Health Manager -

*** This position has a duration of 6 months with potential extension to 12 months - pending funds


About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2007, with a staff of approximately 250 people in North and South Kivu. We support vulnerable communities, while fostering strong relationships and partnerships across government, civil society and the private sector to deliver programs that build resilience and promote sustainable change. Our current activities fous on the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in emergencies, large-scale WASH infrastructure and service delivery in urban centres. Mercy also has food security, economic recovery/development programming. The DRC team has a strong commitment to providing entrepreneurial and innovative solutions to development challenges, and actively seeks and facilitates market-base solutions.

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps is recruiting a Health Purpose Manager (PII Manager) for the Food Security Project (FSP) a USAID-funded Development Food Assistance Project (DFAP) implemented in Eastern DRC. This is a five year project aiming to improve food and nutrition security and economic well-being of vulnerable populations through outcomes focused on agriculture, natural ressources, livelihoods, health, nutrition, WASH and governance. The PII Manager will be responsible for providing advice and leadership in the development and implementation of Mercy Corps' health program in consortium with partners. S/he will provide managerial support and programmatic direction while working effectively within a team setting to ensure program objectives are met. The PII Manager has overall responsibility for daily management of all health and WASH activities and will be involved in operational support. This includes supervising, training and evaluating local staff and preparing periodic reports back to donors, as well as close coordination with other health implementers and Mercy Corps programs that overlap in the Region. FSP seeks to improve the quality of maternal and child health, nutrition care and WASH services within communities; as well as health seeking to improve behaviour, child growth and development and dietary practices.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to FSP's programme strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for the program and convince stakeholders to provide support.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with Mercy Corps principles.

Program Management

• Manage all Purpose II program activities, including training and support to local health facility staff and community members on health and nutrition practices as well as distribution of preventive food rations to pregnant and lactating women and children under two;
• Work closely with FSP Consortium partners to insure a strong and unified health, nutrition and WASH strategy for the programme.
• Provide management oversight for Purpose II implementation team, including development of work plans, monitoring implementation and impact, ensuring that program deliverables are completed, supervising implementing staff, and managing the program budget;
• Develop monitoring systems jointly with the M&E officer and provide regular, high-quality reports on program activities, both internally for Mercy Corps as well as for donors. Demonstrate progress of activities and capture lessons learned;
• Work closely with local partners and develop strategies to promote their organizational development and capacity-building;
• Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps' relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps' Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide and that all all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps' Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to complexe programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
• Coordinate human resources under the program, including recruitment and orientation of new staff, ensuring compliance with labor laws in close coordination with human resources, participating in disciplinary, hiring and termination meetings as needed;
• Ensure that procurement procedures for the program are carried out along Mercy Corps procurement guidelines;

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
  to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

PII Programme Implementation Team: 1 Team Leader, 14 MCHN team members, 6 WASH team members and 1 Safe Space Officer.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

Works Directly With: DFAP Purpose Managers, Program Quality & Grant Manager, Gender and Youth Advisor, Social and Behaviour Change Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, DFAP field teams, technical support unit and consortium partners.

Knowledge and Experience

• Masters in Public Health (MPH) required.
• Experience working with USAID health programs (Child Survival, DFAP/FFP).
• Excellent proficiency in oral and written French and English skills required.
• Must have experience working in difficult environments, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
• At least two years managing community-based health projects with strong health care delivery, administrative and community development experience preferred.
• Experience with community-based approaches to health, positive deviance (PD), Hearth methodology, health/nutrition promotion, adult education and behavior change.
• Excellent record of building solid working relationships with the government, other INGOs and local NGOs. Ability to present projects to donors, government and other official stakeholders.
• Willing to travel frequently and extensively throughout difficult areas.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.

Success Factors

The successful PII Manager will combine exceptional management skills, excellent interpersonal relationship skills and a strong technical background and demonstrated experience in health and nutrition programming. S/he will have a proven excellence in leadership, self-motivation and effective interpersonal skills. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs. Multitasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in (Bukavu, South Kivu, DRCongo) and it requires up to 50% travel throughout South Kivu. The position is eligible for R&R, and will be based in group housing in Bukavu.

While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Bukavu, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity and petty crime is present. Mercy Corps' sub offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN Peacekeepers. Yers of conflict and corruption have badly damaged the country's infrastructure. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is limited, but available in all Mercy Corps offices. Travel to the field sites will be required where leaving conditions are clean, secure but basic. There are a number of health services available with several evacuation options for serious illnesses. There is reasonable access to consumer goods, although they can be expensive.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

PI100384593

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