United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Reproductive Health Manager
Closing date: 16 Sep 2013
Position: Reproductive Health Manager
Department: Health & PolicyResponsible to: Head of HealthResponsible for : Reproductive Health Coordinator, Learning & Development CoordinatorWorks with: Cross-organisationally with all relevant departments, country based teams involved in the Family Planning Approach programmeSalary: £39,110-£41,110 Location: London – with occasional field visitsDuration: Until the end December 2015
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis.
MerlinMerlin is an international health charity, saving lives in the world’s toughest places. Merlin responds with healthcare, when people are overwhelmed by natural disaster, conflict or disease and in need of immediate help. We focus on treating those who are beyond the reach of existing health services. After the immediate crisis, Merlin stays on to assist recovery. Using our expertise, we support health workers and strengthen existing health services. We build resilience by helping those at risk of future health disasters, to be better prepared. We think everyone should have access to lasting healthcare. We believe good health is fundamental to transforming people’s lives, that’s why Merlin is A Force for Health
DepartmentThe Health and Policy Department provides strategic and technical leadership and support to ensure the effective development and implementation of quality health programmes and enhance Merlin’s health sector profile in the UK and internationally, in order to implement Merlin’s mission and achieve the organisational goals and strategy. The department works with the country teams and head office departments to continually improve the technical quality and impact of Merlin’s work to realise improved health outcomes within target populations.The team members in this department are a Director of Health and Policy; Head of Health; Health Advisors & Health Officer assigned to three regional teams, and technical specialists in reproductive health and health information.
Background
In 2010, Merlin secured substantial funding from a major US foundation to strengthen organisational capacity to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity by increasing access to quality reproductive health (RH) services with a particular emphasis on family planning and post abortion care.
The second phase of this Family Planning Approach (FPA2) programme will continue to build on achievements of the 3 interlinked projects implemented across several departments in Merlin Head Office; and in specific geographic areas within Merlin’s programmes in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Pakistan. In addition to increasing access to services in each country, the programme aims to strengthen technical skills and knowledge of providers and supervisors; strengthen the commodity supply chain management; strengthen quality assurance and impact measurement process and tools. Lessons learned will be used to roll out and scale up these services across Merlin’s country portfolio and inform and influence other health sector actors working in fragile contexts.
Main purpose of the roleThe FPA Reproductive Health Manager has a key role in ensuring successful implementation of the FPA 2 program. He/She will line manage the FP/PAC learning and development coordinator and the regional SRH coordinator and will provide necessary technical and management support to the program staff to ensure the implementation of the FPA head office component of the program on time and on budget. The post holder will also provide the technical support across the organization on the planning and implementation of RH activities at the organizational and country levels. This role is expected to foster good working relationships and reinforce partnerships at global, regional and country levels with the donors, collaborating INGOs and the MOH.
Overall Objectives (scope)• To ensure successful implementation of Head Office component of the FPA 2 programme in accordance with the approved workplan and the budget.• To identify opportunities for integrating family planning and post abortion care in Merlin programs• To act as a focal point on reproductive health issues within the health team and provide technical support on reproductive health to the teams across Merlin. • Foster good working relationships and reinforce partnerships at global, regional and country with stake holders of the FPA 2 program
ResponsibilitiesLeadership and Program Support• Coordinate across all Merlin head office departments to ensure successful implementation of the Head Office component of the FPA 2 program• Provide management support and technical guidance to the Learning and Development coordinator to develop quality RH implementation and training tools and materials.• Provide management support and technical guidance to the Regional Reproductive Health Coordinator to ensure coordinated and timely support to Merlin HO and country teams in RH programme development, mainstreaming of FP/PAC in health programs and emergency response.• Hold regular team meetings with the FPA team and relevant members of other departments to ensure that the program is implemented according the approved workpan and the budget• Provide technical guidance to the HO logistics team to revise and update logistics ordering tools for family planning / post abortion care and other reproductive health services• Lead development of the programme M&E tools as well as monitoring ad evaluation of the HO component of the RH.• Lead development of timely and technically sound semi-annual, annual and end of the programme reports to ensure that the FPA progress is effectively communicated with the programme funder.• Develop monthly updates on the progress of implementing FPA HO component to inform the project steering committee about the progress of the programme, issues encountered and the support needed from the steering group to address these• Provide technical support to Merlin regional health advisors and the desks to assess the needs for and integrate family planning and post abortion care in reproductive health programs and proposals and support review and development of integrated SRH plans • Support organisational efforts to mobilise additional funds for family planning and post abortion care and support development of proposals within the life cycle of the project • Monitor and organize replenishment of the contingency stocks of RH supplies• Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Head of Health
Communication and Representation• Develop and actively disseminate the best practices and lessons learnt from the RH, internally, within Merlin and externally, through the relevant networks and international fora.• Organize and conduct annual training seminars, introduction and induction sessions for Merlin staff to increase understanding of FP/PAC and their mainstreaming into Merlin’s broader health programs• Assist the Head of Health with preparation of technical briefs on family planning and post abortion care. • Represent Merlin on RH technical meetings and seminars as appropriate;• Act as the Merlin focal point for Family planning and Post Abortion Care
Dimensions and Limits of Authority
• Line management of FPA Reproductive Health Coordinator and Learning & Development coordinator. • Review and approve the technical component of projects and reports relating to Reproductive Health• Management of the HO component of the FPA project in accordance with the approved work plan and budget
Person SpecificationEssentialQualifications, experience and competences
• Qualified medical doctor or nurse-midwife with post graduate qualification2s in public health preferably at the level of Masters. • Extensive technical expertise in RH especially FP and Post abortion care in developing countries • Extensive experience in design, management and implementation of Reproductive Health Program in developing country• Strong previous experience within a humanitarian aid organization in a coordination role preferably in an emergency response/transitional environment. • Ability to work independently and with minimum supervision.• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office and other software relevant to presentations and data analysis
• Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures• Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines• Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues• Able and willing to travel to remote and insecure locations for short periods of time and at short notice An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission, values and behaviours
DesirableQualifications, experience and competences
• Previous experience within African or Asia region• Previous experience in a post conflict environment • Experience project design, management and reviews• Fluency in spoken and written French
How to apply:
To apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.
If you are unable to apply online for any technical reason, please contact applications@merlin.org.uk.
Please note that we do not accept CVs. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
