JOB DESCRIPTION
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
The IRC worked in Haiti from 2010 through 2016, initially launching an emergency response to the earthquake and later delivering child protection, water and sanitation, health, women’s protection and empowerment, and economic recovery programs in Port-au-Prince and beyond. Even with the closure of its country office in 2016, the IRC has continued to provide operational, technical, and financial support to a small number of Haitian NGO partners, including in response to the 2021 earthquake. Haiti was identified as one of 20 countries at greatest risk of a major new—or significantly worsened—humanitarian crisis over the year ahead in IRC’s 2023 and 2024 Emergency Watchlist given its political instability, gang violence, rising food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and climate shocks that could drive rapid escalation of the humanitarian crisis. In early 2023, IRC re-opened its Haiti operations and scaled up its emergency response with a fully partner-led response in Port-au-Prince and surrounding communities. The focus has been on neighborhoods highly affected by gang violence as well as limited access to healthcare and services for survivors of violence and/or cholera hotspot issues. IRC is also engaging with partners in the Artibonite and Ouest Departments to service unmet needs in those areas.
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The IRC Emergency Humanitarian Access Unit (EHAU) led the initial emergency responses and support establishing a country program that can be fully transitioned under the Latin American (LATAM) region.
Scope of work
The Health Coordinator is responsible for facilitating the design and delivery of direct and partner-led high-quality health services programming to reduce morbidity and mortality rates through primary health, reproductive health, WASH, and nutrition interventions. They will likewise ensure national and international guidelines are adhered to as well as uphold quality standards and ensure results-based monitoring & evaluation. The Health Coordinator will identify specific growth and business development opportunities for the IRC including managing existing and future partnerships and developing strategic plans for the country program for scalable, high-impact programming. The Health Coordinator will identify specific opportunities for local partnerships and NGOs with a partner-first approach. They will serve as the key liaison with local and international implementing partners, the Health Cluster, SRH, WASH Clusters, and Nutrition Cluster as appropriate, and other cluster coordination platforms, municipalities, governmental partners, and other stakeholders.
The Health Coordinator reports to the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP). The position will work closely with program sector leads, MEAL Coordinator, Partnerships Coordinator, Finance and Operations departments.
Responsibilities
Program Strategy
• Provide strategic direction and overall technical and management support to direct and partner-led health programs in Haiti, inclusive of both emergency response, post-conflict recovery, and transition to longer-term programming with business continuity and health systems strengthening.
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• Advise and assist in designing new programs and co-designing with partners, including identifying business development opportunities, supporting the conceptualization/design of program activities, drafting or providing substantial input into technical proposals, concept notes, designing M&E systems, and budgets for international donors, and responding to any requests for additional information from the Health Unit or the Emergency Humanitarian Action Unit as needed.
• Ensure that partnership considerations are incorporated in program design and proposal development and that partners are proactively engaged in program development efforts. Ensure appropriate budget resourcing for partner projects.
• Refine a comprehensive strategic approach to health, in collaboration with other sector leads, as well as multi-sectoral programming with Protection.
• Provide overall managerial oversight and leadership for the health department, including overseeing operational functions for achieving the project’s goals, and budget management.
Program Quality, Management, and Implementation
• Responsible for project coordination with partners and direct program implementation in line with the response strategy and IRC international priorities, frameworks, and policies.
• Provide technical leadership and direction for health activities, in accordance with the Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF); define and implement context-appropriate activities to achieve the greatest coverage and impact possible for both immediate support to people affected by violence in Haiti.
• Directly participate in Partner Capacity Analysis (PCAs) and the subsequent development of partner support plans for program activities
• Develop any required standard operating procedures and program guidance in line with the IRC’s internal policies and global program standards.
• Work closely with Supply Chain colleagues for the targeted, high-impact procurement of medications and medical supplies, as needs dictate.
• Ensure regular communication with other program Technical Coordinators and regional-based Technical Advisors for Health, WASH, and Protection, to integrate appropriate technical unit priorities, the latest evidence, and best practices in program design and implementation.
• Adapt IRC direct implementation tools and systems for partner use in line with identified needs and requests.
• Work with IRC staff and partners to generate better contextual understanding by conducting required needs analysis, IPC assessments, health facility assessments, and other sectoral assessments to inform quality activity design and share with other humanitarian actors.
• Collaborate with key staff of other technical sectors to prepare strategic work plans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation plans, and tools for evaluation, including indicators.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, with target goals and budget management, using effective monitoring and evaluation systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts.
• Ensure program activities adhere to standard operating procedures and exhibit strong quality controls while being responsive to client feedback
Equitable Partnerships
• Champion a culture of effective and respectful partnerships. Promote partner-led programming in line with IRC’s “why not partner?” and “partner as equals” approach.
• Develop health staffing structures with the appropriate number of staff to effectively manage partnerships and ensure quality.
• Ensure that partnership considerations are incorporated into health components of all proposals and that local partners are actively engaged response design and program delivery.
• Participate in the identification of potential partners and stakeholder analysis process.
• Actively contribute to the relevant sections of Partner Capacity Analysis (PCA) and the subsequent development of partner support plans.
• Manage the implementation of action items in the health sections of partner support plans.
• Lead and/or support collaborative project and budget design with partners.
• Ensure each program design defines IRC’s emergency approach based on how we can best support, reinforce and complement local actors.
• Work collaboratively with partners to ensure that project budgets reflect fair market value.
• Ensure appropriate budget allocation for IRC to support partners in alignment with the overall response / program design.
• Review and provide feedback on partner technical tools, reports, and data as required. Collaborate with partners on recommended adaptations or process improvements.
• Actively participate in the Partnership Working Group (PWG)
Grants and Financial Management
• Manage emergency grant/program implementation including recruitment and training, work plan development, procurement and inventory planning, budget management, and M&E plans
• Conduct stakeholder and partner analysis: continually review existing actor mappings to identify key actors and establish partnerships focused on the delivery of health services.
• Develop high-quality technical proposals and reports with relevant program and partner staff in line with IRC and donor requirements
• Oversee the development and delivery of all internal and external reports in collaboration with the grants, programs, finance, and MEAL departments.
• Review partner technical tools, reports, and data; foster use of data for decision-making and recommend adaptations or process improvements as required.
• Collaborate with IRC grants and finance staff to finalize proposals and respond to any requests for additional information.
Staff Management
• Recruit, onboard, and supervise IRC health, WASH/IPC staff, and provide targeted capacity building and professional development as needed, including technical guidance, on-the-job coaching and supervision, and capacity development plans on technical and managerial skills
• Comply with and ensure that new health staff understand the IRC Code of Conduct and policies related to Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Child Safeguarding. This includes ensuring that staff and communities have knowledge of and safe, confidential access to reporting mechanisms and support services
• Coordinate performance management within the department and ensure a culture of high performance through staff engagement and accountability.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
Coordination and Representation
• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key actors, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors
• Regularly attend Health/WASH and other relevant coordination and task force meetings, at appropriate levels to feed in IRC priorities from the field.
• Ensure Health concerns and challenges are brought to relevant fora to advocate for standards and procedures that systematize how integrated health programming is implemented and coordinated at the field level.
Other
• Other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor to further IRC programs.
Job requirements:
Education: Clinical (Medical or Nursing) degree with Masters in Public Health or equivalent required
Work Experience: Minimum of six years of experience in humanitarian health programming in acute emergency and post-conflict recovery contexts (including at least two years lived experience).
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
• Experience working with IRC and an understanding of IRC’s systems and processes is strongly preferred.
• Genuine interest in and commitment to collaborating with local and national NGOs and government partners in emergency programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading a team and building partnerships to achieve results.
• The ability to innovate and provide integrative multisectoral programming in collaboration with WASH and Protection in complex emergency and post-conflict contexts.
• Previous experience leading programming in complex emergencies and low-resource settings as well as the ability to recruit, supervise, coach, and mentor staff.
• Proven leadership and strategic planning capabilities, including budget management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of gender equality topics and proficiency in managing projects that mainstream gender considerations.
• Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Demonstrated dedication to an anti-racist and Do No Harm approach, gender equality and inclusion, and cultural competency
• Exceptional advance planning and organizational skills.
• Able to effectively prioritize and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Highly organized with close attention to detail.
Language Skills: Fluency in English and French are required.
Working Environment: IRC’s office in Port-au-Prince with local travel to partner project sites as security and access permit.
**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.