Deputy Team Lead - HeRON Consortium at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) 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, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Deputy Team Lead - HeRON Consortium

Reference ID: req29648
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full Time
Employment Category: Regular
Sector: Health
Position Reports to:  Team Leader – HeRON Consortium
Position directly Supervises:  Senior Consortium Managers (Program, M&E), Health Governance manager

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 Damaturu 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
HeRON Project Overview:

• USAID/FCDO Health Resilience of Northeast Nigeria (HeRON) Service delivery project in Borno and Yobe states supports delivery of quality integrated primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services, to improve evidence-based decision making, accountability at all levels of service delivery.
• IRC leads a consortium of humanitarian and development implementing partners (Action Contre la Faim – ACF, Society for Family Health Nigeria).
• The Project team is working alongside states and local government authorities, strengthening their capacity to effectively deliver quality integrated primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, and newborn and child health and nutrition services.

Scope of Work

• IRC is seeking a dynamic and experienced health and governance professional to provide program management and technical leadership.
• Reporting to the Team Leader, the Deputy Team Leader (DTL) will be responsible for directly working with the technical coordinators of the project consortium members (IRC, ACF and SFH) with particular focus on program quality and reporting as well as for ensuring an aligned approach across the consortium and LGA authorities to design and deliver health system strengthening components of the project.
• In consultation with the Team Leader (TL), the DTL will regularly coordinate with states and LGA government authorities, development actors and stakeholders. This position will be based in Maiduguri, Borno State, with regular trips to the field.

Major Responsibilities
Program Management, Technical Quality, Strategy and Advocacy:
Management:

• Develop, review, and monitor in coordination with key project staff, annual work and performance plans to ensure long-term and short-term priorities are on track
• On a day-to-day basis, manage financial and operational support to optimize resources through sound budgets and consistent financial tracking
• Coordination with technical leads of the 3 consortium partners (technical program reporting)
• Manage the reporting process, including coordination with internal and external stakeholders in accordance with contractual requirements
• Maintain active and cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders, including government officials, project partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions
• Support project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility; Matrix manage a core project team to ensure that the project deliverables are met     
• Contribute to the development of field staff through training, mentoring, and assisting with professional advancement
• Ensure that the health system strengthening (HSS) aspects of the program are implemented according to defined work plans in order to achieve program deliverables. Through strong planning and monitoring, identify potential obstacles to programmatic success in a timely fashion, and implement corrective actions as needed
• In consultation with the TL, develop a clear strategy to enhance program complementarity and synergy across all major donor funded health and nutrition programs within target areas.
• Introduce quality assurance initiatives to address efficiency, effectiveness, or compliance concerns.

Technical Support and Coordination:

• Develop a strategy for mainstreaming governance principles and processes aimed at increasing participation, responsiveness, and accountability in the delivery of reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health services
• Track project indicators and support eventual revision of the project logical framework as needed
• Responsible for overseeing the overall quality of service provision and ensuring that implementation strategies across technical areas reflect governance principles and best practice
• Provide leadership in the development or adaptation of service delivery models / systems, especially organizational development of LGA Primary Healthcare Departments (PHD), and implementation of social accountability approaches, to allow for greater participation and responsiveness of the health system
• Provide leadership in analyzing and providing strategies to improve the management of the health system at the LGA PHD and facility level, notably planning, budgeting, human and financial resource management
• Provide capacity assessment, capacity-building, monitoring, and implementation support to other technical specialists, to ensure equitable access to health services and that spaces for user voice and mechanisms to respond effectively are strengthened
• Identify, document, and disseminate best practices in systems strengthening
• Work in close collaboration with other technical specialists to ensure integrated programming.

Coordination & Representation:

• Advocate and collaborate with MoH, SPHCDA, local authorities, and CSOs to incorporate best practices and international standards in service delivery
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationship between IRC and other partners
• Provide expert contribution to the development or adaptation of national policies, guidelines and standards that promote quality service provision in Northeast Nigeria that is accessible, responsive, and accountable to citizens, and allows their voices to be heard.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to:  Team Leader – HeRON Consortium
• Position directly Supervises:  Senior Consortium Managers (Program, M&E), Health Governance manager

Key Internal Contacts:
HQ/ Region: Technical Advisors (HQ Health Technical Unit),

• Country Program: Deputy Director of Programs, IRC Technical Coordinators (Health outcomes), Senior Project Manager – HeRON, HSS Advisors (HeRON Technical Staff seconded to States’ MoH) Consortium Pharmacy Manager, Consortium Finance coordinator, Supply Chain Managers, Grants & Partnerships Managers, Compliance Manager

Key External Contacts:  

• HeRON Implementing partners, Donors (USAID, FCDO), UN Agencies, States and LGAs Official

Qualifications
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in health-related field (MD, RN, Midwife), with a Master’s degree in relevant subject (MPH Preferred)
• Previous Training in Health System Strengthening an added advantage

Work Experience:

• At least five years’ experience in design and implementation of health programs in developing countries, insecure environments and areas affected by crisis
• At least two years’ experience in senior management role, management of health system strengthening (HSS) programs, working directly with national, state, and/or local health actors to strengthen the quality and responsiveness of services.

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Demonstrable technical expertise and working in a health system strengthening project Excellent monitoring and evaluation skills
• Excellent coordination and networking skills

Demonstrated Managerial / Leadership Competencies:

• Demonstrable technical expertise and working knowledge in advocacy, HSS and health governance; Technical skill in participatory processes, and methodologies, preferably in a conflict or post-conflict environment, preferably Africa
• Demonstrable technical expertise in public finance and public sector management and especially as applied to a health system context
• Experience running large, geographically dispersed teams and working in tandem with local and international partners
• Proven track record of successfully providing technical assistance Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively interact with a wide range and levels of organizations (government, private sector, NGOs, research institutions)
• Demonstrated good judgment and decision-making skills
• Excellent IT skills (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to handle a large and dynamic workload, work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Previous work experience in Africa, field experience in Nigeria is preferred
• Strong internal and external communications skills, experience with advocacy an advantage

Languages: 

• Fluency in English (spoken and written)

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. 

Ability to Travel: 

• 10-20% of time

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: 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.