The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Health Officer (Medical Doctor)

Location: Zamfara
Requisition ID: req41437
Sector: Health
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time

Project Overview

• The BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance) project, “Integrated Emergency Response to the Displaced Population in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina States, Northwest Nigeria” depending on fund availability will be carried out by a consortium led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in collaboration with the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima), Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), and Life Helpers Initiative (LHI), aims to leverage each partner’s expertise to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people populations through area-based approach.
• The Consortium partners will provide an integrated multisectoral intervention in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Protection, and Multi-purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) activities in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states in collaboration with state governments, UN organizations and other key actors in Northwest Nigeria.
• The project will be implemented by a dedicated support, quality assurance, and coordination team, who will work closely with all partners through a management unit of well-structured consortium governance for the activity.

Job Overview / Summary

• Under the direct supervision of the Health Manager, the Medical Doctor is the clinical supervisor for all IRC’s health care services in Gusau and Anka LGAs, Zamfara state.
• The focus of our health programs is to provide integrated quality comprehensive health services including RH services integrated with WPE services to conflict-affected women and girls in a timely manner.
• S/he reports to the Health Manager and also works closely with the Senior Area Manager on day-to-day administrative issues.

Major Responsibilities
Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy:
Health program management:

• The Medical Doctor shall be responsible for the supervision and day-to-day management of health activities within Gusau and Anka LGA, including support to primary health care facilities, and mobile health services in the IDP camp and harder to reach areas.
• Apply medical knowledge and skills to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment according to national guidelines and protocols, and ensure patient follow-up as needed.
• The Medical Doctor will identify need for referral to secondary care and prepare the patient for referral including referral notes, pre-referral treatment and arrangement of transport.
• S/he will provide on-the-job support to the facility staff, including training and skills development as needed.
• Ensure adherence to infection prevention and control within and around the facilities.
• Together with the Health outreach officer, recruit, train and supervise community volunteers for community sensitization and outreach activities.
• Coordinate with State Primary Health Development Board and other actors in the area and maintain good relations with them,
• In coordination with the Health Manager, identify opportunities to strengthen the health program.
• S/he will oversee the stock management of medicines, medical supplies, medical equipment and prepare timely requisitions for replenishment based on consumption records.
• S/he will collect weekly morbidity reports and monitor disease trends in order to preposition adequate supplies as may be required.
• Participate in outbreak response and control coordination when applicable and carry out community-based public health interventions during communicable disease outbreaks.
• Participate in and support midwives, community mobilizers and community volunteers in activities that aim to increase women’s RH awareness and service utilization.
• Seek out and nurture quality partnerships with community structures and support staff in coordination of activities with community volunteers.
• Collaborate with other relevant sectors such as Reproductive Health, Women Protection & Empowerment, Child Protection and Environmental Health to ensure holistic service package is available in response to the needs.

Program Development / Grant Management:

• Contribute to design, planning, and drafting new proposals.
• Contribute to donors’ reporting whenever necessary.
• In collaboration with Health Managers, develop an expenditure plan, review budget vs. actual expenditure for health grants on a monthly basis and take necessary actions.
• Ensuring budgets are used appropriately and efficiently and spending is in line with the IRC financial procedures and donor requirements;
• Ensure data collection, data compilation, timely preparation and submission of all internal reports including weekly and other associated monthly, quarterly, donor and special reports;

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Monitor and supervise the IRC health staff and ensure that work is done properly and efficiently.
• Routinely monitor staff performance according to their job description and provide written feedback in a timely manner.
• Develop ongoing education programs for health staff and conduct training and on-the-job training for health staff.
• Review personnel issues and concerns of health staff and assist in determining and implementing solutions.
• Determine personnel needs for field-level activities, and in coordination with the Health Manager and Human Resources Lead assist in recruitment of staff.
• Recommend promotions, disciplinary action, and termination of health staff to the Health Manager
• Monitor staff daily attendance to duty posts and ensure time sheets are correctly filled and submitted monthly.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.
• Research, Learning and Analysis

Monitoring health program implementation:

• Monitor closely the morbidity and mortality trends together with all the other health indicators to ensure that prompt actions are taken.
• Provide weekly activity reports to the Health Manager and Field Manager.
• Attend meetings concerning overall health program issues.
• Supervise and regular review and revise training manuals to maintain consistency with the acceptable protocols.
• Monitor and promote integrated programming in a way that increases overall impact of health program at the community level.

Coordination & Representation:

• Represent the program to Local government representatives, , partner agencies, etc. as required
• In coordination with the Health Manager actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders with government actors, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Attend all relevant meetings in relation to the health program as may be required and feed in the IRC priorities during meetings;
• Facilitate field visits for internal and external stakeholders, when required.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to:  Health Manager
• Indirect/Technical Reporting:  Consortium management Team. Senior Health Manager, Senior RH Manager, Health Coordinator.
• Position directly Supervises: Health officer, nurse midwives, Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy officer.
• Key Internal Contacts: country Program:  SPC, Deputy Director Program, Finance Manager, Supply chain Manager, Senior Area Manager, DDFM
• Key External Contacts : INGO Partner in Gusau and Anka

Qualifications
Education:

• Degree in Medicine and Surgery from a recognized institution, with strong public Health background, master’s in public health will be an advantage.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years post internship experience in clinical medicine and public health.
• Experience in supervising health staff at the primary health care level
• Ability to work with displaced communities with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Flexible, diplomatic and have ability and willingness live and work under pressure of workloads
• Able to work in a location with basic living conditions and with limited communication options.
• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Preferably trained in Basic (and Comprehensive) Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care, iCCM, EPI etc
• Language Skills:  English, working knowledge of Hausa and Fulani preferred.
• Certificates or Licenses:  Must be registered with Nigeria Medical Practitioners and Dental Council and allowed to practice in Nigeria.
• Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:
• Skills and experience of remote management
• Flexible, diplomatic and have ability and willingness live and work under pressure of workloads
• Ability to Travel: 5 % of time if applicable.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.