NEW Senior Health Officer (Medical Doctor) Mid level – Mid level IRC – International Rescue Committee Borno

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damatru of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods

Job Overview/Summary

The Senior Health Officer (Medical Doctor) is the medical supervisor for all IRC’s primary health care services including sexual and reproductive health in Monguno LGA, Borno State. The focus of our health programs is to provide integrated quality comprehensive health services including RH services and while maintaining CWC where RH is integrated with WPE services to conflict-affected women and girls in a timely manner. She/he is also responsible for ensuring quality implementation of all program activities by adhering to the proposal, sphere standards and nationally accepted protocols. The Senior Health Officer (Medical Doctor) directly reports to the Health Outcome Program Manager.  

Major Responsibilities

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy

• The Senior Health Officer (Medical Doctor) shall be responsible for the supervision and day-to-day management of health activities within Monguno LGA, including support to primary health care facilities, IRC CWC, and mobile health services in the IDP camp and hard to reach areas.
• 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 (Medical Doctor) 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.
• Provide technical support on management of care of STIs and GBV cases.
• Maintain infection prevention and control within and around the facilities
• S/he will collect weekly morbidity reports and monitor disease trends in order to preposition adequate supplies as may be required.
• Together with the clinical officer, recruit, train and supervise community volunteers for community sensitization and outreach activities.
• Coordinate with State Primary Health Development Agency and other actors in the area and maintain good relations with them
• In coordination with the Health Outcome Manager identify opportunities to strengthen the health program
• S/he will oversee the stock management of medicines, medical supplies, medical equipment and prepare timely requisitions for replenishment based on consumption records.
• Participate in outbreak response and control coordination when applicable and carry out community-based public health interventions during communicable disease outbreaks.
• Seek out and nurture quality partnerships with community structures and support staff in coordination of activities with community volunteers and groups.
• 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.
• Participate in and support midwives, community mobilizers and community volunteers in activities that aim to increase women’s RH awareness and service utilization.

Human Resource Management

• Monitor and supervise IRC health staff and ensure that work is done properly and efficiently.
• Routinely monitor staff performance according to their job description and provide written feedback in a timely manner.
• Develop continuous medical education programs for health staff, and conduct training and on-the-job training for health.
• 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 outcome Manager and Human Resources Lead, assist in recruitment of staff.
• Recommend promotions, disciplinary action and termination of health staff to the Health Outcome Manager
• Monitor staff daily attendance to duty posts and ensure time sheets are correctly filled and submitted monthly.

Operations:

• Monitor and ensure the proper usage of pharmaceutical and other health program supplies with regular inventory, prompt requisition and management to reduce wastage.
• Prepare weekly work plans and ensure timely implementation of the project activities.
• As team lead, maintain vigilance and monitor surroundings for security of the mobile team on site and adhere to IRC’s safety and security protocols.
• Liaise with Logistics to ensure consistent availability of transportation and communication means

Communication and Reporting:

• Monitor closely the morbidity and mortality trends together with all the other health indicators to ensure that prompt actions are taken.
• Provide weekly/monthly activity reports to the Health Outcome Manager.
• Attend meetings concerning overall health program issues
• Supervise and regular review and revise training manuals to maintain consistency with the acceptable protocols.
• Keep the Field Coordinator informed of all developments and issues arising.

Program Development

• Contribute to donors’ reporting whenever necessary.
• In collaboration with Health Outcome 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 Outcome Manager and Human Resources Lead assist in recruitment of staff.
• Monitor staff daily attendance and 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 Outcome 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 Outcome 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.

Key Working Relationships

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to:  Health Outcome Manager

Indirect Reporting:  Field Coordinator, Health Coordinator

Position directly Supervises: Health Officers, Health assistants, Midwives, Clinic supports and Community mobilization assistants.

Country Program:Nigeria

Region/Global: West Africa

Key External Contacts:NGO partners, Borno SPHCDA, LGA and Community Stakeholders

Minimum 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

Languages:English, Hausa. Kanuri is an added advantage

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.Add position-specific (e.g. accounting software, statistical software, etc.).

Ability to Travel: 10 % of time if applicable

Standards of Professional Conduct The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Working Environment

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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