Democratic Republic of the Congo: Emergency Response Health Project Manager

Develop, lead, monitor and evaluate the assigned health projects, effectively managing and reporting on the projects in line with the objectives, timeframe and budget with a focus on response to new crises requiring assessments and short-term interventions. Manage and oversee primary health care staff to meet international quality standards in health care delivery.

Project Overview

Emergency multi-sectoral projects target displaced, insecurity affected and vulnerable populations in Nord Kivu Province, in Eastern Congo. Projects are focused on health, WASH and infrastructure rehabilitation, with a strong emphasis on rapid response to emergency situations in complex and unstable environments and/or remote locations.

Take a look at Medair’sHealth & Nutritionwork.

Medair

Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired and motivated by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. As signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, we believe that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of political, social or religious viewpoint. We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. We provide a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition; safe water, sanitation, and hygiene; shelter and infrastructure. Internationally recruited field and headquarters staff lead the organisation, supported by nationally recruited staff to implement programmes locally.

Workplace

Field based position in Nord-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Take a look at Medair’s work inD.R. Congo.

Starting Date

As soon as possible

Initial Contract Details

Full time, 24 months

Key Activity Areas

Health Project Management

• Manage the assigned health projects (including short-term emergency responses) in order to meet the project objectives within budget and within the allotted time frame and report promptly any operational concerns to line manager and country health advisor (e.g. projected failure to meet objectives; increased beneficiary needs; projected over or under spending on project budget).
• React quickly to crisis and organize appropriate assessments and responses though coordination with Medair partners, with prioritization given to life saving activities.
• Set clear objectives and indicators for health activities in collaboration with the country health advisor, health staff, field managers and, where appropriate, with the local communities.
• Continuously monitor and supervise health activities, evaluating progress through outputs and impact using both quantitative and qualitative data, and involving the health team (and where applicable local health authorities) in analysis and taking appropriate action as needed to ensure continued progress.

Staff Management

• Line-manage the Health Manager of the assigned projects, including day-to-day management, development and training, appraisals; enforce disciplinary policies for positions directly managed.
• Provide coaching and technical supervision to staff in order to develop ownership and full responsibility for health activities.

Financial Management

• Manage the health budget for the assigned projects and ensure that all expenses are according to budget and meet Medair and donor standards with regard to financial management, including accountability and good governance.
• Draft annual budgets for health and emergency response projects.

Communication & Coordination

• Develop and maintain appropriate, regular, transparent and supportive communication with the assigned health team, Medair in-country and Headquarters health and nutrition managers and advisors and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. beneficiaries, community leaders, local and national government officials, UN agencies and other NGOs), with the objective of ensuring good cooperation and partnerships.
• Proactively network and coordinate with the health cluster and health agencies to seek out opportunities for locations to assess and respond.
• Ensure clear internal coordination within the ERT and with advisors, to increase multi-sector assessment and intervention.

Logistics

• Work with Logistics team to prevent stock outages and ensure stock requests, purchase requests, cash forecasts and movement requests are submitted appropriately in Goma.
• Work with Logistic steam to ensure health teams are adequately supported in the field – food, water, supplies, cash, etc.
• Support the logistics activities of health staff, particularly in relation to the purchasing of medicines, supplies and equipment for the assigned health facilities and activities.

Quality Management / Project Design

• Responsible for ensuring project implementation is according to Medair policy and compliant with Medair, donor, DRC and international guidelines; in conjunction with the Projects Coordinator, follow the guidance of the Health Advisor regarding health programme quality and technical guidelines.
• Responsible for setting objectives of emergency health assessments and interventions, monitoring progress against agreed indicators and exit planning , in liaison with the Project Coordinator and Health Advisor.
• Decide on new activities and new project sites and provide input regarding future project growth and changes needed.
• Develop and maintain health ERT resources to improve capacity for rapid response.

Security Management

• Monitoring security situation for teams in the field and working with Projects Coordinator if any action needs to be taken.

Field - Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Live, work and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings.
• Instigate and contribute to prayer times within internationally recruited staff and HQ teams.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international programmes and HQ prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organisational needs.

Qualifications

• Clinical degree or diploma (nurse, midwife or doctor), or Public Health degree.

Languages

• Strong working knowledge of English and French (spoken and written).

Experience / Competencies

• 2 years’ post-qualification nursing / medical professional experience.
• At least 1 year management experience in a health context.
• At least 1-2 years’ work experience in health in developing country.
• Emergency experience helpful.
• Willing to hike to reach remote areas.
• Willingness to support others and to share workload.
• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels.
• Able to cope with basic living conditions in the field and during field trips.
• Team-player with good inter-personal skills.
• Self-motivated, energetic, hard-working, servant-hearted.

Profiles sought for Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) roles in the field

Relief experience

• Professionals with 12 months or more relevant relief or development experience (Experienced Relief Workers).
• Professionals with less than 12 months relevant relief or development experience (New Relief Workers).

Professional

• Experienced professionals in a relevant Medair sector of expertise.
• Overseas intercultural experience.

Values

• Fully committed to the Medair values; to reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, and external contacts.

Personal qualities

• Able to live and work in a multicultural team under difficult conditions.
• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit.

Availability

• Single or married (with no children under 18). If married, your spouse must also apply.

Final selection

• All potential candidates for field positions must successfully complete the Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC). Information, dates and related costs can be found via this link.

Benefits Package provided to all Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS)

• Comprehensive briefing at our Swiss Headquarters, as well as an in-country briefing.
• Security training for those going to insecure environments.
• Accommodation, food, and transportation in-country.
• Return flights to and from the country programme (one return flight for every year of service).
• Rest and recuperation (R&R) leave (including travel, accommodation, and food).
• Annual leave.
• Comprehensive medical and emergency rescue insurance, with up to 60 days post-assignment coverage, including debriefing.
• Disability insurance.

Specific benefits for Experienced Relief Workers (IRS)

(Applicants with 12 months or more relevant relief or development experience)

• A salary based upon the grade of the position and experience of the position-holder.
• Contribution matching programme for retirement savings.
• Additional contract benefit allowance for those who commit to longer contracts.
• Highly subsidised contribution to Medair ROC travel and accommodation costs.

Specific benefits for New Relief Workers (IRS)

(Applicants with less than 12 months relevant relief or development experience)

• USD 300 per month.
• As soon as 12 months relief work or its equivalent has been completed, a salary based on the grade of the position and experience of the position-holder, and other experienced relief worker benefits.

Working Conditions

• Interventions may be in remote and difficult to access areas for which the environment is physically challenging accessible on foot.
• The security context is complex and also requires constant monitoring.

Application Process

• Before you apply, please ensure you are fully aware of the Medair organisational values.
• Please also check out the Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC) (which forms part of the recruitment selection process for field positions).

Then to apply, go to http://www.medair.nl/en/jobs/positions/emergency-response-health-project-manager-drc-nord-kivu/ then

1. apply for this vacancy (or another position that matches your profile), or

2. apply for a Medair ROC (where we can try and match your competencies to our vacancy needs).

Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed. Medair does not set closing / deadline dates for applications; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled.