Job Title: Senior Health Officer
Band / Level / Grade: 8A
Department: Emergency
Location: Aden
BACKGROUND: 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.
The IRC responds to people’s acute and longer-term needs with integrated programs that improve health and safety, prioritize children’s education, foster economic wellbeing, and empower communities to regain control over their lives. Our work gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, conflict sensitivity, coordination, and impact.
The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. Since establishing its presence in the South of Yemen, in the Red Sea Coastal city of Aden, the organization has grown from just an implementing small project to handling large scale emergency and relief operations. Following the war which broke out in Yemen in March of 2015 and the humanitarian disaster, which was crafted by the same, IRC launched one an emergency response program in the southern governorates of Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah and Al Dhale, and expanded later in Sana’a and Hodeidah in the North. Currently IRC Yemen is operating in eight governorates in the south and north of Yemen through direct programming and through local partnerships, in Health, WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development, Education, Child Protection, Gender and Women Protection and Empowerment.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) have been working in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for more than forty years. Today, the IRC has more than 2,200 staff working across the region, including in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen to support those affected by some of the world’s most complex and protracted humanitarian crises.
SCOPE OF WORK:
IRC seeks a professional who will provide strategic leadership and technical oversight for all of IRC's emergency Health and Nutrition response activities in Yemen. This includes both directly implemented initiatives as well as partnerships with local organizations. The senior officer will be accountable for the full programming cycle - from rapid assessments and activity planning to budget management, quality assurance, commodity logistics, and monitoring & evaluation. They will also participate in the organization's emergency preparedness efforts and influence sector-wide standard processes. This is a position based in Aden office.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Senior Emergency Health & Nutrition Officer will be responsible for the oversight and implementation of all IRC's emergency response activities in the region. Drawing on their robust public health expertise and crisis leadership skills, the Senior Emergency Health Officer will orchestrate the planning and execution of rapid assessments, field-level supervision, partner capacity building, and meticulous monitoring and evaluation to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality healthcare and nutrition services to affected populations. Serving as the senior technical lead, they will supervise data quality, donor reporting, and the use of evidence to improve emergency programming, actively supervise the health and nutrition situation, trigger responses to infectious disease outbreaks, and support IRC's preparedness efforts through contextual analysis, supply chain management, and stock monitoring. Adept at fostering collaborative relationships with key collaborators, the officer will also play a pivotal role in leading emergency supply chains, influencing sector-wide standard methodologies, and contributing to IRC's broader preparedness efforts – all to enhance the impact and accountability of the organization's humanitarian interventions during sophisticated, resource-constrained emergencies.
WORKING RELATIONS:
- The position holder will be based in Aden governorate with field visits to the emergency response locations. They will be reporting to the Emergency Coordinator. They will also be supervised by the Head of Health & Nutrition for all technical health & nutrition requirements.
- Work closely with All departments at the Aden IRC Office, Collaborate and coordinate with INGOs and NGOs, government authorities, community leaders, and others.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
Health & Nutrition Management:
1. Act as the technical lead for all IRC-implemented emergency health/nutrition responses, including developing budgets, work plans, procurement plans, MEAL plans, and regular report updates in close coordination with relevant departments.
2. Plan and complete rapid assessments in emergency locations in collaboration with the emergency team and partners. Supervise the process of data collection, collation, and dissemination to meet the requirements and deadlines set by IRC and/or external partners.
3. Ensure accurate and timely reporting of activities for internal and external reports (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly, and final reports).
4. Coordinate and be responsible for budget development and spending on health & nutrition interventions, ensuring reports are completed promptly in line with IRC and donor requirements.
5. Chip in towards IRC's overall emergency health & nutrition emergency preparedness.
6. Maintain appropriate, regular, open, and supportive communication with the health and nutrition partners, other health and nutrition staff, field coordinators as well as other relevant partners.
Partnerships:
7. Lead and supervise the assigned emergency health and nutrition partnership portfolio including day-to-day management, technical support, development and training, appraisals, etc.
8. Participate in due diligence of partners to assess their capacity to implement health/nutrition activities.
9. Participate in the review of partner proposals submitted for funding.
10. Review reports submitted by implementing partners.
Quality Management:
11. Develop and apply monitoring tools to supervise and evaluate the progress of activities, service quality, and end-user satisfaction.
12. Undertake regular and frequent supportive field visits, and supervise the progress of activities, including regular clinical supervision to frontline medical teams in static facilities and mobile health teams, and provide on-the-job training as needed.
13. Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability in all aspects of humanitarian action in health and nutrition.
14. Participate in post-response reflections and evaluations in collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) department, including analysis of client feedback.
15. Implement relevant policies and standards relating to health and nutrition humanitarian action including Sphere and HAP standards, Ministry of Health, and donor guidelines and standard process.
16. Participate as requested in internal IRC learning workshops and distance learning sessions to keep up with changing trends, new guidelines, and standard processes.
Health and Nutrition Commodities Management:
17. In collaboration with the Supply Chain department, handle the correct and timely forecasting and procurement of required stocks and supplies.
18. Ensure rational utilization of beneficiary commodities, tracking, reporting, and replenishment at the point of use.
19. Monitor expiration dates of all stock to ensure timely use and make distribution plans for items that cannot be used in an emergency response before expiry.
20. Take part in the verification and updating of stock inventories.
Key working relationships
- Coordinate health/nutrition interventions with the Emergency Coordinator, Partnerships Coordinator, Health & Nutrition Coordinators, WASH, ERD, and Protection colleagues as well as support departments.
- Work closely with the supply chain unit in timely procurement, selection, and inspection of health/nutrition goods and services, Liaise with HR in staff recruitment, and Finance in budget preparation and utilization.
REQUIREMENTS: (Qualifications, Skills and Abilities):
A. Education:
- Medical qualification: medical doctor, prefers public health/community health certificate.
B. Experience:
- Five years or more of experience in Health and nutrition programs, preferably with INGOs.
- Previous experience supporting acute emergency responses is strongly preferred.
- Experience working with national NGOs and local partners on emergency management is an asset.
- A Minimum of Five years of clinical professional experience in hospital settings.
C. Skills and Abilities:
- Good grasp of humanitarian standards and approaches including the cluster approach, SPHERE standards, and WHO emergency health and nutrition practice.
- Ability to work collaboratively with communities and other departments within IRC, health facilities, and other organizations.
- Knowledge of project management processes is required, including work plans, budgets, and reports.
- Experience in training, supporting, and mentoring NGO/CBO staff.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work under pressure.
- Fluency in both Arabic and English is preferred.
- Digital literacy in word processing and spreadsheets is required.
- Skills in reporting, including narrative writing and data analysis.
D. Proficiencies:
- Knowledge and skills in crafting and implementing appropriate and effective health interventions for crisis-affected populations.
- Analytical skills that demonstrate an understanding of the current context, priorities, and issues in monitoring, data collection, and evaluation
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
- Works Collaboratively with others.
- Strong cross-cultural communication skills and comfortable working as part of a diverse team. Sensitive to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints
- Highly diplomatic with excellent political awareness and sophisticated negotiation skills
- Advanced planning and organizational skills. Able to efficiently prioritize and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously
- Flexible and innovative. Able to adapt plans and pivot approaches in response to changes in context
- Proactive, reliable, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment
Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, marital status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Commitment to Client Responsiveness: By committing to Client-Centered Programming, at the IRC Yemen, we place the people we serve - our clients - at the center of our programming and services. The IRC Yemen Staff have an important role to play in supporting the implementation of client-responsive programming through raising awareness among the community and clients about the existing feedback mechanisms and how to use them including the response processes, access, and eligibility to services, and contribute to building an institutional culture that prompts staff to listen to clients.