Background/IRC Summary:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria – more than half of the country’s population – are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Senior Health Officer (SHO) will be responsible for managing all health activities in All Der-ez-Zor governorate:providing clinical services staff and resources in his/her assigned IRC Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCCs) and the MMUs, Shehe will provide technical and operational oversight for all primary and health service packages delivered by the PHCCs. The SHO will report to the Senior Health Manager – Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor.

Responsibilities:

• Manage all health activities and service delivery in assigned PHC/MMUs with coordination with Senior Health manager.
• Directly manage medical and support staff who are paid volunteers working as a team inside the facility.
• Oversee all operational needs for the PHC/MMUs, ensuring all running costs and inventory needs are well planned and managed; Work in close coordination with Field Management teams to ensure the facility and activities have necessary operational and logistical support.
• Responsible for overall planning, implementation of community level activities, and establishment of health committees and coordination within program and with relevant stakeholders at community level and other NGOs working in the area with particular focus on health.
• Work in collaboration with other health team members specializing in specific technical areas and service packages to ensure clinic staff are properly trained, following treatment protocols and guidelines, as well as delivering quality services.
• Under the supervision of the Senior Health Manager the SHO will manage all aspects of Primary Health Care including supervision and capacity-building of service providers, and monitoring plans and adapt program to changing context as needed
• Conduct regular site visits for monitoring and supervision to ensure quality of services, accurate data collection and verify consumption rates of pharmaceuticals and supplies/consumables
• Training and ensuring the service providers using the RH related data recording and reporting tools
• Manage all medical commodities in the PHC/MMUs; work in collaboration with the Pharmacy team to plan and prepare orders for pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment.
• Prepare supervision plans and conduct regular technical monitoring of clinic services; prepare reports with identified issues, recommendations, and action plans to improve quality of services; Conduct patient chart reviews on weekly basis and submit report to the Health Manager.
• Analyze routine health data to report on trends, identify gaps or challenges to service delivery, and inform program decision making.
• Collaborate with health team members to design and implement needs assessments in catchment area.
• Collaborate with health team members to design interventions that address gaps identified in community assessments, monitoring of quality of care, from routine data, and/or from community health information.
• Ensure health information system and data collection processes are properly implemented in the clinic.
• Participate in regular project review meetings with the Senior Health Manager and Health Coordinator; contribute to plans for corrective actions based on technical supervision, indicator performance, and M&E reports from patient satisfaction surveys and monitoring visits.
• Submit weekly progress reports to direct line manager; contribute to monthly and quarterly reports per project needs for grant reporting.
• Coordinate with other health actors and partners in implementation area and participate in the regular meeting with LHA and other health actors.
• Train and mentor staff/volunteers with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance
• Oversee all recruitment and management of clinic-based staff and volunteers; conduct periodic performance reviews, manage all disciplinary actions with the support of the supervisor and Human Resources department, identify and recommend needed changes in staffing.
• Offer leadership support for successful adherence by staff to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.
• Coordinate with other sectors “IP, ERD” in the area to ensure referral pathway for beneficiaries between all the sectors and encourage integration for the resilience and other projects in DEZ.
• Contribute to the assessments for new or ongoing projects.
• Support partners staff for trainings and ongoing services, and reporting.
• Other duties assigned by line manager.
  

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths the teams teams in Syria.
• 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.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.
• 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.
• As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• 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.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Medical collage degree, preferably in medicine, Pharmacy or Nursing
• 3-6 Previous experience in PHC (primary Health Care) design, implementation, and supervision.
• Experience working with health NGO or INGO preferred.
• Experience in monitoring, report writing and basic analysis of health data.
• Strong computer skills and familiarity with computer software packages (MS Word, Excel, Outlook, etc);
• previous experience with District Health Information System (DHIS) database packages preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

• English and Arabic are required, .
• Travel: 15% to field sites in Raqqa and Hasskeh as well as attending regional and global workshops and meetings.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:Senior Health Manager- Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor
Position directly supervises: health mobile clinic team in Deir-ez-Zor

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Health Coordinator – NES
Key Internal Contacts: IRC Health staff in NES, IRC Deir-ez-Zor field staff.

Key External Contacts: Local Health Authority and IRC Health Partners in Deir-ez-Zor

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.