Deputy Technical Health Manager

1. Scope

1. Context

About Relief International

Relief International (RI) partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and well being.

Currently, RI is active in 14 countries around the world, including some of the most fragile: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.

Relief International includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: Relief International Inc., Relief International-UK, Relief International-France and Relief International-Europe Under our alliance agreement, we operate with a single, shared management structure.

About our Country Program/ Regional Programs

Middle East Region

RI operates in six countries in the Middle East region:  Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Yemen, with a focus on the four RI sector pillars: Health, WASH, Education and Economic Opportunity.  We employ more than 4,000 staff (direct and indirect) in the Middle East region and implement a range of humanitarian and development programs valued at approximately $70 million USD on an annual basis.

Africa/ Asia Region

RI operates in seven countries in the Africa/Asia region: Afghanistan, , Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, and Sudan, with a focus on the four RI sector pillars: Health, WASH, Education and Economic Opportunity. We employ more than 3,000 staff (direct and indirect) in the Africa/Asia region and implement a range of humanitarian and development programs valued at approximately $60 million USD on an annual basis.

1. Job Profile

The deputy Health manager –Technical will be responsible for the overall technical guidance and quality assurance of all health and nutrition program activities implemented in the Hub. Under the supervision of health program manager, the post holder will closely work with the health, nutrition and medical commodities coordinators, and Whole of Syria (WOS) Health Advisor to ensure that the health & nutrition programs are implemented as per international and national guidelines and meet high quality standards. The post holder will actively participate in the strategic planning, coordination and implementation and monitoring & evaluation of health and nutrition program. She/he will be responsible for the management and capacity building of the health technical teams in Turkey and NWS. This is a senior position with overall technical and quality assurance responsibility.

1. Key responsibilities

Technical Direction and Strategy

• Provide strategic and technical direction to ensure successful implementation of RI health and nutrition program in NWS from technical health perspective. This includes contributing to RI strategies (health unit specific and RI strategies).
• Participate in the design of the health sector contingency plan (in coordination with Health program manager, Deputy Hub Director, other programs and security) as part of wider preparedness and adaptive management.
• In coordination with the Program Manager, ensure that early warning systems and contingency plans are in place for investigation and control of outbreaks of infectious diseases and other health issues of concern.
• Advise on proper utilization of standards for emergency response during crisis and provide technical guidance to the emergency response team in the field in close coordination with the program manager and Deputy Hub Director.
• In coordination with the health Program Manager, review new health related initiatives by the program department to ensure feasibility from a technical and strategic points of view.

Program Development and Quality

• Continuous monitoring of the health situation and analyze health needs of affected populations in Syria; and prioritize the needs that should be met by RI program.
• Take the lead in providing technical input in concept notes and proposal development process in line with health strategy and general RI strategic objectives.
• Ensure that health programming incorporates cross-cutting themes, such as but not limited to gender, disability, child protection, etc.
• In coordination with technical leads of country clusters and health & nutrition coordinators, develop a strategic technical plan per health component including but not limited to Primary Health Care, Secondary Health Care, Reproductive Health, community health, nutrition, and mental health
• Provide technical support in developing and program management tools such as log frames, work plans, indicator tracking table and monitoring tools to support implementation.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Oversee and support close monitoring of the implementation of the delivered health services by RI-supported health facilities according to international standards and scope of work.
• Provide technical guidance and support to program and MEAL teams to effectively monitor health & nutrition programs and integrate findings and recommendations to improve program quality.
• Develop/ Adapt appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools and train health & MEAL teams on their appropriate use.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to health & nutrition activities inside Syria including capacity building of health & nutrition teams inside Syria.
• Support clinic audits to assess status of health services, quality of supply and facilities, and on-site health information systems, in accordance with RI and international standards and policies.
• Participate in grants opening, monthly review and close out meetings and support the review of progress of program activities and indicators against target.
• Provide inputs and review to technical aspects of internal and external reports prepared by program managers.
• Establish and maintain health technical information sharing platform accessible to RI staff and health facilities to facilitate capacity building, behavior change communication, and overall technical guidance.
• Ensure regular monitoring of pharma handling across the entire pharma supply chain (both internally and externally), including but not limited to adherence to the pharma management standards, prescription standards, etc.

Partnerships and Coordination

• Represent the technical components of RI health programs in coordination and cluster meetings in coordination with relevant department.
• Act as focal point in channeling information between the country program health technical unit for XB program and the technical advisor/lead.
• Maintain regular communication with local stakeholders active in health sector and focal points in RI supported health facilities to generate innovative methods of health system strengthening.
• Proactively engage with UN Health Cluster and various technical working groups to position RI as Health sector leading organization from strategic and technical perspectives.
• In coordination with Deputy Hub Director, proactively explore funding or strategic development opportunities for RI with various.
• In coordination with advocacy focal points, proactively engage in advocacy messaging within/among relevant coordination platforms/stakeholders.
• In coordination with various internal and external stakeholders lead establishment of effective referral mechanisms.

Capacity Building and training

• Participate in assessing the status of current health program, structure, functions, and standards and devise a health program quality improvement plan in close coordination with M&E manager and program manager.
• Propose capacity building activities aimed at enhancing skills of local health providers in delivery of health services.
• Review the structure of the health unit and periodically map out the staffing needs in alignment with program size and any expansion or reduction
• Set individual capacity building goals/indicators for team members and set regular meetings to review work plans and deliverables.
• Provide regular capacity building activities to ensure understanding and harmonization of health sector standards across various NW Syria Hub departments and staff
• Any other related task assigned by line manager

1. Person Specification

Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.

Essential criteria

• Advanced degree in Medicine or public health. 
• Master’s degree in public health, international health, or other related fields is an added advantage.
• Minimum of five years professional experience in implementing emergency health and nutrition programs, preferably in a conflict setting
• Strong understanding of and considerable experience in technical issues around both clinical medicine and public health at primary and secondary health care
• Extensive experience in providing technical assistance to public health service providers in remote conflict setting.
• Willingness to conduct cross border visits to Northwest Syria
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and strategic planning skills required.
• English required and Arabic preferred.
• Strong English writing skills is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, tasks efficiently.
• Excellent time management skills and resourcefulness with strong attention to detail

1. RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability

How to apply:

In case you meet the requirements and you are interested in the position, please send your CV in English in addition to three professional references to [email protected] before December 11th, 2024 stating in the subject “Deputy Technical Health Manager“

All candidates must be eligible to work in Turkey"

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply

Please be aware that, due to the urgency of filling this position, HR will review applications on a daily basis and the position may be closed before the deadline.