IRC's health portfolio in the DRC represents an integrated programme of primary health care support, including reproductive health, to Ministry of Health structures covering more than 20 health zones in 5 provinces of the DRC. Total funding is more than $20 million per year, more than half of which is confirmed for 3-4 years. The IRC seeks a senior health professional to provide leadership and coordination to the health programs as the Health Programs Director (DHP).

SCOPE OF WORK:

The DHP will be ultimately responsible for the development, implementation, standardization, and evaluation of all health related activities for a 3-donor portfolio of health programs that integrates primary health care support, including reproductive health. The primary focus is on promoting program quality, impact and scale. This will require a well developed system to monitor and evaluate program progress against quantifiable benchmarks. In addition, the Health Program Director will be responsible for overall leadership and representation for the IRC in this sector, including contributing to advocacy efforts and technical learning in collaboration with the NY headquarters-based technical Health Unit and the DRC Country Management Team.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provide leadership and strategic vision on health programs, policies, and activities, ensuring consistent and appropriate implementation in all IRC program areas.
• Institute appropriate technical oversight of IRC health programs, ensuring that they comply with accepted standards and best practices.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of IRC health programs. Generate and disseminate regular program reports, ensuring timely and constructive feedback to field staff and partners
• Deliver timely and compelling information to donors for on-going health projects, including meeting donor reporting requirements. Meet with donors regularly as required to develop support for current and future activities.
• Manage effectively the human resources in country and link to available resources like the HQ technical unit to ensure the highest possible program quality in country and contribute to IRC's institutional capacity.
• Establish good rapport and communication with local and national level health authorities to ensure that the IRC health projects are well supported and well integrated into and conform to national health policies to the degree feasible.
• Create and promote a culture of respect and belief in community ownership and participation among IRC staff in all supported health projects.
• Establish a system for regular staff evaluation, and standard procedures for new health position posting, interviewing, and applicant selection, including consultants.
• Ensure that IRC health project implementation promotes capacity building within the Congolese health system to the maximum degree possible, including among local communities, local NGOs, Community Based Organizations, and government staff and agencies.
• The SHC/DHP will act as the focal point in the development of new health projects. S/he will work with the Country Management team, IRC technical staff, and with community members to conceptualize and develop the project design, assist in writing the project proposal, and assist in the development of the monitoring and evaluation system.
• Promote professional working relationships and resolve staff conflicts and concerns in a timely manner

REQUIREMENTS:

• MD or RN, with MPH preferred.
• At least five years of oversees experience (ideally in Africa), managing complex health programs in developing countries, especially involving multi-donors and extensive budgets (at least $5 million per year).
• Experience in developing post-conflict health programming preferred, or at least experience in both conflict and development contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in project design and use of project design tools (logframes, causal pathway, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience in developing strong monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Demonstrated data collection skills.
• Experience in working with and coordinating with the UN, EU, US donors, international and national NGOs and government agencies.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, in French and in English.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building and mentoring.
• Willingness to travel extensively to visit program sites (up to 50 % of time).
• Must be willing to endure basic living conditions when traveling to field sites;
• Must be willing to travel frequently and for extended periods of time to remote sites;
• Ability to work well in unstable security environments, and under intense administrative and programmatic pressures. Must demonstrate flexibility to adapt to changing requirements;
• Be culturally sensitive and have the ability and interest to identify and work with a multi-ethnic team;
• Applicant should have a wide range of skills and interests;
• Must be able to work independently while being a team player.

This is a long term, accompanied position.

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Reference Code: RW_7H9JW5-25