Senior Consortium Manager - HeRoN 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: Senior Consortium Manager - HeRoN

Requisition ID: req34608
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full Time
Employment Category: Regular
Sector: Health

HeRON Project Overview

• USAID/FCDO Lafiya Health Resilience of the Northeast Nigeria (HeRON) 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 in Borno and Yobe, 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 public health and project management professional to provide managerial and technical support to HeRON consortium program and its implementing partners, collaborating with States’ MoH to strengthen the health system.
• Reporting to the HeRON Consortium Deputy Team Leader, the post holder will provide sound technical management and coordination support of HeRON consortium IPs, for the successful implementation and achievement of project deliverables.
• He/She will be responsible for regularly working directly with HeRON IPs’ technical leads, to ensure that the program is executed according to work plans and budgets, in line with donor policies and States’ government priorities, with particular focus on program quality and sustainability across health system strengthening components.
• He/She will be responsible for maintaining regular contact and supervision with project’s technical teams and States’ health authorities, ensuring quality monitoring of HeRON implementation and progress.

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

• Working under the supervision of the consortium deputy team leader, the senior manager is responsible for ensuring project quality and alignment of IPs’ approaches and interventions, coordinating their activity planning.
• Responsible for ensuring coherence in approaches and coordination of activities among all consortium members.
• In liaison with HeRON field coordination manager, the senior manager will provide technical guidance and support to all IPs in planning, implementation, monitoring, quality assurance at LGA level, and innovating with best practices related to HSS and quality service delivery. 
• He/she will work collaboratively with consortium management team and IPs; He/she will be expected to communicate courteously on consortium performance and maintain positive relationships with program and support teams. 

Overall, the Senior Manager will:

• Support the development, review, and implementation of HeRoN interventions on HSS at the LGA level. 
• Ensure that the project utilizes standardized protocols, policies, and guidelines of the State MoH, SPHCDAs and as outlined by the Federal Ministry of Health and WHO. 
• In collaboration with M&E team and other consortium management team members, Promote the quality of the project activities by setting up quality assurance mechanisms and checks Closely work with State and LGA level health authorities to play an active coordination role. 
• In collaboration with the Snr. M&E Manager and HeRoN Managers, support the design of Knowledge management approaches that are innovative, considering evidence generation and best practices.
• Support Snr. M&E Manager in project evaluations and surveys accordingly
• Work with partners to document lessons learned that have implications for refinement of best programmatic practice and organize lesson sharing events to fertilize learning across different partners.
• Support the HeRoN Managers in liaison with LGAs’ focal persons on troubleshooting technical issues during project implementation
• In coordination with the consortium partners, enhance primary stakeholder ownership of program via community participation, consultation, and use of participatory approaches. 
• Undertake periodic field monitoring and supervision visits to partners’ implementation locations.

Coordination & Representation:

• Represent the project to State and Local government senior officials, partner agencies, etc. as required.
• In coordination with the consortium leadership, actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, government actors, international and local NGOs, etc.
• Participate at coordination meetings: All HeRON consortium coordination related meetings, Field implementation meetings with partners, and any other relevant IRC internal meetings as required
• Participate at external coordination meetings (Health cluster, Nutrition cluster, relevant TWGs and Tsk forces, etc.) as required
• Facilitate field monitoring visits for internal and external stakeholders, when required.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of HeRON team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of his/her team.
• 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 all 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, at least monthly.
• 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.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures; and communicate through words and examples a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Key Working Relationships

• Line Manager: HeRON Consortium Deputy Team Leader
• Indirect/Functional Reporting: Consortium Team Leader
• Technical Collaboration: Senionr M&E Manager, HeRON Managers (Pharma, Governance), Consortium Finance Coordinator, HeRON Senior Project Manager, HSS Advisors – MoH Embedded
• Position directly Supervises: HeRON Program Officer – Borno, program support officer- Borno.

Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program:  IRC’s Snr. Program Coordinator (Health Outcomes)
• Region/Global: Health Technical Advisors, Governance Technical Advisor

Key External Contacts: 

• MoH Officials at State & LGA level, Consortium IPs’ Leads.

Qualifications
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Health-related field (MD, RN, Etc.)
• Post-graduate qualification (Master’s degree) in Public Health is a preferred
• Previous Training in Project Management, Systems Strengthening, Leadership and Governance is an added advantage

Work Experience, Required Technical Skills & Leadership Competencies:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in coordination and implementation of donor funded health programs, working jointly with national, state, and/or local health actors to strengthen the quality and responsiveness of services.
• The role requires HSS knowledge and related experience, with good understanding of organizational approaches and working in a consortium led project.
• Working knowledge in advocacy and HSS
• Technical skill in participatory processes, and methodologies, preferably in a conflict or post-conflict environment.
• Background in situation analysis, health assessments
• Demonstrated good judgment and decision-making skills
• Ability to handle a large and dynamic workload, work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Experience in general management, including financial and budget management, HR and logistics management
• Experience managing geographically dispersed teams and working in tandem with local stakeholders
• Skills and experience of remote management and willingness to travel to project locations; Flexible, diplomatic and have ability and willingness live and work under pressure of workloads
• Experience in reports writing and budgeting (organization and donor reporting)
• Strong commitment to IRC’s mission, purpose, and values.

Languages: 

• English Fluency (spoken and written). Knowledge of local languages, including Hausa is an added advantage.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

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

Ability to Travel: 

• 30% ability to travel to field locations.                            

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
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.