Deputy Program Director

Over 80 years ago, Albert Einstein helped create the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Today, we are a leading humanitarian and development organization working in more than 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. The IRC has been present in Liberia since 1996 serving as a lead partner in the health sector. The country program supports the Ministry of Health (MOH) in strengthening the health care systems and service delivery at all levels in accordance with the MOH national standards.

In recent years, IRC Liberia has deepened its commitment to supporting both local civil society organizations and community groups in their recovery efforts - first from the devastating civil war and now from the Ebola crisis.The Scaling Up Health Services Activity presents an opportunity to bring these two critical elements together by strengthening civil society engagement in the delivery of health services and the rebuilding of health systems in Liberia.

Scope of Work:

The IRC has entered into a four-year cooperative agreement with USAID to implement the Scaling Up Community Health Services project in Liberia.This project will strengthen the Liberian community health system to provide health care services in hard-to-reach areas while supporting sustainable country ownership of community-based health services, through technical assistance and capacity building of Ministry of Health (MOH)/County Health Teams (CHTs). This community health activity will increase the coverage of service providers in underserved districts and improve their capacity to deliver quality health services while strengthening CHTs and communities’ capacity to plan, manage and monitor health services.In addition, the project will work directly with local civil society organizations (CSOs) at the county and community level, providing them with funding opportunities and strengthening their technical and operational capacity to play a key role in service delivery.

This new award is designed to build on the gains achieved under the previous USAID community health grant; “Partnership for Advancing Community-based Services (PACS)”, implemented by the IRC and partners. PACS supported the government to strengthen health systems, improve reproductive maternal and child health, as well as restore public confidence in health facilities and health staff. PACS also provided support to build the government of Liberia’s capacity to control infectious diseases and efforts to rebuild the health system.

Scaling up Health Services Activity Implementation Overview:

This project is USAID’s flagship community health services activity and will be implemented in Bong and Lofa Counties with support to the Community Health Program Unit at the Ministry of Health. The IRC and partners will assist in the decentralization process and ensure that county and community-level systems are equipped to deliver high quality community-based services in line with key MOH strategies. Project staff will work in close collaboration with MOH staff of the relevant units, and county offices in strengthening their capacity to effectively supervise and coordinate community-based health activities.

IRC is seeking a Liberian National to serve in the role of Deputy Program Director for this 4-year, $17.8 million USAID program. This project is designed to provide health care services in hard-to-reach areas while transferring ownership to the government by increasing coverage of CHAs in underserved districts, improving their capacity to deliver quality health services as well as strengthening CHTs and communities’ capacity to plan, manage and monitor health services.The DPD will provide overarching technical guidance and operational support for all activities under the program, including ensuring sound quality of community health approaches and alignment with the MOH policies, standards, and priorities.

Job Responsibilities:

• Work under the direction of the PD to design, implement, and manage community health components and related capacity strengthening activities;
• Support PD in providing strategic and technical leadership and direction, defining and implementing activities to achieve the greatest impact toward project goals and objectives; serve as Acting PD in PD’s absence;
• Provide financial and operational management that optimizes resources through sound budgets, consistent financial tracking, and timely submission of reports to the donor.
• Ensure project delivery meets all standard operational policies and procedures;
• Oversee the provision technical assistance to the MOH and consortium partners on the scale-up and delivery of community-based health care service provision and ensuring that services provided meet internationally-recognized standards;
• Oversee the provision of technical support to the MOH for the development, validation and dissemination of the revised National Community Health Policy, Strategy and training curriculum as well as operationalization of these key documents;
• Support the NCHP in the planning and organizing of the Community Health Worker Symposium and other relevant events approved by the Project Director rand Donor
• Manage consortium partnerships and maintain collaborative partner relations ensuring effective communication throughout
• Provide technical inputs to develop and finalize reports to USAID through both formal and informal debriefings, annual and semi-annual reports;
• Assist PD in maintaining active and cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders, including government officials, project partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions;
• Represent the project and the organization in public, as assigned, and support the distribution of information about project achievements and lesson learned; and
• Support project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility;
• Provide technical support to field-based health staff.

Area of consideration: This is a local position.Travel to field will be required

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:Progam Director
Position directly supervises:Sr. M&E Advisor, Sr. Coordinator-Community Health Engagement, Sr. Community Health Coordinators.

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: SUCH Team, HQ and West Africa Regional Technical Unit/Program Team

External:Partner organizations and donor