Helen Keller Intl
Job Announcement
Public Health Specialist, Saving Lives Phase III
(Freetown, Sierra Leone)
Guided by the remarkable legacy of its co-founder, Helen Keller, Helen Keller Intl partners with communities that are striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty. By delivering the essential building blocks of good health, sound nutrition, and clear vision, we help millions of people create lasting change in their own lives. Working in 20 countries – across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States – and together with a global community of supporters, we ensure every person has the opportunity – as Helen did – to reach their true potential.
Helen Keller is recruiting for a Consortium Public Health Specialist for the FCDO funded Saving Lives Phase III program in Sierra Leone. The program aims to support the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) to deliver on improving maternal, child and reproductive health outcomes in country while strengthening health systems for a sustainable solution. The Specialist will be responsible for technical quality assurance of the implementation for the program across all Consortium partners. Working closely with the Consortium Team Lead and Clinical Specialist, they will ensure that the program is delivered in line with proposal commitments, donor compliance and under GoSL leadership and policies.
Background
Helen Keller has been operating in Sierra Leone for nearly 20 years in support of the reproductive health, nutrition and Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) components of the National Health Development Plan of the Ministry of Health, as well as food security component of the Ministry of Agriculture. The organization is committed to generating evidence, carrying out robust research and a high input into research publications.
Functional Relationships
Reporting directly to the Program Director, and with a dotted line to the Consortium Team Lead at Concern Worldwide (CWW), the Public Health Specialist will be part of the Consortium Coordination Unit (CCU) and guide a team of technical staff spread across Consortium partner organizations. In addition, the Specialist will be expected to represent both Helen Keller and the CCU the program to Government, partners and donors as needed.
The position will liase with colleagues at all levels of Helen Keller’s structure and may be called upon to participate in global working groups and/or steering committees.
Helen Keller has a matrixed reporting structure. Regular communication and a spirit of teamwork among colleagues, both hierarchically and laterally are essential to make this structure thrive.
Key Responsibilities
- Together with partner program leads, oversee the technical implementation of the program with special focus on family planning, data-driven operational support to districts, health system strengthening and health governance.
- Work with Consortium Team Lead and Clinical Specialist to develop, implement and oversee quality of care/quality improvement interventions in the districts in collaboration with MoH.
- Provide supportive supervision to the implementation and monitoring of the cascade mentorship scheme.
- Provide guidance to District Health Management Teams in the allocation and coordination of the district operational support, as needed paying particular attention to district needs.
- Provide programmatic oversight, troubleshooting support and contribute to data analysis by working closely with the monitoring and evaluation staff on all program measurement related initiatives.
- Participate in and contribute to:
- all program technical discussions, assessment design and implementation, etc.;
- donor discussions; and
- all relevant national meetings/workshops/coordination forums on reproductive (including family planning), maternal, child health and nutrition in country.
- Establish and maintain good working relationships with:
- relevant staff at Consortium partner organizations; and
- Government counterparts and staff in districts
- Contribute to visibility materials, district and donor reports and discussions: gather and compile inputs, draft and edit, as needed.
- Liaise with Helen Keller colleagues to share progress and foster regular engagement.
- Model collaboration: effectively consult and inform colleagues to maximize efficiency and knowledge sharing and integrate guidance and direction from subject matter experts in your team and elsewhere in the consortium and/or global organization to maximize performance.
- Ensure accountability to clients, partners, colleagues, and donors by adhering to the Code of Conduct and Ethics, providing ongoing feedback in a context of mutual respect, and upholding our commitment to Safeguarding.
Required Qualifications and Competencies
- Education: A master’s degree in a relevant field – public health, international health, anthropology, nutrition, international development, etc.; plus
- Experience: six to eight years in a similar role, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Clinical practice/experience will be an added advantage.
- Demonstrated ability and experience in designing and/or implementing reproductive, maternal and child health projects.
- Demonstrated experience and/or knowledge of working at sub-national levels.
- Experience with monitoring and evaluation tools and systems.
- Excellent oral and written English language skills, including the ability to synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues.
- Computer literate and proficient; including knowledge of data management and analysis.
- Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal guidance.
- Collaborative, flexible and solution-oriented. An ability to maintain balance when under stress.
- Willingness to travel within the country to project sites, and to international meetings.
- All staff must be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to travel internationally.
- Demonstrable respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender.
- Personal commitment to Helen Keller’s mission and goals and the values embodied by Helen Keller Intl’s co-founder, Helen Keller: compassion, rigor, grit, and integrity.
How to apply
To Apply
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to hki.recruitment@hki.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
In the spirit of our founder and namesake, Helen Keller is dedicated
to building an inclusive workforce where diversity in all its forms is fully valued.