Health Program Manager - Merlin - Somalia

[Admin]

Health Program Manager
Medical Emergency Relief International (Merlin)
International Health NGO
Closing date: 30 Jun 2009
Location: Somalia

Programme: Gedo Health Consortium (GHC)
Responsible To: Functionally: The Director, (GHC)
Technically: Merlin Somalia Country Health Director
Responsible For: Clinical Services Coordinator, Public Health Coordinator, District Medical Officers
Location: Nairobi with frequent visits to Gedo Region, Somalia
Contract Duration: 12 Months
Starting Date: ASAP
Salary & Benefits: Between £16,810 and £19,034 per annum dependant on relevant experience, an annual cost of living allowance of £5,572, insurance cover, accommodation and return flights.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.

Please note that this is an unaccompanied position.

Merlin International Profile

Merlin specialises in health, saving lives in times of crisis and helping to rebuild shattered health services. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.

Context and Background

Merlin has been working in Somalia since 2004 with its first office opened in Garowe, the capital of Puntland State of Somalia. Since 2004, Merlin has been expanding and scaling up its programmes in Somalia. Merlin is operational in all three regions of Somalia currently implementing HIV/AIDS, TB, Early Warning and Response, Communicable Disease Control, and Primary Health Care programmes in Puntland State of Somalia; emergency health, nutrition, and WASH programme in El-Buur district of Galgadud region, and as a member of Gedo Health Consortium (GHC) Merlin is involved in technical support provision for the implementation of the GHC health programme in Gedo Region of Southern Somalia. Merlin is also a technical support provider to NGOs/partners and Ministries of Health implementing GFTAM malaria programme in all three regions of Somalia.

Gedo Health Consortium (GHC) is a consortium of two International NGOs (Merlin and Trocaire) implementing a regional community based health care programme in Gedo region of Southern Somalia. Targeting 220,000 people in five districts, the programme works in partnership with district health boards to increase access to basic health and nutrition services. A network of 3 district hospitals, 5 MCH/OPDs, 3 TB centres, 50 health posts and 5 district outreach programmes are supported with a focus on strengthening the quality of and access to services, building local capacity and ownership of the health services and trying to address some of the underlying problems of continuing poor health and nutrition in the community. The general goal of the mission is to address humanitarian and health crises within Somalia while increasing capacity of local structures to deliver effective and quality health care services.

Main purpose of the role

Under the supervision of the GHC Director, the Health Program Manager will be responsible for the technical management and coordination of the health programme in Gedo. Working jointly with the Clinical Services Coordinator, Public Health Coordinator, and District Medical Officers, the post holder will manage and support all aspects of the Gedo regional health programme.

The post holder will be recruited through Merlin as the technical agency in the consortium, however s/he will be part of the GHC management team and report to the GHC Director but will also technically liaise with Merlin Somalia Country Health Director in Nairobi as well as Merlin Regional Health Advisor based in London.

Overall Objectives (scope)

Panning and monitoring programme activities and performance
Managing and providing technical and capacity building support to programme’s technical staff;
Liaison with community structures and other stakeholders;
Assisting in the management of programme budget and supplies;
Monitoring and preparing narrative and financial reports for the GHC Director, Consortium’s Executive Committee, and donors.

Responsibilities

Directly managing the Clinical Services Coordinator, Public Health Coordinator, and District Medical Officers, and working closely with other GHC programme and support function staff, the post holder will manage and coordinate all aspects of the GHC health programme including supporting the planning, design, implementation and monitoring of activities and advising on medium to long-term strategy for the region.
Oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of all health promotion, prevention and curative aspects of the programme as well as the development of protocols and guidelines.
Provide adequate and timely technical guidance, supervision, capacity building and management support to the Clinical Services Coordinator, Public Health Coordinator, and District Medical Officers.
Support the Clinical Services Coordinator, Public Health Coordinator, and District Medical Officers, and ensure that capacity building support is planned and provided to all health workers. S/He will ensure that the right support is given in terms of identification of needs and existing competencies; development of curricula; coordination; supervision; facilitation support and; progress assessment.
Working closely with the senior GHC programme staff, ensure that adequate capacity building support is provided to the District Health Boards on all aspects of health service management, community mobilisation and preventive services, to ensure objectives are achieved and that an appropriate quality, functioning and accessible health service is maintained.
Ensure that the Clinical Services Coordinator and Public Health Coordinator are mentoring, supporting, and encouraging health and nutrition staff to maximise use of skills and knowledge, and ensure their full, effective participation in health and nutrition activities.
Working closely with the Regional Liaison Coordinator, promote and work with District Health Boards and a variety of community groups and CBOs to strengthen and encourage effective community access, participation and representation in all programme activities to promote local ownership and durability of programme gains, and effective linkages between all levels of services.
In close collaboration with the GHC Director and other senior staff, make recommendations for project strategic direction and prioritisation, taking cognisance of current best practice on health/medical support for countries in chronic crisis, changing health needs and the capacity for local management of same.
Ensure the effective use of health data collection tools through training and support as well as the collation and sound epidemiological analysis of the health data collected to inform programme direction.
Responsible for the timely preparation and submission of weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual public health reports for internal use and for submission to donors and other partners.
Responsible for the preparation and review of donor proposals and reports.
Responsible for the management and monitoring of relevant components of the programme budget.
Working with the Clinical Services and Public Health Coordinators and District Health Teams, set-up and role out emergency preparedness plans/SOPs, including emergency surveillance systems and pre-positioning of emergency supplies.
Liaising with GHC Programme Support Manager and logistic staff ensure that adequate routine medical supplies and stocks for hospitals, outreach, health centres and health posts as well as ordering systems and inventory control are maintained.
Working closely with GHC crisis management team support monitoring and management of security and access issues and adapt programme strategies accordingly.
Represent GHC in various coordination fora and ensure coherence of GHC strategy and priorities with that of the Health Sector for Somalia.
Ensure that field concerns and issues are appropriately, adequately, and timely addressed within the overall strategy and support & guide field teams in meeting the objectives and priorities, providing leadership and direction
Ensure effective advocacy/negotiation with the local authorities and communities for effective programme implementation.
Advocate and negotiate with donors, UN and NGOs active in Somalia to improve collaboration and coherence of interventions.
Manage, track, monitor, and ensure compliance of contractual obligations of Gedo Regional Health Programme with donors and partners.
Ensure correct documentation of successes, best practices, and lessons learned from the programme and dissemination to.other Somalia actors and to the wider humanitarian and public health communities.

Person Specification

Essential

Qualifications, experience and competences

Medical Doctor or Nurse with Masters Degree in Public Health.
Extensive health programme management experience in developing countries, particularly in conflict zone.
Experience of implementing emergency public health and nutrition programmes.
Track record in innovative responses/planning for public health issues.
Good management and personnel skills, with proven ability to manage people/ teams
and deliver on programme objectives
Excellent team-worker with track record of working in a multicultural team with local
health workers/partners, ensuring their sound participation in planning, implementation
and monitoring
Experience in capacity development of health workers in low capacity environments.
Ability to collate, manage and analyse epidemiological data, providing high quality
narrative and data reports
Experience of managing a team in insecure areas and ability to withstand stress.
Good knowledge and commitment to the principles of Community Based Health Care
and community development.
Sound knowledge and experience of programme cycle management and budgeting.
Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values

Desirable

Qualifications, experience and competences

Previous work experience in Somalia
Knowledge of the Somalia context would be an advantage
Somali language is an advantage

How to apply
To apply for this position

Please download an application form from our website www.merlin.org.uk Completed form should be emailed to applications@merlin-uk.org stating in the subject field the job title, country and reference number (if any).

Reference Code: RW_7RUDQE-24
Source: ReliefWeb