The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 14.6 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Senior Health Manager is responsible for supporting the efficient scale-up of Health services provision across the Raqqa and Dierazzor governorates of Syria, in accordance with national and international standards. The Senior Health Manager will identify gaps in the health services and advise on necessary steps to address those gaps. He or she will provide technical oversight and training to field-based health staff in the area of primary health services, with support from the Health Coordinator. The Senior Health Manager will ensure timely implementation of program deliverables, tracking and updating on performance indicators, and ensuring sound financial and logistical oversight for health services activities. He or she will be responsible for oversight of health data recording and regular reporting. This position reports to the Health Coordinator.

Responsibilities:

Program Management

•  Oversee the implementation and expansion of health services in Raqqa and Dierazzor governorates (MMUs and static clinics), ensuring that program goals and objectives are met.
• Identify opportunities for programs expansion: Implement action plans for health services scale up, considering extent of needs and gaps, and IRC’s internal capacity to respond.
• Participate in rapid needs assessments with other IRC sectors and external agencies as required.
• Develop, recommend and implement strategies to maximize utilization of Health Services in areas of implementation.
•  Ensure that the health services sub-component is implemented in accordance with health sector objectives and goals, and in accordance with IRC programming principles.
• Conduct regular monitoring and supervision visits, in agreement with the Health Coordinator and Senior Programs Coordinator.
• Oversee implementation of basic emergency obstetric care in supported facilities and ensure adherence to international protocols and guidelines.
•  Track budgets, procurement plans, and work plans to ensure proper personnel, facilities, and supplies are available to meet grant deliverables.
•  Review and update internal program tracking tools for health services interventions, in coordination with Grants, Finance, and Supply Chain teams.
• Support establishment of high-quality pharmaceutical warehouse management systems, monitoring and follow-up of all pharmaceutical supplies and drugs in IRC and partner health facilities.
•  Work closely with supply chain department to ensure medical commodities storage, distribution, and dispensation systems function, and adhere to quality control standards.
• Work closely with the pharmaceutical Management Officer to monitor pharmaceutical consumption at MMUs and static facilities and ensure a rational prescription and dispensing approach is followed.
•  Work closely with M&E department to support patient satisfaction survey process, in addition to supporting spot check visits.
•  Work with the community health care manager to ensure health care services meet community needs and adopt an integrated community approach.
•  Provide regular reports on program implementation progress and challenges, and site visit reports to the health coordinator. 

Staff Management

• Support health staff recruitment in conjunction with the Human Resources Department.: Maintain updated job descriptions, conduct interviews, and orient new staff.
• Supervise Health Services staff directly, overseeing implementation and coordination of activity plans to ensure targets are met.  
•  Provide supportive supervision, including development and monitoring of regular work plans.
•  Provide timely and quality performance evaluations.
• Identify capacity building needs of international and national staff and develop capacity building plans to maximize performance and professional development.
•  Participate in training and mentoring of health and other staff members in response to capacity building needs.
•  Ensure IRC HR policies are always respected.
•  Promote the IRC Way with all supervisee.

Grant implementation and Budget management

•  Participate in development, monitoring and implementation of health budgets and activities, in alignment with agreed and/or contractual timelines.
•  Provide direction and monitor staff in their implementation of work plans and ensure adherence with grant guidelines.

Reporting

•  Maintain effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control, and reporting systems and processes.
•  Work with HIS officer to prepare a weekly HIS report for the health coordinator, other internal actors, and external stakeholders as required.
•  Work with HIS manager to provide weekly beneficiary counts and analysis of health cases, to determine epidemiological trends.
•  Participate in drafting timely, analytical, and accurate internal and donor reports.
•  Ensure regular field monitoring and recommend modifications of the health program approach as required.
•  Participate in writing internal and donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly, and annually) on grant activities, indicators, and achievements that are produced in quality.
•  Development/ maintenance of effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control, and reporting systems and processes.

Representation & Coordination

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders - including I/NGOs, UN agencies, Local Organizations, community-based organizations\leaders, and other IRC sectors to enhance cooperation and coordination.
• Ensure presence in coordination meetings in the absence of the Health Coordinator, and ensure relevant coordination-related data is shared with the WoS Health Cluster.
•  Participate in interagency health working groups or committees as required.

Partner Management

• Support identification of local health implementing partners when necessary and oversight of the IRC – partner relations. Participate in establishment of new relations with local partners and assist development and review of partnership agreements and relations.
• Assist in regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives; provide technical support and guidance.
•  Ensure regular capacity building plans and implement activities for partner organizations.
•  Support coordination with health partners to ensure effective coverage of health needs and avoid deconfliction and overlap in program intervention.

Qualifications

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

•  Medical or other relevant health background.
•  A master’s in public health is an advantage.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a humanitarian organization of which a minimum of 3 years at a managerial level, preferably in a similar context
• Excellent organizational and program management experience, including with staff and implementation workplans, budget management, and monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in implementing systems and standards to enhance program quality.
•  Experience writing and coordinating high-value proposals for major donors.
•  Experience with situation analysis and health assessments.
•  Experience in capacity building and mentoring staff.
•  Experience in pharmacy management.
• Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and the internet.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation, and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development.
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities, and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior-level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
  
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

• Travel: 25% to field sites in NES as well as attending regional and global workshops and meetings.
• Proficiency in English language is essential; knowledge of Arabic and/or Kurdish is highly required.

Key Working Relationships:

•  Position Reports to:  Health Coordinator.
•  Position directly supervises: Senior MHPSS Officer, RH Officer, HIS Officer, Pharma Officer, Senior Health Officer, and Health Admin Officers.
•  Indirect Reporting (If applicable): N/A
•  Key Internal Contacts: Senior Health Coordinator, Health Coordinator, Senior Health manager, Heath Information Management Manager, MHPSS Manager, EH Manager, RH Specialist, Pharma Manager, Partnership Unit, Field Management, Protection Department, Humanitarian Access Managers, Health Field staff, and Technical Advisors.
•  Key External Contacts:  Partners counterparts. 

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.