Senior Health Manager

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

This role is open to internals and recent former IRC staff only.

The population of North Darfur State has faced some of the gravest atrocities and impacts of Sudan’s conflict that broke out in April 2023.The cumulative population of North Darfur State is 3,351,985 people, of whom at least 52% are internally displaced—33% of them in Tawila locality alone. Tawila’s population has increased by over 140% since the displacements from the intense attacks on ZamZam and Al Fasher since April 2025.Humanitarian needs have reached critical levels in Darfur. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) identified famine or faminelike conditions across Sudan as early as October 2024, with five hotspots in North Darfur. Current rates of general acute malnutrition (GAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in North Darfur average 24.3% and 6.7%, respectively—well above the emergency thresholds of 15% and 2%.

The IRC is currently responding to the Emergency in Darfur regions with operational presence in West Darfur, Central Darfur and North Darfur. 

Position Summary
The Senior Health and Nutrition Manager will be based in Tawila, North Darfur under Tawila Field Office. This role will be managed in partnership between the Emergency Health Coordinator and Tawila Field Coordinator. This position will play a critical leadership role in overseeing the planning, implementation , and monitoring of IRC’s health and nutrition responses in North Darfur. The incumbent will bring proven experience, skills, and knowledge in health and nutrition programming within emergency settings, including transitions from emergency relief to recovery. Working closely with the field team and the Emergency Health Coordinator, he/she will support the development of strategic approaches and sustainable technical guidelines in collaboration with departmental leads and Health and Nutrition Technical Advisors (TAs), ensuring alignment with IRC’s programming standards in North Darfur. The role requires close collaboration with other sectors—such as Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Protection—to provide technical support and strategic guidance in ensuring effective sequencing, layering, and integration. Key responsibilities include managing key health and nutrition staff and providing technical assistance to deliver high-quality, impactful interventions. The Senior Health and Nutrition Manager must be willing and able to live in and travel to remote field locations as needed. 

Responsibilities

1.    Program design, development and reporting:   15 %
•    Provide high-quality technical input during the development of proposals and concept notes in Health and Nutrition while promoting sector integration.
•    Support in preparing donor project reports, and any other special reports needed by the government, donors, etc...
•    Support on budget development for the Health and Nutrition sector, in coordination with the Emergency Health Coordinator, and take necessary steps to ensure proper management and utilization of funds.
•    Support in the development of tools and prepare success stories and briefs on innovation/best practices and project learning in liaison with the coordination office.
•    Responsible for developing detailed implementation plans (DIP), work plans, procurement plans for the health and nutrition program working collaboratively with other sector leads (Finance/ Supply chain/operations/environmental health/economic recovery and development (ERD)/Integrated protection) to guide quality program delivery to the clients.
•    Build the capacity of the implementation team to improve knowledge and skills for the implementation of sector goals.
•    Ensure timely, accurate and quality data collection and reporting of program activities for internal and external reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly) as requested by the health and nutrition coordinator and/or field coordinator.

2.    Strategic Planning   10%
•    Support/Lead on situation analysis related to health and nutrition and conduct assessments, and other related surveys, baselines, and operational research in North Darfur.
•    Gather and analyze Health and Nutrition information to inform proposal development for the North Darfur.
•    Provide technical input during program design and contribute to the development of high-quality proposals.

3.    Program Implementation and Quality:  60%
•    Lead the implementation, management, supervision and support of the primary health care, nutrition, community health programs within stipulated timelines in the relevant project proposal(s) and based on national/international guidelines and standards.
•    Conduct regular support supervision and mentorship to frontline program staff to build the staff technical capacity and enable quality service delivery using supervision checklists.
•    Coordinate with local health authorities and other organizations for emergency preparedness and response.
•    Lead in capacity building and mentorship of frontline health and nutrition staff on identified gap areas by identifying trainers, training opportunities for the program on key topics.
•    Ensure the health and nutrition program maintains high standards of infection prevention and control by conducting bi-annual IPC assessments, developing and iteratively implementing quality improvement plans.
•    Ensure high quality pharmaceutical supply management (including proper stock management) is employed across the health and nutrition program including timely forecasting, ordering and distribution planning to mitigate against stock outs, loss and/or expirations.
•    Collaborate with key stakeholders including local health authorities to establish primary health care, including nutrition services at supported health facilities.
•    Equip all program sites with relevant health information systems tools including registers, standard treatment guidelines, and client responsiveness mechanisms.
•    Develop and submit quality and timely required site reports including weekly and monthly data reports, monthly nutrition supplies stock reports, nutrition information systems (NIS) reports as requested by the supervisor.
•    Support the community health activities, including recruitment of community health workers, training, and implementation of community services by collaborating with key stakeholders and partner organizations.

4.    Representation, Coordination, and Communication  15 %
•    Coordinate all technical activities with partners, government agencies, local and international NGOs, and community organizations.
•    Represent IRC in meetings and workshops with external stakeholders including the Clusters, UN, INGOs, and Government
•    Actively maintain regular relationships with respective Ministry of Health, and partners in Health and Nutrition including INGOs, CSO, and government partners, in close collaboration with IRC field and coordination offices.
•    Attend Health and Nutrition cluster meetings and ensure IRC is reporting in the partners’ portal regularly and improve the reporting rate of IRC health and nutrition activities to increase visibility.

Qualifications & Experience:

•    Bachelor’s degree in public health, Nutrition, Medicine or a related field.
•    Minimum of 5 years’ experience in health and nutrition programming in humanitarian or emergency contexts. Experience working in a low resource environment is required. 
•    Strong understanding of public health and nutrition approaches including assessment, surveillance, outbreak response and management of acute malnutrition.
•    Strong program management background with experience in program planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation across a range of donor-funded grants.
•    Proven ability to coordinate and collaborate with diverse stakeholders including local health authorities, NGO, UN partners, donors and community-based organizations.
•    Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team.
•    Fluency in English is required while fluency in Arabic is an added advantage.

Personal Attributes:
•    Strong leadership and team management skills
•    Ability to work under pressure and adapt to a rapidly changing context.
•    Commitment to humanitarian principles and values.
•    Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity and inclusion.
•    Willingness to travel and work in remote or insecure areas with basic living conditions..

Female candidates are highly encouraged.
 

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.