Health Advisor

Role & Responsibilities

Provide technical advice and support to the field management and the health staff. Responsible to develop, lead, monitor and evaluate the health aspects of the country programme. Coordination at a senior level, with national and regional health authorities as well as other NGOs. Lead on all health proposals and reports, providing capacity building for national and international staff, promote best practice in the health programmes and contribute to the overall management of the country programme.

Project Overview

Medair is currently implementing four projects within South Sudan. Medair is providing emergency primary health care based on the basic package of health services to vulnerable host and displaced populations in Renk County. Health facilities were established by Medair on an emergency basis, but due to protracted needs they have become more established facilities. The health programming in Leer County is focussed on community level interventions, in addition to a mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) project. Medair is in the process of starting up a new project in Jonglei with a significant health component. Medair also maintains health and nutrition emergency response teams that are able to respond rapidly to any health or nutrition emergency in any area of South Sudan. Emergencies may include high mortality rates, disease outbreaks, population displacements, or emergency level global acute malnutrition rates.

Workplace & Conditions

Field based in South Sudan, Juba based with frequent travel to the field locations.

Starting Date / Initial Contract Details

April 2021. Full time, 24 months.

Key Activity Areas

Health Project Technical Oversight

• Maintain an overview of the country health programmes and of the regional context, with a view to strategically developing new projects in current sites and/or surrounding regions, and proactively planning for responsible exit. Provide technical cover for the Nutrition Advisor as necessary.
• Give technical advice to field managers and GSO on potential involvement in new health interventions and internal capacity for implementation.
• Define appropriate policies, guidelines and protocols for the clinical aspects of Medair’s work in country, with GSO Advisors, field managers, and relevant government, Sphere and WHO guidelines.
• Provide technical support to the health teams in all project sites, including the evaluation and impact analysis of current projects and the writing of donor proposals and reports.
• Carry out regular monitoring visits with other field managers, ensuring that project objectives are met within the stated timeframes and in accordance with recognised international standards.
• Supervise and monitor the development of reporting systems for health data collection, analysis and follow-up and feedback to relevant staff, donors, partners and other agencies.
• Maintain an oversight of medicines and health supplies ordered for the projects, supporting the health and logistics staff in the coordination and quality control of supplies.

Representation

• Develop relationships with Ministry of Health, Health Cluster, UN, NGOs, donors, partners with the objective of raising public awareness of Medair and ensuring good co-operation and partnerships.
• Seek out networks or task groups on specific health and humanitarian aid issues. Accompany donors on field trips, and ensure programme details are transmitted in a timely and professional manner.
• Represent Medair at national cluster, coordination, sector and bilateral meetings, working groups, with national, local government departments and any other meetings, facilitating supportive synergies and overall progress in the health sector, avoiding duplication with the work of other agencies.

Staff Management

• Be involved in the recruitment of health and staff, providing advice on technical skills and experience.
• Ensure that all health staff is adequately trained and create possibilities for capacity building, mentoring and coaching, within budget constraints. Plan and develop training material with support from GSO Advisors. Support line managers in inductions and appraisals of health staff.
• Overall responsibility for staff health/occupational health procedures & development of procedures.

Financial Management

• Support the relevant field managers and GSO staff to plan and construct health budgets.

Quality Management

• Ensure health projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and in accordance with Medair, donor, country and international standards e.g. Sphere and HAP standards, WHO recommendations.
• Regularly assess and provide feedback and recommendations to GSO Advisors as well as field staff on the quality of health programmes and interventions during field visits and at other relevant times
• Attend Medair yearly health and nutrition workshop as well as periodic online meetings with GSO Advisors to keep up to date on recommendations and guidelines for Medair health programming.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Clinical degree (nurse or doctor), or Public Health degree. Clinical degree with Public Health degree strongly preferred. Medical doctor. Degree in Tropical Medicine desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written).

Experience / Competencies

• At least 3 years’ experience in managing programmes in international public health work, with at least 1 year in humanitarian emergency context.
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Sphere and CHS Standards and other guidelines and protocols.
• Experience in the design, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of public health programmes.
• Advanced leadership and project management skills. Experience and willingness in training.