Emergency Health Programme Manager - Nairobi based, Somalia (Save the Children)

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CONTEXT OF WORK

The ongoing drought situation in Somalia is causing extreme food and water shortages, with population displacement occurring as people seek ways to survive. The food shortage has resulted in high rate of malnutrition, which is the major underlying risk factor for all the major causes of child mortality (pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria). According to the United Nations (UN), Somalia represents one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world with almost 50% of its people is in need of urgent external assistance including access to emergency life saving health care. Although the epicentre of the drought is in Central South Somalia, the rest of Somalia has also been affected.

In response to this humanitarian crisis, save the Children has developed a comprehensive emergency response strategic plan for Somalia. The overall goal of Save the Children’s emergency drought response in Somalia is to contribute to the reduction of large scale suffering of children through timely interventions, at appropriate scale and scope, providing quality technical programming, efficiently, effectively, safely and securely for the most vulnerable families. An integrated approach will be the preferred modality of operation.

Save the Children is currently putting together an integrated response plan to address an appalling outcome of chronic shortage of food, drought and conflict resulting in very high rate of morbidity, mortality and suffering of the most vulnerable population including children and women. We are looking forward to establishing teams of health workers consisting of various cadres of health professionals to deliver life saving emergency health services to the population in need through an integrated approach by pooling together programmes (health, nutrition and WASH) with high impact on lives of the most vulnerable population groups.

The current job creation is aimed at building an emergency health team to quickly respond to the dire health needs of people affected by the drought.

Job Purpose

Emergency Health Programme Manager is overall responsible for leadership and management of the emergency health programme at field level in Hiran including budget management. Under the supervision of Field Manager, Emergency Health Programme Manager and in consultation with the Health Technical Manager, the Emergency Health Project Manager has overall responsibility for the facilitation and implementation of SC’s emergency health programme in Hiran. The EHPM in his/her capacity is responsible for the management of all specific aspects of emergency health programming and supervision of associated field health staff including Deputy EHPM, District Health Officers and other health staff. S/he is also responsible for ensuring coordination with nutrition and WASH sector for integrated delivery of emergency health, nutrition and WASH interventions. S/he is also responsible for external coordination and representation in the region. She/He will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all partners, including the Ministry of Health, UN agencies and other NGOs as appropriate.

Key accountabilities

Program Management

• Oversee the implementation of a specific health project and ensure that stated goals and objectives are met; are appropriately monitored and evaluated; and that narrative and technical reports are written and submitted in a timely manner. • Participate in proposal development. Prepare project work plans, budgets and manage grants in coordination with Field Manager and key health staff. • Assess strengths and areas of opportunity in the health sector and determine the potential for other Save the Children health projects.
• Work with the Field Teams, Health Programme Manager and Technical Advisors to ensure that health projects are implemented in conformity with the Save the Children’s health programmatic approach while ensuring the promoting basic child rights protection and participation. • Provide accurate regular reports, document outputs and results and maintain detailed records of the overall health project activities in your area of operation to the Field Manager and Emergency Health Programme Manager in Juba. • Work with the health staff to promote the culture of learning and documentation so that lessons learned and good practices are documented and shared for institutional memory and learning.

Financial Management • Work with health staff and Logistics/Finance staff to develop expenditure and procurement plans to guide implementation of approved grants. Support the Field teams in the implementation of the plans ensuring that donor rules and regulations are abided by. • Review Budget vs. Actuals on a monthly basis with project staff and Finance Team. • Provide recommendations and interventions to correct any identified deviations that impact budget adherence to Field Managers, Health Programme Manager and the Grants Department. • Recommend grant and budget revisions in consultation with the Health Programme Manager, Field Managers, Technical Advisors and Grants Department. • Advise on budget development with the health staff/partners and Health Programme Manager/Field Managers based on field activities.

Staff Management • Direct line management of DEHPM and District Health Officers. • Ensure adequate management support and supervision of health staff and monitor activities and performance to ensure that project objectives are met • Develop performance management work plans with direct reports and routinely monitor their performance. Provide a written performance evaluation on each report to the Health Programme Manager/Field Managers as required. • Determine personnel needs for field-level activities, develop job profiles and in coordination with HR and field staff – assist recruitment efforts through planning and interviewing of candidates.
• Recommend promotions, disciplinary action and termination of health staff through consultation with the Health Programme Manager/Field Managers. • Work closely with the Health Programme Manager/Field Managers and other senior field staff to build their capacity to represent health programs. • Develop ongoing learning and development programs with field health staff (including other field staff where appropriate) in consultation with the Health Programme Manager.

Coordination and Representation • Ensure integrative programming approach with other sectors particularly nutrition, and WASH and also with others (protection, education, livelihoods and food security) and staff within the projects. • Represent Save the Children to partners and donor agencies, with respect to health projects, as requested by Field Managers or Health Programme Manager. • Represent Save the Children to other health agencies, including the Ministry of Health (MOH), WHO, and non-governmental organizations at the regional level Other
• Assist the Emergency Health Programme Manager and Field Manager as deemed necessary.

Working Contacts

External: Partner agencies – NGOs and UN agencies (WHO, WFP, UNICEF, UNOCHA), County Departments and State Line Ministries

Internal: Area Programme Managers, Director of Programme Implementation, Director of Programme Development & Advocacy, Health Programme Manager, Grants Managers, Technical Advisers, Head Office technical staff and Regional Emergency Manager

Person specification

Essential • Health professional (MD, RN or PA, with an MPH is preferred) with strong public health background. • Previous experience in coordinating, implementing and managing health programs in developing countries and/or refugee settings. • Background in situation analysis, health assessments and program implementation. • Strong ability to support and build the capacity of national team through performance management system. • Experience supervising a multi-national staff in a complex, insecure emergency setting. • Excellent oral and written communication skills. • Ability to live and work under pressure in an unstable security environment. • Experience in grant management and proposal writing is preferred. • Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Epi-Info/SPSS, Outlook and the internet. • Experience working with HF & VHF radios, satellite telephones & fax. • Fluency in English. Arabic language skills or other Languages spoken in Southern Sudan are an advantage. • Additional qualities: ability to multitask, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.

Desirable

Knowledge and working experience in fragile states. Previous experience with SC UK in a similar context. Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.

Code of Conduct Because Save the Children's work is based on deeply held values and principles, it is essential that our commitment to children's rights and humanitarian principles is supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children's Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to. Application Procedures:

All interested candidates please forward your CVs to: vacancies@scsom.org, and the application submission date on 10th Sept 2011