Program Manager- Core Group Polio – Global Security Project at International Rescue Committee

Job Description

Reporting to administratively to Field Manager and Technically to Health Coordinator, Program Manager- Core Group Polio – Global Security Project, will be responsible in planning, implementation, supervision, and monitoring of IRC’s Core Group Polio – Global Health Security Project in Turkana County. /He will collaborate closely with the county health team, the directorate of veterinary services, and the Core Group Polio – Global Health Security Project secretariat team to ensure the implementation of activities aimed at polio eradication and the prevention of Priority Zoonotic diseases at the county level by increasing population immunity and improving surveillance.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Coordination and support:

• Participate in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of community-based surveillance, routine immunization, and supplemental immunization activities throughout the county, and provide project oversight in accordance with project deliverables. Participate in the development of work plans, budgets, and reports for the implementation of CBS activities.
• Supervise the implementation of CBS in the CGP_GHS project in county, with close monitoring for quality control in the field.
• Support the health staff, animal health assistants, and community mobilizers in working as a team, managing CBS alerts, and coordinating with authorities for investigation and response.
• Participate and provide support as guided by the project priorities in AFP surveillance, Priority zoonotic diseases outbreak investigation, polio outbreak investigation, case, and contact tracing.
• He/She is expected to work hand in hand with the county disease surveillance coordinator and County Veterinary officer in organizing for and training health facility staff at the facility level on CBS surveillance on polio and Zoonotic diseases.
• S/he will be training and building capacity within the county and with MOH/Partners as relevant and timely actions to CBS alerts raised by community mobilizers and community disease reporters.
• Take part in Cross border meetings and implementation of cross border polio eradication activities.
• Analyze CBS data on a daily and weekly basis to act on critical alerts and summarize alerts and zero report performance.

Finance and Grant Management:

• Lead the Core Group Polio- Global Health Security Project (CGP-GHS) budget management, ensuring spending is maintained within appropriate margins.
• Identify and respond to project needs, implement activities, and conduct follow-up to ensure project success.
• Monitor timeliness, quality, and progress of project deliverables as per the work plans and implementation plans in place.
• Ensure timely documentation and use of information to continuously improve the quality and performance of the project.

Communication and Documentation:

• Craft and maintain project related record-keeping system and provide accurate documentation of all reporting forms.
• Provide material related to project progress and update both internal and external use.
• Assist in the development of publications, success stories and communication materials wherever possible.

Coordination, Representation and Advocacy:

• Implement effective communication strategies to maintain strong correspondence among partners.
• Create and maintain relationships with key project counterparts and partners.

Qualifications

• Degree in public health, nursing, clinical medicine, or medicine.
• Advanced degree in public health is an added advantage.
• At least 5 years’ experience with community-based surveillance, Community health programs, public health surveillance, IDSR, or epidemic response operations with at least 2 years’ experience at project management level.
• Experience working closely with Ministry of Health and Directorate of Veterinary Services on disease surveillance and immunization programs/activities at county or national level.
• Ability to regularly collaborate with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and partners in technical working groups, one health forum, and CBS-related forums, while maintaining positive professional relationships.
• Familiarity with diseases of epidemic potential, and One Health principles.
• Experience participating in forums with Ministry officials and partners, as a representative of the organization.
• A team-oriented and collaborative approach; flexible and responsive when working with other departments and teams.
• Experience in supporting a team of staff, especially the staffs working in borders areas.
• Competent in Windows, MS office programs, email, and database (HMIS, EPI-Info) experience.
• Strong assessment, project planning, organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills (Written and Spoken).
• Ability to multitask, handle pressure and flexibility.