Senior Public Health Coordinator

Job Description

Position Title : Senior Public Health Coordinator

Duty Station : Conakry, Guinea

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P4

Type of Appointment : Special short term,

Six months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : July 09, 2015

Reference Code : SVN2015/72(P)-EXT

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM), the technical oversight and health policy guidance of the Director of Migration Health Division in Headquarters (HQs), and in close coordination with the Project Managers, the successful candidate will be responsible and accountable for overall supervision, effective coordination, reporting, and adherence to strategic directions of all the public health/medical, infection prevention and control, occupational health and psychosocial support and social communication activities related to the Ebola Response and other health operations in Guinea - Conakry.

The IOM Senior Public Health Coordinator is expected to carry out his/her duties in accordance with the strictest ethical standards, the safety of IOM personnel, the importance of building and maintaining partnerships with agencies and the government, and with due respect for gender and socio-cultural sensitivities.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Develop projects and lead proposals related to Ebola with a public health focus. Monitor the implementation and assess the evaluation of these projects - including those having a multi-country focus – in Guinea-Conakry, to ensure that they are:

• consistent with IOM’s policies, thematic guidance notes and any relevant national policies and/or regional strategies;
• coherent, relevant, and feasible, and take into account good practices in the area of migration health;
• developed according to IOM’s project development procedures as established by the IOM Project Handbook and related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

2. Facilitate the development of new migration health projects including, but not limited to, surveillance and research, health promotion and education, health systems strengthening, infection prevention and control, occupational health, psychosocial support and social communication activities related to the National Ebola Response for different migration contexts, in line with the MHD strategic objectives, and align with other thematic areas and projects in the country.

3. Strengthen linkages between emergency health programming and longer-term health development initiatives in coordination with other IOM Guinea-Conakry programme areas.

4. Align the migration health strategies and priorities for Ebola Response in Guinea- Conakry with global health goals, regional trends and existing policy frameworks set by relevant health authorities, in close coordination with the Chief of Mission (CoM) and thematic specialists in the region, as well as the Director of MHD in IOM HQs.

5. Coordinate and liaise closely with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and other national health institutions in order to ensure harmonized implementation of activities within the framework of national health response strategies.

6. Monitor and analyze the public health/clinical services’ process, specifically aimed at increasing effectiveness, recommending specific actions, and assist in the development of monitoring and evaluation protocols.

7. Explore potential entry points for expanded collaboration with local health authorities and partners on migration/emergency health related activities; develop new ideas as well as identify, design and facilitate research activities in coordination with other IOM Guinea-Conakry programme units and with relevant regional and HQs units.

8. Support the development and maintenance of donor relations and participate in resource mobilization activities.

9. Contribute to periodic technical updates and documentation/ dissemination of best practice materials in close coordination with the Migration Health Programme Coordinator.

10. Represent IOM at health and other related cluster meetings. Liaise and coordinate with national and international health and development assistance authorities, agencies or organizations – including key counterparts such as the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response, Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), International Medical Corps, and other Health Cluster partner agencies - regarding strategic planning on health-related aspects of the Ebola Response.

11. Guide IOM Guinea-Conakry in engaging and/or coordinating with WHO Country Officers and country Health Cluster coordination mechanisms on IOM’s emergency preparedness and humanitarian responses.

12. Provide technical support to the development and implementation of infection and prevention control SOPs based on internationally accepted standards and guidelines (e.g. WHO, MSF, US Center for Disease Control, etc).

13. Provide technical support, oversee a training plan and assist with building the capacities of IOM staff in the relevant MHD programme areas through a combination of formal training and on-the-job mentoring.

14. Advise and continuously update the Chief of Mission, MHD Director, Senior Technical Medical Adviser to the Ebola Response, MHD RTS, RO Dakar Regional Director and relevant Geneva Departments and Divisions on the progress, plans, priorities and strategies and developments related to the Ebola Response and public health issues in Guinea.

15. Maintain a high level of scientific, global and public health methods expertise, and ensure that analysis and sharing of health data of significant relevance stemming from IOM programme in the area of migration health is maintained. Identify emerging issues to ensure that IOM programmes are based on scientific evidence.

16. Contribute to regular reporting on project achievements, problems encountered, pertinent developments, and strategic needs for IOM Guinea-Conakry Health programs, as well as for donors and partner agencies.

17. Undertake duty trips to locations on a regular basis.

18. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Competencies

Behavioural

• Takes responsibility and manages constructive criticism;
• Works effectively with all clients and stakeholders;
• Promotes continuous learning; communicates clearly;
• Takes initiative and drives high levels of performance management;

• Plans work, anticipates risks, and sets goals within area of responsibility;
• Displays mastery of subject matter;
• Contributes to a collegial team environment;
• Creates a respectful office environment free of harassment and retaliation, and promotes the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA);
• Incorporates gender-related needs, perspectives, and concerns, and promotes equal gender participation;
• Displays awareness of relevant technological solutions;
• Works with internal and external stakeholders to meet resource needs of IOM.

Technical

• Effectively applies knowledge of health issues in execution of responsibilities at appropriate level;
• Maintains confidentiality and discretion in appropriate areas of work.

Emergency and Crisis

• Works effectively in high-pressure, rapidly changing environments;
• Coordinates actions with emergency response actors and making use of coordination structures;
• Supports adequate levels of information sharing between internal units, cluster partners, IOM and other emergency response actors;
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with implementing partners;
• Makes correct decisions rapidly based on available information.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• University degree in Medicine from an accredited academic institution with at least ten years of professional experience; or
• University degree in Medicine from an accredited academic institution plus Master’s Degree in Community Medicine, Public Health, Medical Specialization in Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine or other related fields from an accredited academic institution with eight years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Extensive experience in public health and in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating health programs and protocols;
• Experience in public health and/or emergency health response;
• Experience in implementation of infection prevention and control programs;
• Experience in humanitarian crisis, natural disasters and contagious diseases;
• Previous working experience in an infection control institutional environment or an

Ebola Response project will be an asset;

• Working experience in a resource-limited setting is an advantage;
• Familiarity with the public health sector within the Africa region is an advantage.

Languages

Fluency in English and French is required. Working knowledge of any regional languages is an advantage.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via PRISM, IOM e-Recruitment system, by July 09, 2015 at the latest, referring to this advertisement.

For further information, please refer to:

http://www.iom.int/how-apply

In order for an application to be considered valid, IOM only accepts online profiles duly filled in and submitted with a cover letter not more than one page specifying the motivation for applications.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. You can track the progress of your application in your personal application page in the IOM e-recruitment system.

Posting period:

From 25.06.2015 to 09.07.2015

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