National Health Director

Scope of work:The National Health Director will provide leadership, strategic vision and technical support to all aspects of the IRC Myanmar’s health program. The National Health Director will identify programmatic priorities, partnerships and funding opportunities, and guide the design and implementation of health projects. The National Health Director will ensure that the health program is implemented in accordance with international protocols, guidelines and best practices. He or she will provide technical oversight, supervision, and capacity building to program staff and, by establishing tailored support, to partners. She or he will serve as key technical liaison with MOH representatives from Township to Union levels, as well as with peers at other I/NGOs, UN agencies and donors.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Strategy & Leadership

• Support the development and maintenance of a coherent health strategy across all health interventions in Myanmar.
• Identify unmet needs in the health sector and identify potential means for the IRC to address those needs. Conduct or support needs assessments, as required.
• Provide key technical input to the design process of new project proposals and extensions of current ones, including technical narrative, budgets, and log frames, etc. collaborating closely with other sectors to integrate programs for maximum impact.
• Evaluate staffing structure, identify gaps or areas where work can be consolidated, and work with DPP and grants to ensure all roles are adequately budgeted.
• Manage IRC’s health program master budget and ensure that all new projects are designed according to IRC’s guidelines and consistent with the health strategy.
• Review new funding opportunities and make recommendations based on IRC Myanmar’s health strategy and capacity.
• Work closely with the MEAL team to ensure MEAL plans for health programs are designed to provide the information needed to effectively track program performance, including client responsiveness, as well as meeting donor requirements.
• Monitor the evolving political and funding context, develop key networking relationships and represent IRC in advocating for best ways to support a do no harm approach that promotes optimum development/provision of services consistent with humanitarian principles.
• Support the development and implementation of a context-appropriate learning agenda for IRC’s integrated programming.
• Ensure regular communication with Health Unit technical staff for feedback, updates and guidance as required.

Program Implementation

• Provide technical and management leadership to all health programs in Myanmar in accordance with best practice and IRC policy and consistent with donor agreements.
• Supervise management of project implementation consistent with the project management cycle, program objectives, activities and indicators.
• Regularly review health program data to identify areas for improvement in implementation and service delivery quality, and model data use throughout the project cycle.
• Collaborate with the MEAL team to ensure robust monitoring systems are in place and that reviews are undertaken periodically in conjunction with the team, project partners, and relevant local stakeholders.
• Ensure procedures are in place for high-quality patient records, collection and safe transmission of data, drug management, infection prevention and control, and referral.
• Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance, and grant staff to ensure timely and complete program activities and expenditures, including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Directly recruit and supervise all health program staff.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit.
• Mentor health technical and project leadership, ensuring they have the appropriate knowledge and skills to lead their workstreams and developing a plan to maintain and build capacity to support program quality and staff professional growth.
• Supervise staff management including maintenance of up-to-date organizational chart, staff work plans, work and vacation schedules, and staff training/ development activities.
• If/as required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Assist the Country senior management team in managing country program staff safety and health prevention and promotion actions.

Partner Management

• Collaborate with senior management and the partnerships team to identify implementing partners and cultivate partner relationships.
• Ensure regular performance monitoring of partners and periodic capacity assessments are conducted while adhering to IRC’s partnership principles of equality, solidarity and mutuality.
• Ensure thorough and regular capacity building plans and activities for partner organizations and identify needed capacity and resources from IRC.
• Ensure timely and appropriate transparent communications with partners, including inclusion in key relevant meetings and timely notice of deadlines, requirements, and opportunities for input to joint collaboration.

Coordination & Representation

• Develop and maintain effective strong collaborative and long-term relationships with external stakeholders in the health sector, representing IRC positions, promoting the IRC program strategy/approach, and resolving problems/conflicts.
• Represent the IRC health program to external stakeholders in close collaboration with Field Coordinators and the senior management team.
• Work closely with IRC Thailand to promote collaboration between the country programs and promote the “One IRC” approach.

Minimum Qualifications:

What should you have?  

Education

• M.B., B. S or MD or RN, with a postgraduate degree in Public Health or a related field.

Experiences

• At least 5-7 years of experience establishing and managing complex health programs in a humanitarian context and demonstrated high-level skills in program and project coordination, management, team building, and mentoring.
• At least 7-10 years of health and related working experience in UN/INGOs/L-NGOs.
• Experience in managing comprehensive primary health care programs with particular expertise in primary health care, maternal and child health, reproductive health, community-based nutrition, and emergency health responses in disasters.
• An excellent understanding of the political, cultural, and public health contexts of Myanmar.
• Strong budget management skills and experience managing grants from European and US donors.
• Experience in the design, implementation, and analysis of health program assessments and surveys.
• Experience and skills in managing and mentoring multidisciplinary health program teams in multiple sites within a country program.

Competencies

• Excellent communication skills, fluent written and verbal Myanmar and English skills.
• Good computer literacy and understanding of health information systems; comfort with data collection and newly developing technologies.
• Professional demeanor, ability to work under stressful conditions while maintaining perspective, and a sense of humor.
• Patience, diplomacy, flexibility, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Ability to travel extensively to program implementing hard-to-reach rural areas.

Myanmar nationals with relevant skills sets and proven
experience of working at international level are strongly encouraged.