Job Description

Job Title: SBC Health Manager
Band / Level / Grade:  7B
Department: Health
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:

The Social Behavior Change (SBC) Manager will coordinate initiatives to boost vaccine acceptance and promote positive behavioral changes. This involves addressing demand creation barriers through tailored activities developed with community leaders and health actors. The initiatives aim to improve understanding of the intervention area and inform strategies to reach zero-dose and under-immunized children. The role includes collaborating with SBC consultants to design strategies that encourage healthier lifestyles, address social determinants of health, enhance community engagement, and promote sustainable practices for overall well-being.

JOB SUMMARY:

The SBC Manager will lead all aspects of the planning, execution, and evaluation of SBC programs, focusing on effective communication and community mobilization strategies while developing and leading initiatives to influence social behaviors positively. This position requires collaboration with various partners, including local authorities, NGOs, community leaders, and healthcare providers, to ensure the successful adoption of health-promoting behaviors. H/She will conduct research, build educational campaigns, and report to the Program Director, working closely with the monitoring and evaluation team to assess the impact of SBC interventions and achieve desired outcomes.

WORKING RELATIONS:

• Report directly to the Health Coordinator.
• Lead and supervise SBC team.
• Collaborate closely with the MEAL team, and health program teams.
• Engage with community leaders, local NGOs (FMF and YFCA), government representatives, and other partners.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies. 
• Educate/raise awareness among the community and clients about the existing feedback mechanisms and response processes.
• Work with SBC consultants to improve understanding of the intervention area and inform the design of a behavior change strategy to reach zero-dose and under-immunized children.
• Conduct formative research data collection and Vaccine coverage assessments to identify barriers and enablers that impact vaccine hesitancy and immunization behaviors.
• Support the design and implementation of comprehensive SBC strategies tailored to community needs.
• Assist in the development of educational materials and resources to support SBC initiatives.
• Supervise and evaluate the efficiency of behavior change programs to ensure that SBC initiatives align with established strategies.
• Handle budgets and resources for SBC initiatives.
• Facilitate community workshops and training sessions to promote health behaviors.
• Create an encouraging environment for behavior change in collaboration with community leaders and partners.
• Conduct outreach activities, a multi-media campaign, host community dialogue forums in target locations.
• Collaborate with local community leaders, religious leaders, and other influential individuals to demonstrate their credibility and reach to encourage vaccination uptake.
• Use a peer-to-peer approach to promote vaccination acceptance among households. 
• Coordinate vaccination awareness campaigns in schools, workplaces, and community centers to promote vaccination uptake among these target groups.
• Collect and analyze data on community health behaviors and program outcomes.
• Utilize findings to inform program adjustments and report on progress to partners.
• Prepare reports and presentations on program outcomes and impact.
• Lead and mentor a team of SBC specialists and community mobilizers.
• Provide training and support to staff and volunteers involved in SBC initiatives.
• Participate in relevant forums and working groups to advocate for SBC strategies and share standard methodologies. Conduct meetings quarterly project review meetings, midterm program review and learning workshop, and project opening and closing meetings.
• Perform other tasks as required by the supervisor.

REQUIREMENTS: (Qualifications, Skills and Abilities):

A.    Education:

• A qualified physician with a degree or equivalent experience in General Medicine and Surgery is strongly preferred.
• Relevant certifications in Behavior Change Communication, Community Health, or similar disciplines are preferred.

B.     Experience:

• A minimum of 2-3 years of experience working with NGOs and INGOs in health-related programs, particularly in social behavior change or community mobilization.

C.     Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for effective community engagement.
• Ability to analyze data and develop actionable insights to inform program strategies.
• Experience in designing and implementing health education and behavior change initiatives.
• Proficiency in project management and coordination.
• Capacity to train and mentor staff and community volunteers.
• Adaptability and problem-solving skills in dynamic environments.

D.    Proficiencies:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Familiarity with data analysis software or tools (e.g., SPSS, STATA).
• Understanding of community health frameworks and theories of behavior change.
• Experience with social media and digital communication strategies for health promotion.
• Fluency in local languages and English is highly desirable.

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.

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.