regions.