Senior Health Officer

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 Senior Health Officer (SHO) will be responsible for managing all health activities in All Der-ez-Zor governorate:providing clinical services staff and resources in his/her assigned IRC Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCCs) and the MMUs, She\he will provide technical and operational oversight for all primary and health service packages delivered by the PHCCs. The SHO will report to the Senior Health Manager – Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor.

Responsibilities:

• Manage all health activities and service delivery in assigned PHC/MMUs with coordination with Senior Health manager.
• Directly manage medical and support staff who are paid volunteers working as a team inside the facility.
• Oversee all operational needs for the PHC/MMUs, ensuring all running costs and inventory needs are well planned and managed; Work in close coordination with Field Management teams to ensure the facility and activities have necessary operational and logistical support.
• Responsible for overall planning, implementation of community level activities, and establishment of health committees and coordination within program and with relevant stakeholders at community level and other NGOs working in the area with particular focus on health.
• Work in collaboration with other health team members specializing in specific technical areas and service packages to ensure clinic staff are properly trained, following treatment protocols and guidelines, as well as delivering quality services.
• Under the supervision of the Senior Health Manager the SHO will manage all aspects of Primary Health Care including supervision and capacity-building of service providers, and monitoring plans 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 and ensuring the service providers using the RH related data recording and reporting tools
• Manage all medical commodities in the PHC/MMUs; work in collaboration with the Pharmacy team to plan and prepare orders for pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment.
• Prepare supervision plans and conduct regular technical monitoring of clinic services; prepare reports with identified issues, recommendations, and action plans to improve quality of services; Conduct patient chart reviews on weekly basis and submit report to the Health Manager.
• Analyze routine health data to report on trends, identify gaps or challenges to service delivery, and inform program decision making.
• Collaborate with health team members to design and implement needs assessments in catchment area.
• Collaborate with health team members to design interventions that address gaps identified in community assessments, monitoring of quality of care, from routine data, and/or from community health information.
• Ensure health information system and data collection processes are properly implemented in the clinic.
• Participate in regular project review meetings with the Senior Health Manager and Health Coordinator; contribute to plans for corrective actions based on technical supervision, indicator performance, and M&E reports from patient satisfaction surveys and monitoring visits.
• Submit weekly progress reports to direct line manager; contribute to monthly and quarterly reports per project needs for grant reporting.
• Coordinate with other health actors and partners in implementation area and participate in the regular meeting with LHA and other health actors.
• Train and mentor staff/volunteers with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance
• Oversee all recruitment and management of clinic-based staff and volunteers; conduct periodic performance reviews, manage all disciplinary actions with the support of the supervisor and Human Resources department, identify and recommend needed changes in staffing.
• Offer leadership support for successful adherence by staff to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.
• Coordinate with other sectors “IP, ERD” in the area to ensure referral pathway for beneficiaries between all the sectors and encourage integration for the resilience and other projects in DEZ.
• Contribute to the assessments for new or ongoing projects.
• Support partners staff for trainings and ongoing services, and reporting.
• Other duties assigned by line manager.
  

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 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.