Health Coordinator for Northeast Syria

Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, IRC currently addresses the needs of war-affected Syrians from several operational bases in the region. Our activities focus primarily on the supply of vital medications and medical equipment, non-food items, water and sanitation, education and child protection and form part of an over-arching humanitarian response in the region that seeks to assist refugees, IDPs and war-affected Syrians survive conflict and displacement.

In northeast Syria the IRC implements health, basic needs, livelihoods, women’s protection, and protection programming.

Job Overview/Summary

The Health Coordinator will provide leadership, strategic vision, and technical support to all aspects of the health programs in Northeast Syria. S/he will lead the development of programmatic priorities, designs, and strategies for the program. In addition, s/he will ensure that the health program is implemented in accordance with international protocols, guidelines, and best practices. S/he will promote the quality of care provided through the IRC health services. This position supervises the Senior Health Managers (2), Pharmaceutical Manager, and Health Information Systems (HIS) Manager and reports to the Amman-based Whole of Syria Senior Health Coordinator.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Quality & Implementation

• Provide technical and management leadership to all health programs in Northeast Syria in accordance with best practice and IRC policy.

• Support the development and maintenance of a coherent health strategy across all health interventions in Northeast Syria.

• Identify unmet needs in the health sector in the selected area and identify potential means for the IRC to address those needs. Conduct needs assessments both a facilities and communities’ level, as and when required.

• Coordinate and develop plans, proposals, concept notes and budgets for new projects and extensions of projects in conjunction with the Northeast Syria senior management and grants.

• Overall responsible for the effective and efficient management of project implementation consistent with the project management cycle, program objectives, activities, and indicators.

• Ensure that health programs utilize standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as prescribed by the local health governance actors, leading agencies, and WHO. Ensure that all health activities are consistent with established best practices.

• Ensure that health interventions adhere to donor agreements and IRC’s core policy documents and guidelines, including the Program Framework, IRC’s Design, Management & Evaluation guide and log-frame, and IRC’s Health Unit policies and guidelines.

• Ensure robust monitoring systems are in place and that reviews are undertaken periodically in conjunction with the team, project partners and relevant local stakeholders.

• Adapt and develop where necessary functional health systems including health information, drug management, and infection control, staffing plans and referral systems.

• Maintain regular communication, coordination and collaboration with other IRC sectors including economic recovery and development (ERD), integrated protection (WPE, protection and rule of law, child protection) and early childhood development (ECD), cash and explore the opportunities for programs integration and consistency.

• Work collaboratively to integrate the health program with other program sectors for instance Early Childhood Development & Education, Integrated protection, economic recovery and development (ERD), where appropriate.

• Ensure regular communication with Health Unit Technical Staff through the Health TA for feedback, technical support, updates, and guidance as required.

• Regularly update the emergency preparedness and response plan for the NES program and monitor the health situation to ensure timely, robust and effective emergency prevention, mitigation and response.

• Ensure that the health program conducts regular (Semi-annual) infection prevention and control (IPC) quality assessments and develops quality improvement plans..

Grants Management and Reporting

• Review progress in achieving program objectives and targets in collaboration with the program managers.

• In coordination with the Program Director, WoS Senior Health Coordinator, and Grants team, participate in grants opening, review and closing meetings.

• Review technical aspects of internal and external reports prepared by the managers within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required.

• Prepare and implement detailed program spending, procurement and work plans for the health projects.

• Provide support and oversight to program managers on programmatic spending, tracking Budget vs. Actual reports and ensuring no over or underspending.

• Develop and adapt the health quality assurance tools and ensure effective and high quality reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use, capturing best practice to support program decision making.

Partner Management

• Identify implementing partners when necessary and oversee the IRC-partner relations.

• Ensure regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives, and provide technical support and guidance.

• Conduct partner assessments to understand and plan for the technical capacity building support.

• Ensure regular capacity building activities for partner organizations along with close monitoring of performance improvement and training uptake.

• Arrange regular meetings with implementing partners to discuss the program implementation cycle and understand the challenges and barriers that might delay the progress.

Staff Management and Development

• Coach, train, and mentor staff with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance

• Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and providing documented annual and mid-year performance reviews.

• Provide constructive feedback and counsel on appropriate career paths and professional development. Support the development of business development skills and responsibility among the integrated protection team, with a particular focus on national staff.

• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being; approve and manage all leave requests to ensure adequate coverage.

• Offer leadership support for successful adherence by staff to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.

Coordination & Representation

• Develop and maintain effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders in the health sector, representing IRC positions, promoting the program strategy and resolving problems/conflicts.

• Coordinate regularly with the WoS Senior Health Coordinator and field staff regarding program risk and issue, develop contingency planning, and identify new program opportunities and coordination mechanisms.

• Maintain coordination and collaboration with finance, operations to ensure coordination of procurement and supplies and that purchases are made within budget targets.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Senior Health Coordinator

Position directly supervises: Senior Health Manager (2), Pharma Manager, and HIS Manager

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Program Implementation and Quality Director, Deputy Country Director – Programs, Health Technical Advisors, Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator, Integrated Protection Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator, Field Director, Supply Chain Coordinator, HR Director.

External: Whole of Syria coordination structures including the NES Health WG, technical working groups, INGOs

Job Requirements:

Education: Public health professional with relevant degree and qualifications, preferably with a clinical background such as doctor, nurse, or allied health professional. Advanced degree preferred;

Work Experience: Minimum of 5 years professional experience in management of health emergencies and program delivery, INGO experience required. Prior experience working in complex emergency settings or insecure environments strongly preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Proven ability to adapt and develop where necessary functional primary healthcare systems and services that can include: reproductive health, child health, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, health information, drug management, infection control, referral systems, etc.

• Strong team and people leadership, management, organizational and development skills.

• Strong program and budget management skills including planning and reporting across multiple grants.

• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.

• Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others.

• Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure effectively and productively.

Language Skills: Fluent in spoken and written English; Arabic and/or Kurdish a strong advantage.

Working Environment:

The position will be based in Hassakeh, in Northeast Syria with regular travel to program field sites in the areas of operation within Syria. The position will also include travel to Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and other regional hubs for coordination as needed. Hassakeh is currently a medium security risk environment. Shared housing will be provided. Accommodation in the field sites is in shared housing or IRC approved hotels and the security risk is medium.