Position: Health Program Manager (PM)

Duration: 1 Year

Location: Kabul – with 50% travel to other provinces within Afghanistan

Reports to: Deputy Country Director – Programs

Direct Reports: Health Technical Manager, Field Program Manager for HER & UN Projects, MEAL Manager HER & UN Projects

Duration: 12 months

About Relief International.

Relief International (RI) is a leading nonprofit organization working in 16 countries to relieve poverty, ensure well-being and advance dignity. We specialize in fragile settings, responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises and chronic poverty.

Relief International combines humanitarian and development approaches to provide immediate services while laying the groundwork for long-term impact. Our signature approach —, which we call the RI Way—emphasizes local participation, an integration of services, strategic partnerships and a focus on civic skills. In this way, we empower communities to find, design and implement the solutions that work best for them.

Relief International includes the four members of the RI Alliance in the USA, UK, France, and Belgium. Under our alliance agreement, we operate under a single, shared management structure with one CEO and one Board of Directors.

Position Summary

The PM will be responsible for overall management of the Afghanistan Health and Nutrition program. The PM will be responsible for the direct implementation of the program, working under the supervision of the DCD-Programs to ensure objectives are on track, work plans in place and program progress is on track. This will require him/her to work constructively with colleagues across all programming areas in close coordination with the country office departments (Supply Chain and Operations, Finance and Human Resource). This position requires an individual who is accustomed to the pace of emergency response programming, has experience in successfully leading a diverse team, does not require close supervision or direction, is flexible and highly responsive, and can work well under pressure.

Position Responsibilities and Duties:

Program Management:

The Health programme manager is responsible for the design and successful implementation of the Afghanistan Health and Nutrition program.

S/he will lead the program implementation plans under the overall guidance from the Deputy Country Director – Programs and in coordination with the technical and field teams.

• In coordination with the DCD-Programs and Field Team, ensure quality and timely implementation of the health programme.
• Develop and manage the relation with RI’s implementing partners following a positive partnership management approach that leads to a solid relation with the partners and achieving the shared goals of the partnerships and the implemented projects.
• Develop and update project implementation tools (PITs) that ensures efficient implementation across different projects towards achieving the set objectives and results.
• Evaluate activities progress according to plans, and determine necessary actions to promptly address delays or issues,
• Tracking, monitoring, and adjusting the projects spend plans.
• Update monthly BVAs in coordination with finance and the other heads of departments, to review program spending, update spend down plans accordingly and mitigate any potential under/over spending.
• Close follow up with the operations on the procurement plans to ensure efficient supply chain management processes are in place. Ensure that the required technical checks and verification processes for the procurement of the medical supplies are in place.
• Ensure gender and protection mainstreaming in all programme activities.
• Meaningfully supervise both technical and field health and nutrition teams.
• Conduct periodic field visit to program sites inside Afghanistan to monitor program implementation and provide technical support to field teams.
• Regular review of MEAL findings and recommendations and providing action plans for the corrective measures that can address those findings.
• Monitoring the projects achievement versus the set indicator targets and quality benchmarks.
• Draft and finalize donor reports and other technical reports in in collaboration with the Grants Unit, provide program reports that are timely and meet institutional and donor requirements. The PM is ultimately responsible for all relevant donor reporting for the Programs.
• Ensure compliance to Donor and RI policies and procedures relevant to the program implementation;
• Represent RI’s health programme in relevant coordination and donors meetings, in collaboration with the hub and country office leadership;

Program Development:

• In coordination with Program Teams and Program Development leads, assess the humanitarian and longer terms needs of the Afghan People In Need, maintaining an up to date record for the needs and produce analysis that can be considered in the future programming.
• Stay up to date with all regional and country-specific response plans by the U.N., donors active in the relevant clusters, and other key actors
• Interface with donors when needed on all aspects of program implementation.
• Share methods, approaches and tools with RI colleagues across the region, and contribute toward RI’s regional response strategy by ensuring programmatic coherence, innovation and responsiveness.
• In coordination with Program teams and Program Development focal points, lead the proposal development/budget modification process, in consultation with the Grants Unit, finance, Health Advisor, security, operations, and MEAL, overseeing the proposal process and adherence to deadlines, and seeking the relevant verification from RI management;

Staff management:

• Ensure a positive and collaborative management approach all health and nutrition teams and the broader RI Afghanistan program.
• Hold regular meetings with the programs and technical department members to ensure synergies are in place, good information sharing practices, and the close follow up of the work plans.
• Ensure that all positions are filled, any vacancies are posted and HR procedures are followed for new hires.
• Supervise, train, and coach direct reports by developing clear and time-bound goals and objectives, following up on progress, providing regular and constructive feedback, and conducting performance appraisals, and ensure the direct reports are applying the same for their own direct reports.
• Ensure that capacity plan is in place for all the programs unit in line with the career development objectives for the program staff, and work closely with the HR to ensure training opportunities are identified and utilized (both internal and external) based on the needs.

Representation and Coordination:

• In coordination with the Liaison, Access and Program leads, support the coordination with the recognized stakeholders at provincial and national levels within Afghanistan.
• Lead and represent RI in the coordination with the health governing bodies in Afghanistan such as but not limited to the MoH and PPHD.
• Ensure close coordination with the protection program, working together on the efficient integration of health and protection sectors to maximize the impact of the program.
• Support on donor meetings and ensure feedback is incorporate into program work plans and addressed
• In collaboration with the Grants Unit, organize and lead program kick off meetings, grant review meetings and grant closeout meetings and lead in the development and oversight of the RI project management tools.

Qualifications & requirements:

This position demands a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast-paced environment.

• Master’s degree in relevant disciplines
• Postgraduate education in management is an added value
• Postgraduate education in Public health or other related health fields is an added value
• Previous Afghanistan experience leading, managing, and implementing Health and nutrition emergency response and/or early recovery programs as an added advantage
• Previous experience in managing multi donor programs with value of more than 10M USD.
• Demonstrated background and knowledge of major humanitarian donors particularly, BHA, ECHO, and UN agencies including WHO and UNICEF.
• Experience of program management in a remote management context.
• Demonstrated experience in management of health, WASH for health, and Nutrition programs;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and strategic planning skills required;
• Fluent English required.
• Strong English writing skills are required;
• Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto is an added value;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and tasks efficiently;
• Strong budgeting and budget monitoring skills including a high level of proficiency with MS Excel.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully managing a multicultural team, and a commitment to capacity building
• Excellent team and time management skills and resourcefulness with strong attention to detail;
• Demonstrated experience of upholding humanitarian principles and actively engaging the most vulnerable communities. Committed to promoting RI’s focus on accountability, innovation and partnership building.

Key competencies:

• Adaptable and flexible
• Strategic thinking
• Strong writing and analytical skills
• Solution oriented and positive thinking
• Solid organizational and planning skills
• Self-critic, curious and eager to develop further professionally

Communicate with impact and respect

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Relief International is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Relief International (RI) is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to RI’s Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

RI Values:

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities.

We value:

• Inclusiveness
• Transparency and accountability
• Agility and innovation
• Collaboration
• Sustainability