Requisition ID: req42206

Job Title: Reproductive Health Officer

Sector: Health

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Al-Hassaka, Syria

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary:  

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 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 Reproductive Health Officer (RHO) will take on the role of Supervise on reproductive health facilities in Hasaka and Derek in NE Syria that will serve Syrian host and displaced communities, Iraqi refugees, and additional local vulnerable populations. This position is based in Al Hasaka with frequent travel within NES, where the program is being implemented.

The RHO will be responsible for overseeing Midwives and supporting the daily activities of the midwives to ensure high quality service delivery and program implementation. The RHO will be responsible for ensuring quality of all Reproductive health services, and providing training, mentoring, and supportive supervision to the midwives. They will also be responsible for coordinating with the mobile and static clinics to ensure the teams have the essential staff, medicines, and supplies needed. Through regular monitoring and evaluation, the RHO will submit detailed technical monthly reports to the Reproductive Health Specialist (RHS). The RHO will receive technical support from Reproductive Health Specialist (RHS)

They will oversee the reproductive health care services in Hasaka in NES. The primary functions of the Reproductive Health Officer include with support from RHS implementation and oversight of

reproductive health services in NE Syria serving the displaced Syrian population including implementation of MISP,

support to facilities providing RH services, supervision, and capacity building of staff, ensuring quality of services with training, supportive supervision, on-the-job training and standard quality assurance tools, internal and external coordination, and day-to-day administration of RH activities. They report to the RHS and works in those program sites where they will be supporting the RH program activities.

Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of reproductive health specialist, the RHO will supervise on every aspect of the reproductive health activities including antenatal and postnatal care for mothers, care of the newborn, provision of family planning counselling and methods, health education to mothers, women, girls and families in the PHC facility, EmONC services, including supervision and capacity building of health care providers, developing RH implementation and monitoring plan and adapt program to changing context as needed.
• Conduct regular site visits for monitoring and supervision to ensure quality of services, accurate data collection and verify consumption rates of pharmaceuticals and supplies/consumables.
• Training health care providers using RH related data recording and reporting tools and supporting and assisting the RHS in planning and conducting RH trainings.
• Support in conducting on-the-job trainings for midwives and RH health care providers in BEmONC centers and PHC facilities.
• Work closely with community health workers (CHWs) ensuring referrals and follow up are made for RH related services from communities to health facilities.
• Training CHWs on community aspects of RH including birth spacing, family planning methods, and utilization of services, prevention from STIs, maternal care during pregnancy and after delivery, with support from RHS, and Sr health manager.
• Work with the monitoring officer in design of data collection forms, compilation of RH data and complete RH portion of health program reports.
• Regularly analyze data in conjunction with RHS, HIS manager, Sr health manager in order to track RH trends, needs and developing appropriate responses.
• Ensure that all RH related activities, indicators and objectives are successfully met within the project timeframe and budget.
• Coordinate internally and externally to ensure integrated implementation of RH services such as GBV/CMR/CCSAS, maternal and child nutrition with other sectors like women protection and empowerment, general protection, livelihoods, etc.
• Ensure appropriate treatment of beneficiaries in general, and mainly those requiring clinical RH care services within the organization health program and ensure that the system for referral of cases is developed and functioning efficiently and with optimal results. Depending on the clinical protocols and guidelines and with the support of RHS.
• Support in recruiting new midwives or RH staff if needed.
• Provide guidance and advice regarding expansion of reproductive health services to other areas including overseeing existing and establishment of new BEmONC centers in supported health facilities.
• Participate in assessing needs and requirements for reproductive health programming.
• Perform other duties and tasks as delegated and assigned by supervisor.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths the teams in Syria.
• 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 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, minimally on a monthly basis.
• 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 of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.

Qualifications

• Medical doctor with a preference for obstetrics, gynecology, or reproductive health post-graduate training. Minimum 2 years professional experience in reproductive health projects.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working in humanitarian or development contexts, previous emergency response, conflict/post-conflict experience preferably in a supervisory role.
• Demonstrated capacity to provide hands on technical support to health providers
• Skilled in Microsoft Office
• Able to travel to field sites.
• Have excellent organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks in a dynamic environment
• Can work effectively with various personalities and departments

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.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

Arabic and English are required, while Kurdish is desired.

Travel: 15% to field sites in Hasaka and Derek.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  Reproductive Health Specialist
Position directly supervises: Midwives

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Senior Health Manager
Key Internal Contacts: Health Managers

Applicants will be received till 10 June 2023

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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.