United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Technical Advisor, Health Programs
Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Closing date: 02 Sep 2013
BACKGROUND
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian relief organisations. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover and rebuild their lives. The IRC delivers emergency aid, protects children, provides health care, prevents and responds to violence against women and girls, safeguards human rights and helps to kick-start economic recovery. Working in more than 40 countries, the IRC has restored hope and opportunity to many millions of people.
The IRC’s global headquarters are in New York. Our European headquarters – IRC-UK - were established in London in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with European policy-makers on behalf of the people we serve.
IRC-UK comprises approximately 40 staff across five departments. The International Programmes Team supports IRC programmes to secure and manage funding from European institutional donors.
PROGRAMME SCOPE
Health programs represent the largest single sector within which IRC currently operates, constituting approximately 45% of the international budget and with activities in 22 countries. Field-based health staff are supported by a headquarters Health Unit comprised of health professionals with many years of experience in humanitarian work. The Health Unit contributes to the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of IRC primary health care programs through technical support, staff development, and institutional learning. The Health Unit ensures quality programs by promoting self-reliance, participation, sustainability, equity, and human dignity. The Health Unit is committed to the development of the field of humanitarian assistance through advocacy, documentation of lessons learned and research.
PURPOSE OF THE POST
The Technical Advisor for Health serves as the primary source of technical support for selected IRC country health programs. The Technical Advisor is also involved in a range of cross-sectoral and other initiatives. The position reports to the Senior Technical Advisor for Health Programs.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical assistance
• Provide technical support and guidance to country health team in health assessment, design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of primary health programs through regular telephone call, email communication and at least one visit a year to each supported country as requested and necessary.
• Review and provide technical input on proposals
• Review and provide technical input on internal and external reports and other documents as needed.
• Support country program in the recruitment process of international health staff by conducting the technical interview and providing feedback to senior management.
• Assist country senior management with technical input into job descriptions for international health positions.
Quality assurance • Ensure the quality of health programs being implemented by the country program follow IRC standards.• Ensure progress towards objectives and targets of country health programs.• Ensure mechanisms are in place to measure and improve quality of health care services. • Ensure sharing of state of the art evidence of health interventions and best practices.• Ensure the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned from health programs
Program development• Work with country programs to develop sector specific strategic plans.
• Contribute to the development of field staff through training, mentoring, and other guidance.
• Liaise with colleagues in the Health Unit to access additional technical resources as needed.
• Ensure relevant objectives and activities of the Health Unit strategic plan for the country program are included in the design and implementation of health projects.
• Work closely with other technical units and technical advisors in the countries of his/here responsibility to ensure cross-unit collaboration and program integration.
• Contribute to the development of new and innovative approaches and initiatives in health programming.
Other responsibilities
• Perform other tasks as negotiated with supervisor
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Qualifications, skills and experience
• Medical or nursing degree with a Master of Public health degree or equivalent
• At least 5 years experience in public health, including at least two years in developing countries in a senior technical or management position.
• Working experience in a humanitarian setting (with refugees and/or internally displaced population) is a plus
• Demonstrated experience in project design and proposal development.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in more that one of the following areas: primary care, MISP and reproductive health care, nutrition, communicable diseases, health systems strengthening, research and evaluation.
• Fluency in English and French a plus
• Ability to travel 35-50% of the time.
• The position is based in London
How to apply:
TO APPLYPlease click-on/copy and paste the following to apply:http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH02/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1&r...
The closing date is: 10 am (UK time) Monday 2nd September 2013
So as to minimise administrative costs, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
IRC-UK strives to be an equal opportunities employer. IRC-UK is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all job applicants and employees, and we seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.
