The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
The IRC launched an emergency response in oPt in 2023, responding to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. Prior to October 7th, in June 2023, we conducted a scoping mission to oPt, in the West Bank, and subsequently developed a strategic plan to initiate programming in the West Bank. Since then, and in the context of catastrophic fighting and renewed violence, the IRC has initiated an emergency response in Gaza and developed a response plan with partners which includes Gaza and the West Bank. Implementing a diverse, integrated program of health, protection, and scaling up in WASH and nutrition, these programs prioritize local partnerships with both public institutions and civil society, and span emergency, humanitarian, recovery, and development modalities, while serving vulnerable Palestinians in oPt.
Job Overview/Summary
The Health Manager oversees the implementation of the Health program in Gaza. They will be accountable for all aspects of coordination, monitoring, quality assurance and capacity building for direct and partner-led activities in North Gaza, Gaza, Deir al Balah and Khan Governorates. They will ensure collaboration and interaction between the IRC Health, Nutrition, Environmental Health, and Protection departments to provide comprehensive support to the beneficiaries. They will contribute to the strategy and harmonization of health programming across the whole of Occupied Palestine.
Major Responsibilities:
Technical Program Management:
•Ensure the efficiency, and effectiveness of the health program are enhanced through effective implementation and monitoring of program activities.
•Review the IRC’s partner and directly lead program activities to ensure technical quality and alignment with the WHO, Sphere, and IRC standards.
•Build strong relationships with partner organizations by facilitating regular dialogue and exchanges to ensure close collaboration for effective planning and execution of program activities.
•Coordinate with the Pharma manager, and the Nutrition Manager to integrate activities and ensure one IRC health program approach is followed.
•Participate in developing the overall country program health strategies, policies, and procedures in compliance with global standards.
•Work with the field management teams and other sector departments to ensure proper coordination of field activities through regular field coordination meetings and providing regular reports as it relates to health activities.
•Represent IRC in the relevant Technical Working Groups and health cluster meetings in Gaza and develop working relationships with other health actors to ensure effective coordination.
•Ensure Progress reports and project work plans are timely prepared, and practical technical assistance is provided to the field teams and IRC implementing partners.
•Ensure that the health program activities are in line with IRC’s Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF), Good and Great Standards. through regular consultations on the program strategy and implementation with the Regional and HQ-based IRC Technical Unit
•Contribute to participatory and inclusive proposal design and development processes and ensure that projects are data-driven and aligned with the IRC Occupied Palestine Territory Health Strategy and IRC Theories of Change.
•Develop the capacities of partners and health staff through effective capacity building activities in, the implementation, and management of the health Programme activities.
•Coordinate activities with external actors, as needed including Health Clusters and other coordination mechanisms leveraging IRC’s role within the health cluster.
General Project & Grant Management:
•Ensure that the project interventions are implemented according to internal IRC and donor regulations with an overall review by the Health 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
•Write and submit quality monthly/quarterly reports with inputs from partners and IRC field-based health teams in the event of IRC direct programming.
•Support partner staff in the use of grant management tools such as budget tracking tools, activity progress monitoring tools, procurement, spending plans, etc.
•Conduct monthly BVA reviews in collaboration with the Health Coordinator and make appropriate recommendations to the finance and logistics.
Program Quality Assurance:
•Monitor program implementation against work plans and overall project objectives, documenting progress and achievements, providing analysis and adapting program strategy and implementation accordingly
•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 partners.
•Collaborate with the MEAL unit to develop detailed log frames and work plans, and update the quality assurance tools in line with the program objectives.
Capacity strengthening:
•Coordinate with IRC health program partners to design technical workshops and training to improve field health staff.
•Develop learning materials in coordination with the Health Coordinator, and Technical Unit (TU) to support IRC and partners’ staff capacity development.
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Health Coordinator
Position directly Supervises: N/A
Key Internal Contacts:
•Country Program: Nutrition Manager, Pharmacy Manager, Senior Environmental Health Manager, Nutrition Officers, Partnership Unit, Field Management, Protection Coordinator, ERD Coordinator, Humanitarian Access Manager, Health field staff.
Key External Contacts: IRC’s partner organizations, health clinics, and other NGOs
Job Requirements:
Education and Work Experience
•Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in health program management, including health in emergencies—INGO experience is required.
•Clinical Health background.
•Understanding of Occupied Palestine context and health care system.
•Experience in implementing systems and standards to enhance program quality.
•Previous experience with implementation through partners is an added advantage.
•Public health professional us an added advantage
Technical Skills
•Strong program and technical knowledge as well as planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills; experience managing projects supported by key humanitarian donors preferred.
•Extensive experience working with NGO health partners, health systems strengthening projects, and/or providing technical assistance and support to Ministries of Health in developing or humanitarian country contexts.
•Experience with supporting local partner-led health programming is preferred.
Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.