Senior Manager- Health

Program Brief:

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since the IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Recently IRC has also introduced two new programs: Protection Rule of Law (PROL) and Education. Through 2018, the IRC’s response strategy will primarily target Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, while meeting the significant needs in both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded with cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC will grow over time its geographic coverage within Cox bazar and to other parts of the country, thus expand its’ networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response work, reach beyond the Rohingya refugees, also targeting the vulnerable host groups in Cox Bazar and other parts of Bangladesh.

In order to reduce morbidity and mortality in Rohingya camps and host communities, the IRC Health interventions in Bangladesh is supporting increased access to essential life-saving health services for Rohingya and host communities in Ukhiya and Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar district. The IRC is currently supporting primary healthcare center (PHCC), comprehensive and limited sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in different Basic Emergency and Obstetric Neonatal Care (BEmONC) centers and Women Friendly Spaces (WFS), through standalone projects or partnership with international and national actors. In addition, in response to the need for emergency referrals from household level to the appropriate health facility, twelve emergency referral hubs are being set and managed by the emergency referral hub team.

Purpose of this role:

The position will work under the direct supervision of Sr. Program Coordinator-Rohingya Response and will be responsible for designated health programs for its delivering and timely implementation in coordination with the Health Coordinator. (S)He will be the focal point for designated IRC’s health services in the camp setting and responsible for their programmatic, operational, partnership, financial, and staffing aspects. The Sr. Health Manager will also oversee and lead the implementation of Health-related activities before, during and after an Emergency Response in the event of a mass casualty or natural disaster. In this context, s(he) will be responsible for the management of the PHCC/comprehensive and limited SRH/Referral hubs Project. This includes the development and update of the PHCC/comprehensive and limited SRH/Referral Hub SOPs, Operational Plans, and all relevant documents; and disseminating those to the PHCC/comprehensive and limited SRH/Referral hubs teams, including through capacity building.

Major Responsibilities:

Project Management

• Responsible for overall project management and coordination of quality emergency health programs, including PHCC/comprehensive and limited SRH/Referral hubs Project. Ensure that program goals, objectives, targets and activities are met, as stated in the donor agreed project work plans and log-frame.
• Lead the Emergency Health program. Ensure all emergency response protocols are in place for all emergency dispatch and referrals; and build capacity of staff.
• Ensure development and execution of project planning and management documents, including but not limited to: project results framework, detailed implementation plan, financial plan, M&E plan, procurement plan, human resource plan;
• Prepare quality report for internal, external (Govt) and donor purposes, management and other internal and external reports and ensure their timely submission.
• Work with relevant department to provide accurate and timely spending plans, cash forecasts, and salary allocations. Put in place measures to track financial spending and ensure budget is spent as per health project financial plans.
• Work closely and coordinate with IRC Operations, Finance and Grant departments to ensure compliance with grant requirements.
• Ensure coordination between IRC health projects, to increase harmony and complimentary between activities and locations, including as it pertains to referrals and ambulance dispatch.
• Work closely with other IRC programs present in the same location in camp setting, such as Women’s Protection and Empowerment, child protection, education and integrate program components; and
• Provide strategic oversight on coordination of ambulance services, emergency referral hubs, live bed management, logistics in both camp and outside camp setting.
• Support the process of program staff recruitment as need and when required.
• Perform priority organizational tasks related to his/her competencies as may be assigned from time to time.

Budget Management

·Authorize expenses, monitor program expenditure and budgets, and work with Program, Grants, Finance, Operation and Supply Chain team to ensure resources are optimally utilized and spending is in line with IRC’s financial procedures and donor requirements.

·Ensure that project budgets and detail implementation plans are in place and their timely implementation in a cost-effective manner, that costs are kept within budgets.

Program Quality and Technical Support

• Conduct regular monitoring visits to the various project sites, ensuring that projects utilize standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as outlined by the Ministry of Health and WHO. Identify technical quality and/or other implementation issues and provide solutions and follow-up to ensure projects are on track to meet goals and are consistent with established standard methodologies.
• Ensure that the health program is implemented in line with the IRC Strategic Action Plan and its outcomes and Health sector requirements.
• Strictly follow up the medical and operational supply chain system, ensure that staff are recording stock, timely ordering for the supplies and accountabilities in relation to the warehousing and using of the supplies including medicines and medical items essentially.
• Promote the culture of learning and documentation so that lessons learned, and good practices are documented and shared for institutional memory and learning. Ensure that field experiences are documented and used to advocate on behalf of the communities.
• Assess unmet needs in the health sector with a special focus on Primary and Sexual & Reproductive Health and make recommendations for how IRC can better address identified unmet needs, contributing to the IRC’s health strategy; and

Team Management and Development

·Provide direct supportive supervision to the managers Clinical Supervisor/referral hub manager/ facility in-charge and support them to do the same for the health staff they supervise to enable them to successfully perform in their positions.

·Ensure training and ongoing capacity building opportunities for existing and new staff on technical and project management skills.

·Responsible for performance management including setting performance objectives and conducting regular performance appraisals on progress with supervisees, providing timely and constructive feedback to develop their professional practice.

·Spend significant time in field locations to provide hand holding support to team and supportive supervision; and

·Ensure staff well-being and care is prioritized and is an integral part of weekly/monthly work plans.

Coordination, Representation and Advocacy

·Represent IRC to and proactively engage in relevant coordination fora and meetings at both at camp/field and Cox’es Bazar level.

·Dedicatedly build strong functional relationships with relevant actors at camp level for camp access and approval and with other international and national actors/organizations and UN agencies.

Other duties and responsibilities

·Maintain open and professional relations with all IRC and partner team members, promoting a strong, respectful team spirit, ensuring effective communication, and opportunities for debriefing.

·Consistently and dedicatedly monitor/assess the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment.

·Advance major incidents to the Emergency Health Coordinator, Senior Program Coordinator and Security Manager; and

·Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Deliverables:

·Delivery of health projects as per work plans and budget agreed with donors.

·Fully functioning 24/7 referral hubs; including in the time of emergency.

·Protocols for emergency coordination developed, including ambulance coordination.

·Strong coordination and mapping between health activities, including referral facilities.

·Strategy documents and communication plans developed; and

·Staff capacity strengthened.