Senior Health Officer( RH Medical Doctor) needed at International Rescue Committee

Job Overview/Summary

Under the supervision of Health Manger, the Senior Health Officer (RH Medical Doctor) will be responsible for all technical aspect of the health projects in the Mubi axis (Michika and Madagali LGAs) while also supporting Yola axis and is expected to ensure integrity, high level transparency and commitment in the implementation of the project. He or she is responsible for overseeing all primary healthcare including reproductive health care activities for IRC supported health facilities in the supported LGAs. The Senior Health Officer will oversee and supervise Health Officers and Community Outreach Officer and report to the Sector through the Health Manager.

Major Responsibilities

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy

• The senior health officer shall be responsible for the supervision and day-to-day management of health activities within Michika and Madagali LGAs and provide support to Yola and Numan LGAs.
• Apply medical knowledge and skills to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment according to national guidelines and protocols, including management of emergencies and complications and ensure patient follow-up as needed.
• The senior health officer will identify need for referral to secondary care and prepare the patient for referral including referral notes, pre-referral treatment and arrangement of transport.
• S/he will provide on-the-job support to the health staff, including training and skills development as needed.
• In coordination with the Health Manager identify opportunities to strengthen the health program.
• Participate in outbreak response and control coordination when applicable and carry out community-based public health interventions during communicable disease outbreaks.
• Ensure adherence to infection prevention and control within and around the facilities.
• In coordination with the Health Manager, identify opportunities to strengthen the health program.
• Participate in outbreak response and control coordination when applicable and carry out community-based public health interventions during communicable disease outbreaks.
• Participate in and support health officers, community outreach officer and community structures in activities that aim to increase women’s RH awareness and service utilization.

Program Development

• Contribute to design, planning, and drafting new proposals.
• Contribute to donors’ reporting whenever necessary.
• In collaboration with Health Manager, develop an expenditure plan, review budget vs. actual expenditure, and grant performance on a quarterly basis and take necessary actions.
• Ensuring budgets are used appropriately and efficiently and spending is in line with the IRC financial procedures and donor requirements.
• Ensure data collection, data compilation, timely preparation and submission of all internal reports, weekly reports, work plan including weekly and other associated monthly, quarterly, donor and special reports.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

Required for all positions with supervisory responsibility, if special considerations are needed (e.g. remote management), make this additive to the base language here.

• Monitor and supervise the IRC health staff and ensure that work is done properly and efficiently according to their job description and provide written feedback in a timely manner.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
• Develop ongoing education programs for health staff and conduct training and on-the-job training for health staff.
• Review personnel issues and concerns of health staff and assist in determining and implementing solutions.
• Determine personnel needs for field-level activities, and in coordination with the Health Manager and Human Resources Lead assist in recruitment of staff.
• Monitor staff daily attendance at duty posts and ensure time sheets are correctly filled and submitted monthly.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Research, Learning and Analysis

• Conduct data quality audit in collaboration with the M&E and checkmate data quality.
• Monitor closely the morbidity and mortality trends together with all the other health indicators to ensure that prompt actions are taken.
• Provide weekly activity reports to the Health Manager.
• Attend meetings concerning overall health program issues.
• Monitor and promote integrated programming in a way that increases overall impact of health program at the community level.

Coordination & Representation

• Represent the program to Local government representatives, partner agencies, etc. as required
• In coordination with the Health Manager actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders with government actors, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Attending all relevant meetings in relation to the health program as may be required and feed in the IRC priorities during meetings.
• Facilitate field visits for internal and external stakeholders, when required.
• Collaborate with other relevant sectors such as Women Protection & Empowerment, Child Protection, Protection and Rule of law and Environmental Health to ensure holistic service package is available in response to the needs.

Qualifications

Education: Degree in Medicine and Surgery from a recognized institution, with strong public Health background, master’s in public health is an added advantage

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years post NYSC experience in clinical medicine and public health.
• Experience in supervising health staff at the primary health care level
• Previous experience in health programs and NGO experience is preferred.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Preferably trained in Basic (and Comprehensive) Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care, iCCM, EPI etc

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Good communication skills.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the social, political and ethical issues surrounding program delivery
• Ability to work well with others and to respect staff, subcontractors, consultants and recipients of assistance.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.
• Good sense of integrity, service and accountability

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Oversee the implementation of quality PHC/SRH program activities at all IRC supported health facilities in the targeted areas.
• Routinely monitor staff performance according to their job description and provide written feedback in a timely manner.
• Develop ongoing education programs for health staff and conduct training and on-the-job training for health.
• Support planning and implementing of the project activities and outputs at the field level to ensure the project achieves its objective of improving access to quality health services
• Track the performance of the project activities and targets against the expected results and advise on implementation process to ensure the project is progressing towards attaining its targets in each LGA.
• Conduct periodic analysis of progress of the health projects at the LGA level and promote learning and sharing of best practices and lessons learnt through documentation
• Identifying program gaps in the supported health facilities services with immediate solution for further necessary steps to address those gaps.
• Provide capacity building and on-job coaching to Facility staff on Antenatal care, delivery care, postnatal care, family planning counseling, STI counseling and treatment and post-abortion care in supported facilities.
• In line with the communication strategies, ensure visibility of the project and project strategies at field level
• Support collection of stories and photographs that demonstrate the positive impact of the project.

Languages: 

• Fluent in written/spoken English
• Ability to speak local languages Hausa will be added advantage

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Competency in the use of software (e.g. Commcare, Kobo collect)