Health Coordinator (Head of Unit) - Beirut

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Job Overview

The Health Coordinator is the focal point for the health program in Lebanon and ensures the implementation of quality healthcare programming across the country.

The Health Coordinator will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all partners, including the Ministry of Public Health and other national and international NGOs, and will also be responsible for fulfilling IRC’s strategic objectives for the health sector. The Health Coordinator reports to the Deputy Director of Programs and receives technical support from the regional technical advisors from the health unit.

Major Responsibilities

Technical monitoring and Program quality

• Contributes to the development of country program health strategy and plans.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with other health actors for effective coordination.
• Ensure timely submission of quality donor reports and updates for health implementation.
• Develop and adapt tools and processes, to successfully implement health interventions in line with IRC strategy.
• Conduct regular follow up to support health partners and ensures high quality implementation.
• Conduct regular and timely financial reviews for all health programs, and submits regular reports and updates.
• Ensure that all health grants have updated and accurate spending plans.
• Work closely with Monitoring and Evaluation team to ensure sound data collection and information management systems are in place for ongoing performance analysis and programmatic adaptation based on data and identified needs.
• In coordination with other IRC sectors, identify opportunities for collaboration and for multi sectoral interventions.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain team to ensure a smooth procurement and distribution of pharmaceuticals and other. medical supplies and equipment for all health interventions.
• Contribute to all project cycle meetings for health grants (design, opening, implementation and closure meetings)
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure proper implementation of activities and identify any potential risk or gaps, and propose adequate corrective measures.
• Oversee the medical advisor mission, and ensure that corrective actions and adaptations take place at the level of the supported PHCCs whenever needed.
• Ensure quality implementation of primary healthcare activities at the level of supported PHCCs (Non communicable and communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health, mother and child care, mental health).

Partnerships

• Support the identification and contracting of new health partners.
• Ensure the development of regular performance monitoring plan of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives.
• Provide technical support and guidance to health partners.
• Identify the partners’ technical areas that need technical capacity building.
• Develop capacity building plan for partners organizations along with close monitoring of performance.
• Arrange regular meetings with partners to discuss program implementation and understand any challenges and barriers.

Business development

• Design health projects and interventions in coordination with the technical health team.
• Lead the development of health concept notes, theory of changes, narrative proposals and budgets of health projects.

Human Resources Management

• Supervise the health team’s adherence to internal policies and practices, and appropriate use of tracking mechanisms.
• Develop the capacity of supervised team through setting individualized professional development plans and directly coach staff to achieve goals.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of interim and annual performance reviews.

Representation and Coordination

• Identify opportunities to collaborate and coordinate with MOPH, UN agencies, and NGO partners, to ensure complementarity of IRC’s health strategy within the broader humanitarian health sector.
• In consultation with the deputy director of programs, represent IRC to government departments, international agencies, local partners and donors as required.
• Meet with the IRC potential health donors and represent the IRC health portfolio.
• Represent IRC in health technical working groups or task force.

Job Requirements

• Health professional background with a public health and/or health management degree.
• More than 5 years’ experience in coordinating, implementing and managing health programs in developing or volatile countries, and specifically in primary health and community health.
• Experience implementing both emergency and development-oriented health programming.
• Experience integrating health programs with other sectors (especially education, protection and livelihoods)
• Knowledge and experience in participatory design methods, community development and partnership.
• Background in situation analysis, health assessments, and program implementation.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, and facilitation skills; ability to delegate responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent coordination and networking skills.
• Fluency in English is required and Arabic will be an asset.
• Willingness to move around Lebanon whenever needed.
• Experience in capacity building and mentoring of staff.
• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Strong written and oral communication, effective in representation and liaison with external parties. 
• Previous experience with information management, health data analysis and use of data for program improvement
• Strong time management skills with ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable, creative, and innovative in a challenging and fast-moving multicultural environment and promote teamwork.
• Strong program and technical knowledge as well as planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills.

Language/Travel

• English and Arabic are required.
• The position is based in Beirut with frequent travels to field sites.

Candidates agree to disclose to IRC any situation of actual potential conflict of interest that impacts the capacity to serve the best interest of IRC, and understand that any misstatement or misrepresentation described during the recruitment process and/or after hiring may lead to his/her disqualification or dismissal by IRC, and/or sanctions by the Donor (World Bank).

Professional Standards

IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.