Health Specialist

JOB SUMMARY         

Responsible for the planning and technical supervision of all health programming at the country level and will work under the direction and support of the health coordinator. The position holder is responsible for leading, managing, and coordinating the planning, implementation, and evaluation processes of health programs such as comprehensive Primary health care services provisions, SRH, MHPSS, emergency health, and other health interventions of MTI country programs. S/He will represent MTI in different coordination meetings when relevant and work together with health and nutrition managers and team leaders at the field level. He/She also participates in disease surveillance and response during the occurrence of an outbreak provides training, follows up on early warning and integrated disease surveillance, regular data collection, mapping of MTI intervention areas in terms of occurrence of epidemics, conducts capacity assessment at the project sites & health facility and assessment of risk factors and hazards for the occurrence of outbreaks and disease patterns in the project areas. 

JOB RESPONSIBITIES

Essential Duties / Responsibilities:

• Ensure MTI comprehensive primary healthcare unit standards and protocols are met. National health policies and strategies are respected and other relevant project management issues including donor requirements issues including donor requirement are properly addressed.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance during the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of health programs to the field team.
• Review the program budget and ensure that there is a regular alignment of budget versus expenditures.
• Support the development of national and regional-level health strategies, models, and standards for implementing field teams.
• Ensure programs and projects are aligned with Medical Teams strategy, core health service package, and interventions are based on the best available evidence and international standards.
• Work closely with team leaders and referral workers to support and advocate for the operational needs of the health programs.
• Contextualize and adapt global guidelines, tools, and protocols to meet local clinical needs for program implementation and training with the support of the health coordinator.
• Monitor the health information systems and data management as carried out by M&E teams to ensure it is regularly analysed and meets the needs of health teams.
• Support team leaders and other health staff to troubleshoot challenges and respond to emerging needs.
• Monitor and evaluate health services against accepted international humanitarian standards and ensure the application of evidenced-based practices to deliver high-quality services to the targeted communities.
• Provide training and capacity building of health technical staff based on assessed needs.
• Liaise with logistics teams to support medical supplies and pharmaceutical supply chains including technical aspects of procurement, warehousing, consumption tracking and pharmaceutical projections.
• In consultation with the health coordinator represent MTI at health coordination meetings at national and regional level, task force meetings, and other partner coordination meetings and communicate relevant information back to the health and nutrition program manager.
•  Support production of regular site and donor reports leading on analysis of data and response to achievements or shortfalls.
• Support the Health coordinator in sector strategy and project design development for new donor proposals and budgeting processes including support for log frames and monitoring and evaluation plans along with M&E team.
• Participate in different assessments and evaluations and produce reports. 
• Follow and support the Emergency health referral, SRH, and MHPSS activities.
• In support of the health coordinator monitor the health budget, raise PRs, and develop TORs for different health activities.
• Follow and support the DHIS2 implementation.
• In support with the Health Coordinator raise JORs, and undertake interviews for newly recruited health staff.
• Other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor.

Quality Management

• Aiming to achieve the highest quality programming possible within the challenging context of the intervention areas in Ethiopia.
• Ensure that all program quality assurance monitoring is conducted regularly, analyses the result and puts in place a quality improvement plan.
• Support other MTI clinical staff to maintain good infection control practices to prevent the spread of infection within the clinic and among the staff. As necessary work closely with the MEAL officer to ensure data quality.
• Ensure service quality.

SAFEGUARDING

Support safeguarding of program participants and employees through promoting an environment of awareness and upholding the code of conduct provisions of Medical Teams Protection from Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Child & Vulnerable Adult protection, and harassment-free workplace policies. Incumbents will remain alert and responsive to any child and adult safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child and adult safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding.

Additional activities

• Support other areas  as requested or needed to ensure efficiency and quality of work for all.
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment, disposing of waste appropriately. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and reaches their potential as individuals and teams and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to adhere to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies.

Safeguarding & Code of Conduct

Medical Teams International is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Medical Teams International Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Children and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy Training upon hire and on an annual basis.

NOTE:  The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by staff assigned to this job.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of staff in this position.  Duties, responsibilities, and skills are also subject to change based on the changing needs of the job, department, or organization. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned; The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by Medical Teams International as the requirements of the job change.

Team: Program Teams 

Reports to (position): Health Coordinator  

Work Days & Hours: Monday-Friday, occasional weekends and public holidays

Travel: Regular travel to field offices

If Manager of Staff, Positions Supervised:

(directly & indirectly) TBD # of Positions Supervised TBD

• Doctor of medicine (MD) or other relevant clinical degree in public health or Nursing
• Postgraduate training in General Public Health is an added advantage.

• Minimum of 3 years progressive responsibility in international humanitarian programs
• Minimum 2 years senior level related role to primary health, maternal and child health, reproductive health, and communicable diseases in humanitarian or development programming, with at least one year in a humanitarian context at an NGO.
• Experience with an international NGO or UN agency is required.

• Knowledge of humanitarian principles and operations and project cycle management.
• Knowledge of [Country] MoH, WHO, and UN health systems and policies.
• Strong knowledge of evidenced-based practices in health in humanitarian settings.
• Basic knowledge of principles and current approaches to monitoring and evaluation in relief and development programs. 
• Fluent in spoken and written Amharic and English.
• Excellent communicator. 

• Skilled in communications using email, applications including teams, and WhatsApp
• Skilled in project cycle management
• Skilled in capacity building and mobilizing staff to achieve a common goal.
• Skilled in relationship building with the ability to liaise with multiple partner agencies.
• Skilled in using DHIS 2, IRHIS, and HMIS database systems. 
• Skilled in data analysis and writing proposals and reports. 
• Skilled at using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

• Strategic thinker with analytical skills
• Keen interest to mentor others
• Ability to travel to health facilities frequently and at times upon short notice.
• Ability to exercise considerable initiative to plan, organize and follow through to meet deadlines.
• Ability to support MTI Calling and adhere to the MTI mission, vision and core values
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
• Ability to prioritize tasks.