Medical Advisor - Hargeisa, Somaliland (Medair)

[Admin]

Role and Responsibilities

Provide technical advice and support to Management, and Health and Nutrition staff in the development of strategy, proposals, project planning, implementation, reporting and M&E. Act as Health and Nutrition Focal Point for UN, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

Project Overview

Health, Nutrition and WASH programme in Burao town and rural regions of Somaliland. Potential projects include Emergency responses and/or expansion of initial programmes into areas with critical needs.

Medair

Medair brings life-saving relief and rehabilitation in disasters, conflict areas, and other crises by working alongside the most vulnerable. Its staff are inspired by their Christian faith to care for people in need, providing practical and compassionate support, regardless of race, religion, or politics. Medair has achieved the ISO 9001:2008 certification, worldwide. This certification signifies that Medair effectively delivers goods and services with a focus on beneficiary needs. Founded in 1989, Medair’s unwavering commitment continues to bring hope to the world’s most vulnerable.

Workplace

Hargeisa, Somaliland

Starting Date

November 2011

Initial Contract Details

Minimum 18 months contract, 100%

Key activity areas

Medical and Technical


• Assist in the development of project sheets, concepts and proposals using the results from baseline data Health and Nutrition surveys as a guide for project planning, especially Health and Nutrition aspects of the programme.
• Assist in developing the Health and Nutrition strategy appropriate to the Country Strategy in consultation with Country Director, Deputy Country Director and Health and Nutrition project managers as well as HQ health advisor.
• Advise in the implementation of regular monitoring and evaluation assessments against project objectives.
• Supervise and monitor the development of reporting systems for data collection (qualitative and quantitative), analysis, follow-up and feedback to involved staff, donors, partners and other agencies.
• Provide input to the integration of beneficiary participation into all aspects of the project.
• Ensure sectoral integration, learning, sharing and adoption of best practices as outlined in Sphere and the region to ensure the quality of projects.
• Advise and assist in assessing Health and Nutrition emergencies, planning and development of surveys.
• Advise and make recommendations for follow up and intervention strategies.
• Advise the Health and Nutrition project managers on new guidelines and protocols and keep them up to date on new methods and ideas by keeping up with relevant journals and circulated protocols, and attending requested trainings.
• Ensure health and nutrition programmes are meeting Somaliland and International Health and Nutrition guidelines.
• Provide capacity building and management for Health and Nutrition Project Managers and Managers in the field including assessing individual skills and training needs and providing on site training where applicable.
• Responsible for staff health within the whole programme as the country focal point for health. External Representation and Public Relations
• Attend relevant cluster and sector meetings and pass on important information to CD, DCD, Health project managers, Health and Nutrition Cluster.
• Act as Medair Health and Nutrition focal point in Nairobi and Hargeisa for all related matters (MoH; UNICEF; WFP; UNFPA; WHO).
• In consultation with the CD, develop and maintain relationships with UN, NGO’s, donors, partners and other stakeholders.

Staff Management


• Provide support to the CD, DCD and Health and Nutrition programme managers in recruitment of Health and Nutrition staff, including development of the related job descriptions.
• Contribute to the appraisal of Health and Nutrition programme managers regarding their technical skills as well as drafting the related job description.
• Advise the Medair Health and Nutrition Project Managers and Managers in technical matters and provide input to his/her performance appraisals.

Qualifications


• Clinical degree (nurse or doctor) or Public Health Degree required
• Desirable - a Medical doctor or a Midwife
• Desirable - Clinical degree with Public Health; a Degree in Tropical Medicine; Trauma Training

Experience / Competencies


• At least 3 years experience managing Primary Health Care programmes in developing countries, with at least 1 year in humanitarian emergency context
• Experience in setting up and managing emergency nutrition programmes
• At least 1 year managing and coordinating emergency responses – outbreaks, displaced populations, and/or nutritional emergencies
• Nutritional expertise desirable
• Team player with good interpersonal skills; experience in training/mentoring staff
• Experience at cross cultural communication techniques; clear verbal and written communication skills
• Competent with a statistical database such as EPI Info, SPSS, or STATA
• Knowledge of Somali desirable

Medair standard working requirements for the field


• Experienced professionals in a relevant field
• Committed Christians and committed to the Medair values (faith, hope, accountability, integrity, dignity, compassion)
• Minimum three months of overseas intercultural experience
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)
• Single or married (with no children under 18). If married, your spouse must also apply.
• Competent with Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Successful completion of Medair’s Relief and Rehabilitation Course (ROC)
• Reflect the vision and values of Medair when interacting with team members, local staff, beneficiaries and external contacts
• Able to live and work with a multicultural team under difficult conditions
• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit

Benefits


• A salary based upon the grade of the position and the experience of the position-holder
• Full briefing at our Swiss headquarters, as well as an in-country briefing
• Security training for those going to particularly insecure environments
• Accommodation, food, and transportation in-country
• Return flights to and from the country programme (one return flight for every year of service)
• Annual leave, plus rest and recuperation (R&R) leave (including travel, accommodation, and food)
• Additional benefits for those who commit to longer contracts: up to four weeks additional paid leave every 12 months, and re-entry allowance
• Comprehensive medical and emergency rescue insurance, with up to 60 days post- assignment coverage, including debriefing

Working Conditions


• Based in the Somaliland capital base of Hargeisa, with approximately 5 - 6 weeks annually spent in Burao.
• Occasional trips to Nairobi for coordination meetings are also required.

Application process For more information on this and other positions, please follow this web link: www.medair.org/work-with-us and check the Field Vacancies.

We request that you complete all applications on-line at www.medair.org. Only English-language applications and CV’s will be reviewed. We will not review email applications. Medair does not set closing / deadline dates for applications; recruitment is ongoing until the position is filled. We review every online application. Applicants will be contacted only if they are selected as a potential candidate.