Jobs at International Rescue Committee

Job Overview / Summary:

The Senior Technical Adviser (STA) –Health will report to the STA-Health (Country Support) and manage a team of five Health Advisors who provide technical support to countries in Asia, East Africa (EA) and Middle East & North Africa (MENA) regions. She/he is responsible for ensuring high quality health technical support to country programs in these regions working in close collaboration with STA Health (Country Support), STA- Health (Specialized Areas), STA-Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH), STA-Nutrition, STA-Environmental Health, STA-Emergency Health, and STA MEAL to develop technical norms and standards for country support as well as implement a plan for team capacity development. Working relations with STAs in other technical units will support cross-sector collaboration while maintaining a close working relationship with regional and country program leaders will be important. The STA – Health will also play an important role in donor engagement, advocacy, and IRC representation related to Health programming. This position will lead IRC’s cash and health strategy development and implementation.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership for the delivery of Health technical assistance to IRC country program staff so that they can design, implement and improve health programs. The STA Health should ensure that technical assistance aligns to the TA model’s core and important functions and that technical assistance is continuously improving and well-received by regional and country program colleagues, as evidenced in field feedback through biannual surveys. The STA is expected to proactively reach out to country program colleagues to establish strong working relationships and trouble-shoot challenges as needed. With the support of the STA- Health (Country Support), the STA-Health will also support the implementation and the development of standards, tools, and procedures for health program support to country health programs.
• Provide necessary management and technical support to the team of Health TAs working in the three regions, supporting their continuing professional growth, and improving their performance. This involves clarifying job expectations, setting performance objectives and measurable targets, providing appropriate and timely feedback on performance, including full implementation of the staff performance management process; supporting training/continuing technical education; and leading by example.
• If needed, provide guidance to Health TAs on technical support to specific countries, including guidance on action plans, project/program design, fund-raising, and monitoring and evaluation as well as staff capacity development. This may involve joining calls between technical advisers and country programs, supporting review of documents and project design and implementation.
• Collaborate with Health TU STAs from Environmental Health, Emergency Health, SRH, Health-specialized areas and Nutrition as well as the MEAL STA to ensure technical assistance is seamless and coordinated to each country and region needs.
• Work with STAs from other sectors to establish mechanisms for coordination and collaborative delivery of country support in the three regions
• Work with the STA-Health (Country Support) and other STAs to define and prioritize high-impact interventions and the approach to achieve them, including the tools, partnerships, donor engagement and capacity-building required
• Working in collaboration with the STA MEAL to support the Measurement Unit’s strategy as it applies to health programming and country support in the three regions.
• Take leadership for or contribute to the development of Health TU- led project proposals as needed.
• Stand in for STA -Health (Country Support) or other colleagues during absences.
• Represent IRC in global partnerships and relevant conferences.

Job Requirements:

• Medical, nursing, or other clinical degree plus MPH or equivalent.
• At least 8 years public health experience in senior technical and management positions, including provision of remote technical support, with evidence of progressively increasing responsibilities. Experience should include at least three years of residence in developing countries; work in a humanitarian setting (with refugees and/or internally displaced population);
• Demonstrated expertise in multiple technical areas (e.g., primary healthcare, child health, sexual and reproductive health), strategic areas (e.g., governance, health systems strengthening, cash programming in health programs and research), and program management and fund-raising (e.g., program development, proposal writing, monitoring & evaluation, and management of donor relations).
• Excellent leadership and team management experience and skills - the ability to lead a team, motivate staff and promote productivity, resolve conflict, and contributes to a pleasant work environment.
• Excellent communication skills - the ability to write professional documents, and create and deliver presentations to different audiences: project/program staff, management staff, mature professionals, policy makers, donors etc.
• Proven experience in strategic thinking, strategy development and implementation.
• Solid organizational skills - the ability to be flexible and work well under pressure, dealing with competing priorities, in a fast-paced team environment.
• Professional-level fluency in English; French and/or Arabic proficiency will be a huge plus.
• Ability to travel approximately 30% of the time.

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Job Description

Working under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Nutrition Officer, The Nutrition Officer (NO) will lead the implementation of all nutrition related activities at the IRC run health facilities and communities in the refugee settlement and the surrounding host communities in Hagadera refugee camp. The NO will be responsible for providing training (nutrition), coaching, mentorship and technical support, including M&E for the nutrition program. Key areas will include, but not limited to the detection and treatment of acute cases of malnutrition; implementation of the prevention package of IMAM, IYCF, Maternal Child Health and Nutrition; supporting outreach activities that include surveillance and patient follow up; and preparing and submission of donor reports as required.

Key Responsibilities:

Programming

• Provide overall technical leadership and direction to nutrition activities being implemented at Dadaab refugee camp in line with the UNHCR, UNICEF, ECHO technical narrative, work plans and targets.
• Ensure quality and timely identification and treatment of medical complications associated with malnutrition in SC/OTP/SFP.
• Give and advise on the drug regimen for children in the SC, OTP and SFP programs.
• Participate in daily ward rounds in the SC ward with the medical team.
• Ensure that all required observations, prescribed treatment and procedure are properly carried out and documented in the patients’ cards
• Mentor the nutrition assistant staff and auxiliary nurses to manage patients with acute malnutrition as per protocol.
• Train and mentor IRC nutrition staff and other key stakeholders in GMP, IYCF and IMAM; especially the OTP and SC staff.
• Ensure the establishment of nutrition monitoring activities and train health staff in case detection and referral system.
• Ensure timely reporting in accordance with set deadlines.
• Monthly submission of CMAM report to the Senior Nutrition Officer.
• Improve the provision of quality nutrition counseling in the hospital SC and Comprehensive care Clinic (CCC) and other entry points in the health programme in liaison with relevant IRC sectors.
• Plan and conduct continuous monitoring of the OTP, SFP and SC patient.
• Participate in program strategic planning and roll-out of new program areas in liaison with key stakeholders and cooperating partners.
• Adhere and uphold IRC code of conduct at respective work area.

Supervision and leadership

• Directly supervise nutrition officers and nutrition nurse in SC and OTP/SFP sites.
• Supervise and work in strict collaboration with the nutrition team in the screening activities of severely malnourished children.
• Identify training gaps for the incentive staff and beneficiaries within nutrition program and communicate the same to the program manager.

Networking and coordination

• Ensure proper communication, coordination and harmonization of tools with the different stakeholders involved in food/nutrition activities.
• Develop and coordinate the adherence and reporting of nutrition education sessions as per developed annual plan.
• Monitor and supervise proper usage of essential nutrition therapeutic feeds such as F100, F75, RUTF.RUSF, CSB++and Resomal to avoid stock outs.
• Create appropriate linkages and referral for nutrition activities.
• Work closely with other health programs in spirit of integration for maximum output.
• Attend all program implementation meetings.

Qualifications

• MUST Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics.
• MUST Registration and Up to date License with KNDI
• Possess at least three (3) years’ experience in implementing nutrition related activities in a busy hospital and community set up. 
• S/He must possess ability to analyze and interpret both quantitative and qualitative programmed data.
• Must possess excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision.
• Must have cognate skills in computer applications.
• MUST possess a high level of integrity and with good interpersonal skills
• Ready to work in difficult environmental conditions.

Required Experience:

• Addition nutrition training in CMAM/IMAM/COMPASS and MIYCN is an added advantage.
• Strong communication skills, oral, written and presentation.
• Previous experience in Arid and Semi Arid Lands of Kenya
• Previous experience working in insecure contexts
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations.
• Strong background in humanitarian projects.
• Demonstrate proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, E- mail, out look
• Should be a team player and culturally sensitive.