Senior Covid 19 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 Covid 19 Manager - HeRoN

Requisition ID: req34607
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full Time
Employment Category: Regular
Sector: Health

HeRON COVID19 Project Overview

• Health Resilience of Northeast Nigeria (HeRON) COVID-19 Activitywill support the BAY (Borno, Adamawa & Yobe) states to scale up the implementation of the scale 3.0 COVID-19 vaccination strategy by providing technical and logistical support to the state ministries of health (MoHs) in the 3 states.
• The project will provide training and deployment of additional vaccination teams, improvement of social marketing and community sensitization to reduce vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine uptake. Furthermore, IRC will work with state MoHs, State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDAs) and partners to strengthen the planning and integration of the COVID-19 vaccination into routine PHC and immunization services and support the digitization of the reporting systems.
• IRC is leading the consortium, working with other humanitarian and development partners (Society for Family Health - SFH) to achieve project objectives and mandates.

Scope of Work

• IRC is seeking a dynamic public health and project management professional to provide managerial and technical oversight to HeRON Covid19 Activity across the BAY States collaborating with States Primary Health Care Development Agency and state-level covid 19 task force to strengthen the health system and COVID19 vaccination programming.
• Reporting to the HeRON Consortium deputy Team Leader, the post holder will provide sound technical management and coordination support of HeRON consortium partners, for the successful implementation and achievement of COVID19 project deliverables.
• He/She will be responsible for regularly working directly with HeRON Covid19 program Implementing partners technical leads, to ensure that the program is executed across the BAY States according to work plans and budgets, in line with donor policies and States’ government priorities and National primary health care development scales 3.0 strategy with particular focus on program quality, wider coverage, and sustainability.
• He/She will be responsible for maintaining regular contact and supervision with project’s technical teams, States’ health authorities, and state level covid 19 task force ensuring quality monitoring of HeRON covid 19 program implementation and progress across the BAY States.

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

• Working under the supervision of the consortium deputy team leader, the senior COVID19 manager is responsible for ensuring project quality and alignment of Implementing Partners’ (IPs) approaches and interventions, coordinating their activity planning.
• Responsible for ensuring coherence in approaches and coordination of activities among all the covid program partners.
• In liaison with the states covid 19 managers, the senior manager will provide technical guidance and support to all IPs in work planning, field implementation, monitoring, quality data generation, and innovating with best practices related to covid 19 vaccination expansion
• He/she will work collaboratively with the consortium management team and IPs;
• He/she will be expected to communicate courteously on consortium covid 19 program performance and maintain positive relationships with program and support teams, SPHCDA and State level covid 19 task force.

Overall, the Senior Manager will:

• Support the development, review, and implementation of the HeRON Covid 19 vaccination 3.0 strategy interventions at the health facility, LGA, and State level
• Ensure that the project utilizes standardized protocols, policies, and guidelines of the State MoH, SPHCDAs and as outlined by the NPHCDA
• In collaboration with state covid19 Managers, Covid M&E Manager and officers, and other consortium management team members, Promote the quality of the covid 19 project activities by setting up quality assurance mechanisms and c Closely work with State and LGA level health authorities to play an active coordination role. 
• He/she will coordinate HeRON Covid19 managers, M&E team to ensure the establishment of mass vaccination sites, coordinate mass vaccination campaigns across the BAY states for a wider reach
• He/She will coordinate the BAY state-level managers to ensure covid 19 vaccination is integrated and strengthened into routine PHCC immunization services
• Technically support the states to ensure vaccines are available, cold chain processes duly adhered to
• Work in collaboration with the SBCC specialist to explore local context opportunities and ensure the development of SBCC strategy to support covid 19 vaccination dissemination messages aiming at reducing vaccine hesitancy and increase uptake and Covid19 immunization coverage.
• Coordinates with Society for Family Health (SFH) to improve community sensitization, demand creation, and social marketing of covid 19 vaccine
• In collaboration with the HeRON implementing partners support the design of Knowledge management approaches that are innovative, considering evidence generation and best practices.
• Support HeRON M&E and state M&E teams in evaluations of the EMID platform accordingly for a quality and reliable data upload and completeness
• 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 covid19 Managers in liaison with LGAs’ focal persons and state-level covid 19 task force on troubleshooting technical issues during project implementation
• In coordination with the consortium partners, enhance primary stakeholder ownership of the program via community participation, consultation, and use of participatory approaches. 
• Undertake periodic field monitoring and supervision visits to mass vaccination sites and fixed health posts across the BAY states.

Coordination & Representation:

• Represent the Covid19 project to State and Local government senior officials, partner agencies, covid 19 task force, etc. as required.
• In coordination with the consortium leadership, actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, government actors, covid 19 task force, 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, covid 19 task force, etc.) as required
• Facilitate field monitoring visits for internal and external stakeholders, when required.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Build the capacity of HeRON Covid19 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
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate.
• 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 Deputy Team Leader
• Indirect/Functional Reporting: Consortium Team Leader
• Technical Collaboration: Senior Consortium Managers, Snr. M&E Manager, HeRON Managers (Pharma, Governance), Consortium Finance Coordinator, SBCC Specialist
• Position directly Supervises: HeRON Covid19 program Managers (Borno, Yobe and Adamawa)

Key Internal Contacts:

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

Key External Contacts:

• MoH Officials at State, SPHCDAs & LGA level, Covid19 Task Force Focal Persons, Consortium IPs’ Leads, Community Leaders, other USAID-funded partners in the BAY States.

Qualifications
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a 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 (Preferably USAID), working jointly with national, state, and/or local health actors to strengthen the quality and responsiveness of covid 19 vaccination services.
• The role requires familiarity with covid 19 vaccination approach/models
• Experience and good understanding of organizational approaches and working in a consortium-led project.
• Previous experience in immunization programming
• 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
• 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 in remote management and willingness to travel to project locations; Flexible, diplomatic, and have the ability and willingness to live and work under pressure of workloads
• Experience in report 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: 

• 50% ability to travel to field location.

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.