Community Health Manager

Organization Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education and power. Given the disparity faced by women and girls, IRC seeks to narrow gender inequalities and also ensure social inclusion of all vulnerable groups in broader policies, processes and actions affecting their lives.

The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting refugees, vulnerable host communities and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, the civil society and the private sector. Currently, the IRC in Uganda has presence across six sub-regions and six refugee settlements, implementing programming in the sectors of health, Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), and education. IRC Uganda also implements cross-cutting programming focused on systems strengthening and accountability to affected persons.

Program Overview

The IRC led consortium has been awarded a four-year project – PROSPECT SRHR by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands (EKN) to be implemented in the West Nile region. The PROSPECT SRHR aims at improving the sexual reproductive health and social wellbeing of adolescents, youth, and women in West Nile by reducing maternal mortality, number of teenage pregnancies, instances of SGBV and child marriages, and rates of new HIV infections. The project will be implemented in 6 districts with three cluster offices in Yumbe, Adjumani and Terego. IRC as the lead, will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social development, and district local governments. More coordination and collaboration efforts will focus across development and Implementing partners especially in the region including USG and non-USG partners especially those implementing Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services.

Job Overview

The Community Health Manager will be responsible for leading the implementation of technical assistance for strengthening community health systems, ensuring effective collaboration with stakeholders and delivering high-quality outcomes.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide technical oversight, strategic direction and ensure appropriate support for the implementation of community health program activities.
• Identify appropriate facility and community-based strategies to address community health service delivery gaps.
• Formulate sustainable solutions to address community health gaps, utilizing cross-cutting capacity building approaches, such as mentorship and targeted quality improvement.
• Plan and implement capacity-building activities among health care providers and Community Health Workers in collaboration with districts and partner organizations.
• Provide technical support to PROSPECT SRHR, the DHTs, and partners to operationalize national community systems policy guidance.
• Assist health facilities service providers TOTs and partners in planning and designing the CHEWs (Community Health Extension Workers) training program.
• Supervise the execution of the CHEWs training program and implementation plans and prepare regular progress reports.
• Offer guidance to the Activity and stakeholders for developing, implementing, tracking, and documenting innovative, evidence-based community health strengthening interventions.
• Support the regional dissemination of national policies and guidelines, including the MOH Community Health Strategy.
• Collaborate with community structures and other implementing partners to ensure smooth and coordinated execution of project activities.

Minimum Qualifications:

Job Requirements:

• Registered Nurse/ midwife with Maternal and Child Health and Midwifery Qualifications. Or a BSC in Public Health, Health Services Management or a relevant field. Masters in a related field is an added advantage.
• Five years of experience in health service delivery, and community systems strengthening.
• A demonstrated ability to work in the health facilities and community and to promote the development of the maternal and child health service.
• Experience working with and providing strategic technical guidance to MOH and a diverse group of partners and helping to refine their community health learning, policies, and approaches.
• Broad working knowledge of current national community strengthening policies and structures is essential
• Knowledge and experience in working with and strengthening national and district coordination structures
• Demonstrated ability to write technical papers and reports
• Demonstrated experience in working with multiple stakeholders

Demonstrated Skills and Proficiencies:

• Knowledge of the local government health care system.
• Highly organized self-starter with proven success prioritizing multiple tasks, making critical decisions, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
• Demonstrated understanding of coaching and service provider mentorship.
• Good community mobilization skills
• Possesses initiative, patience, tact, and able to work with minimum supervision
• Able to work under pressure
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility in all aspects of working.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and support others in their work.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, internet etc.
• Fluency in English and any of the local languages spoken in West Nile.
• Familiarity with the political, social, economic and cultural context of working in the West Nile region.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request reasonable accommodation.

Professional Standards

IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.  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.

NB: This advert will close on 1^st December 2024.