Background/IRC Summary: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
IRC has been working in Pakistan for over 40 years, and manages and delivers large, complex programs to meet the needs in health, education, protection, environmental health and livelihoods for displaced, poor and disaster affected communities. IRC works in partnership with local government and non-governmental organizations and currently works across all major provinces of Pakistan.
Job Overview/Summary: Health Coordinator (HC) will provide leadership, strategic vision, and technical support to all aspects of ongoing health programs in Pakistan. The HC will shall work closely with the Head of Technical Excellence and will play a key role in the identification of health relevant programmatic priorities for business development and to find/propose convergence where possible with other thematic areas and/or outcomes. He/she will be supervising IRC’s healthcare interventions be it in reproductive health sector, immunization, child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, emergency response, nutrition, and other areas as and when needed. In addition, the HC with the health project team(s) will ensure that on ground support and interventions are aligned with international protocols, guidelines, and best practices. He or she will promote the quality of care provided through the IRC health services.
Major Responsibilities: (Primary and fundamental responsibilities):
Program Implementation
· Reflective of IRC’s policies and emerging best practices, provide technical and management leadership to ongoing health and subsector integrated programs in Pakistan. Support the development and maintenance of a coherent and evolving health strategy across all concerned areas of interventions.
· Responsible and guide health teams for ensuring that strong data collection and information management systems are in place for ongoing performance analysis and programmatic action, and that all members of the team know their roles and responsibilities for monitoring and evaluation.
· Monitor evolving needs of the target communities, identify health needs in new project areas and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
· Ensure that health programs utilize standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as prescribed by our Federal/National Ministry of Health and Provincial Departments of Health (across provinces).
· Ensure that health interventions adhere to donor agreements and IRC’s core policy documents and guidelines
· Ensure robust monitoring systems are in place and that reviews are undertaken periodically in conjunction with the team, partners, and relevant local stakeholders.
· Lead the implementation of needs assessments for health outcome. Work in close coordination and in consultation with Head of Technical Excellence Unit & Head of Business Development & Quality to support design of such assessments Promote quality of the IRC’s health programs by setting up quality assurance mechanisms and checks in collaboration with other staff.
· Work in close coordination with DDS and Head of Office’s to draft MOUs and Technical Services Agreements with government and non-government counterparts (where necessary).
Health Team(s) Support & Development
· Maintain open and professional relations with teams, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their respective positions.
· Facilitate program performance reviews for all healthcare programs on a quarterly basis and ensure feedback sessions happen with project staff to discuss corrective actions.
Planning, Execution & Implementation
· Work with project teams and respective head of offices to facilitate the timely achievements of our outcomes, goals and objectives. Reflective of work plan indicators, set timelines and targets, spending and/or procurement plans etc.
· Provides technical direction and support to health teams to deliver on ongoing programs but to also strive towards business development and engagement.
· Support development/maintenance of effective and efficient oversight.
· Support, quality control and reporting systems and processes (where and when needed).
· Based on need analysis propose staff development/capacity building
· Participate in training and mentoring of health and other staff members in response to capacity building needs.
Monitoring and Evaluation Support:
· Select and implement appropriate monitoring and evaluations systems, analyzing results to ensure and enhance program effectiveness and quality.
· Evaluate field needs for technical interventions and make recommendations as needed.
· Monitor and evaluate appropriate implementation of technical projects against program objectives and IRC’s Program Framework during field monitoring visits.
· Ensure all Health programs operate appropriate client voice and response mechanism.
· Provide supportive supervision to supervises, including development and monitoring of regular work plans and provide timely and quality performance evaluations.
Coordination & Representation
· Develops and maintains effective ongoing coordination and liaison with both internal & external stakeholders in the health sector. Thereby representing IRC positions, promoting CP’s strategy and resolving problems.
· Closely coordinate with operational departments and cross-sectional outcomes for aspiring towards better results/reach for our clients and/or beneficiaries.
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Head of Technical Excellence, Pakistan
Position directly supervises (indirect reporting): Health Project Team Leads
Other Internal and/or external contacts: Sector Coordinators, Post award Sr. Manager, Deputy Director Programs, Support department, M&E Coordinator, Sr. Finance manager, donors, UN and clusters.
Job Requirements:
1. Education: Health professional – MD/ MBBS, MPH (preferred)
2. Work Experience: Strong Public health background with minimum 8 years’ experience in health program management with INGO, UN. Prior experience of, PHC, RH and emergencies. Experience in proposals, concept notes and report writing.
3. Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Ability to query and analyze data to aid in the development of retention strategies, diversity programming and other related activities required. Excellent oral and written communication skills required. Ability to work with a diverse constituent group. Effective interpersonal skills, and utmost attention to detail required. Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines required. Ability to work independently as a self-starter and as part of a team required. Ability to use good judgement, maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy required. Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure effectively and productively.
4. Language Skills: Fluency in Urdu and English is must and knowledge of local languages (such as Pushto, Punjabi, Sindhi etc.) is preferred.
Others: Strong digital literacy: must be competent in the use of Windows MS office programs (Word, Excel), email programs, etc.
Professional Standards
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
