Senior Community Health Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) 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, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Since 2007, IRC has worked with refugees and other vulnerable populations in Jordan.IRC’s programs in Jordan focus on urban interventions in the north that address gender-based violence specifically violence against women and girls for Syrian refugees and host community members as well as reproductive health care to Syrian refugees through two clinics based in Ramtha and Mafraq.Since January 2013, IRC also carries out Child Protection programs in Syrian refugee camps, providing specialized services for the identification, support and protection of unaccompanied children (UAC) and other children at risk.

Job Overview/Summary: Under the direct supervision of the Community Health Manager and technical guidance from the Health Coordinator, the primary function of the Senior Community Health Officer (SCHO) will include implementation and oversight of the Community Health officers (CHO) and Community Health Volunteers (CHVs). The Senior Community Health Officer will build the capacity of the community health staff and volunteers and make sure the project is running as planned.

Major Responsibilities:

Implementation of Program:

• Review program materials and update detailed work plan, movement plans, monitoring plan, and procurement plans as needed.
• Provide regular support to the CHVs throughout Northern Jordan.
• Ensure the team follows up on referrals of patients to verify if they accessed care.
• Develop strong relationships with community leaders, CBOs and other stakeholders operating in the districts, provide updates of activities and develop areas of collaboration to address programmatic gaps and strengthen program impact.
• Support recruitment and training of community health officers and volunteers.
• Schedule regular site visits for monitoring and supervision to ensure quality of services, accurate data collection and tracking of community health activities
• In coordination with the Community Health Manager, develop all project documents including; monitoring plans, supervision checklists, program work plans, risk and issue management, program spending plans and procurement plans
• Develop project communications plan and conduct regular project meetings to review progress, conduct on track, off-track assessments and submit report to the Community health manager
• Establishment of an effective referral system, ensuring continuity of care for acute and emergency cases.
• Provide regular updates to the IRC security and operations team on any potential risks or issues in the communities
• Attend health coordination meetings as requested by Community Health Manager.
• Support research studies that are conducted with the IRC Jordan programs.

Supervision

• Directly supervise three Community Health officers and 100+ CHVs.
• Coordinate closely with Mafraq mobile clinic, Zaatari camp clinic, Azraq camp clinics, Mafraq fixed clinic, Irbid fixed clinic and Ramtha fixed clinics for support.
• Ensure that all staff, program, or other issues are quickly and properly addressed, raising them to the Community Health Manager as needed.
• Arrange regular check in meetings to discuss key operational, budgetary, and indicator updates and address any challenges.
• Conduct regular visits to the catchment sites and support the community health team.

Community health data and M+E

• In coordination with the Community Health Manager and M&E team, ensure proper data collection, monitoring, evaluation and reporting tools are in place and being used in a timely and effective manner.
• Provide data to Health Data Unit at the beginning of each month, assist with monthly data analysis, and take action as appropriate.
• Submit weekly updates to Community Health Manager on the CHVs progress.

Monitoring and reporting

• Participate in evaluation of individual and overall mobile clinic performance through various tools including monitoring visits, activities evaluations, and feedback forms.
• Oversee data collection and analysis of CHV reports on activities and community needs.
• Develop required reports on CHV performance and effectiveness, based on evaluations.
• Oversee community health staff performance and give necessary feedback

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:Community Health Manager
Position directly supervises: Community health officers, Community health volunteers

Indirect Reporting: Health Coordinator
Other Internal and/or external contacts.

Internal:

Senior Health officers of the fixed clinic.

Deputy Health Manager

Senior Health Information Management Officer

Deputy Health Manger - operations

• Health professional or qualification relevant to the job with at least bachelor degree

Work Experience:

• Minimum five years’ work experience at community level preferably in public health and in coordinating, implementing, managing complex health programs.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Proven experience in community mobilization and awareness raising activities, preferably at village level.

• Excellent diplomatic and communication skills

• Ability to validate and interpret health data
• Good understanding of social organization at village level, community health issues
• Strong belief in human rights and gender equality
• Good analytical and reporting skills
• Good understanding of budget management
• High standard of spoken and written Arabic and English
• Excellent computer skills including Word, Excel and Power Point
• Experience working with online data collection tools and Commcare preferred
• Be able to work in a stressful setting and adapt quickly to changing environments
• Willing to travel frequently (daily) to different locations in Jordan or the region

• Language Skills: Fluent in Arabic and English

Certificates or Licenses: Certificate of education issued by the education institutions recognized in Jordan and valid till the end date of contract

Working Environment: : 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 or disability.