Health coordinator

Job Description

Requisition ID: req2236
Job Title: Health coordinator
Sector: Emergency Response
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Colombia

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary:
The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression and violent conflict in 42 countries. The IRC is committed to bold leadership, innovation and creative partnerships. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home.

A combined two decades of economic mismanagement, a drop in oil prices, deterioration of democratic institutions has resulted in a humanitarian crisis inside Venezuela. Insecurity has manifested following protests in April 2017 against the president and his government, particularly for failing to address the growing inflation rate which lead to large-scale food insecurity. The demonstrations were initially peaceful but grew in severity of violence as time passed. Venezuela’s economic devastation worsened in the last half of 2017. This caused a massive migration of Venezuelans into neighbouring Colombia in search of affordable food, medicine and work. The number of Venezuelans living in Colombia has increased to more than 550,000 people.

Cucuta is the capital of Northern Santander department (Norte de Santander), it is a major access point for Venezuelans’ coming into Colombia. It is also located in one of the regions of the country most affected by a number of pre-existing stressors including: armed groups1; drug cultivation, processing, and trafficking; trafficking of goods across the border; high unemployment and natural disasters. This complicated dynamic in Cucuta goes back decades and has nearly exhausted the capacity of the Colombian government to respond to the needs of its citizens in the region.

Job Overview/Summary:
The Health Coordinator (HC) will be the focal point for the development and start-up of health programs in Colombia as well as technical input design for health partnerships inside Venezuela. The position is based in Cucuta, Colombia. The HC will report to the Deputy Director of Program for Colombia, with close coordination across other program sectors. This position is responsible for programmatic resource development, advocacy related to IRC’s emergency health response, and overall strategic direction of the health program, including later transition from emergency to longer-term programming. In addition, the Health Coordinator will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all partners, including the Ministry of Health, UN agencies and other NGOs, and will also be responsible for fulfilling the IRC’s strategic objectives for the health sector.

Major Responsibilities:
* In accordance with best practice and IRC policy, lead the implementation of the emergency health response program integrated with Child Protection, WPE and Food Security in Colombia.
* Provide technical insight to design and management of sub-grant partnerships for programming inside Venezuela.
* Develop and manage partnerships with implementing health actors to ensure that quality comprehensive reproductive health and primary health care is provided to targeted beneficiaries.
* Provide technical support across IRC key sectors (CP, WPE and ERD) to ensure that the most vulnerable people have access to key health interventions
* Recruit and train Health staff
* Work to recruit a long term Health Coordinator for the continuation of programming in Colombia
* Identify opportunities for growth and expansion.
* Play a lead role in technical project proposal development for further expansion opportunities.
* Represent the health program in coordination forums, and develop productive working relationships with other actors to ensure effective and coordinated response.
* Lead in the establishment of M&E systems including data collection and reporting tools.
* Identify capacity needs, and provide technical support and training for project staff.
* Assist in project/activities development by providing technical input for proposals.
* Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.
* Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to the DDP, and when liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC program.
* Ensure effective communication, coordination and information sharing between the ERT Health Coordinator and other Sectoral leads, under the management of the DDP, to facilitate and effective and integrated emergency response.

Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: DDP.
Position directly supervises: Nurse and Medical supervisor, Data Senior Assistant, Health Voucher Officer and Health Educators (2).
Indirect Reporting: Other Internal and/or external contacts: describe the nature of departments or groups the position influences or requires support from to accomplish objectives.
Internal: HQ Health Unit, Country Finance Manager, WPE Coordinator, Protection Coordinator and Country Supply Chain Manager.
External: external health partners (governmental and private).

Job Requirements:
The requirements should establish a baseline (minimum) for educational background, previous work experience, professional knowledge or certification, specific skills and strengths and any other skill necessary to perform the essential functions of the job.

Education:
* Professional health degree (Medicine or Nursing) with MPH (social science, mental health, international health or any other relevant area related to the project.

Work Experience:
* Three to five years professional experience working with international organizations or agencies, preferably in emergencies.
* Experience in situation analysis, health/reproductive health assessments, program design and implementation.
* Experience developing staff capacity.
* Ability to work with a broad spectrum of people (international and headquarters staff, , government officials and other NGO’s).
* Experience in grant management and proposal writing is preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competences:
* Strong communication skills.
* Excellent management skills.
* Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills to plan projects, timetable agreed activities and oversee staff activities.
* Able to work independently while being a strong team player.
* Competence with Windows, Microsoft Office.

Language Skills:
- Fluency in Spanish and English written and spoken required.

Certificates or Licenses:
* Medicine or Nursing degree certificate copy.

Working Environment:
Describe the work environment of the office (“Standard office work environment” will be applicable for most jobs in the U.S.) and if applicable, the housing. For example, internet connections, electricity, amenities, group housing, etc. Include travel requirements.

About the Organization

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 27 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.