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 50 countries and more than 25 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.
Since 1992, the IRC has provided life-saving services to refugees and vulnerable local communities in Kenya. Currently, the IRC works in two refugee camps, Dadaab and Kakuma, in northern Kenya, and serves vulnerable local populations in in Turkana, Garissa, Lamu, Kajiado, West Pokot and Nairobi counties. Collaborating closely with national and county governments, community organizations, and partner NGOs, the IRC provides services in the health, nutrition, protection, livelihood, education and WASH sectors.
Purpose of the role
Responsible for providing, strategic leadership, technical guidance and support to IRC’s Health sector programs throughout Kenya and is responsible for quality assurance of all project interventions to ensure delivery of safe and quality services to IRC clients of current and subsequent projects in the Health sector program. While leading the Health team and working with other partners, the Technical Coordinator (TC) will ensure adequate participation, appropriate delivery, and sustained impact of all Health sector under the respective sector outcome in the SAP 100 for the country. This position will support all aspects of technical design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation; development of implementation strategy/approaches and guidelines including providing feedback to partners for purposes of improving program quality. Internally, the role is a primary interlocutor with IRC’s regional or headquarter based Technical Advisors to ensure coordination and complementarity of programming, as well as appropriate technical rigor in project design and implementation. The TC will liaise with other technical coordinators within IRC to advance a cohesive, integrated country programme. The TC plays a vital role in advancing IRC’s ambitions, strategies, and priorities amongst like-minded agencies, government, private sector, and community partners, as well as the Health technical Forum and the related technical working groups. In line with IRC SAP 100 ambitions and as part of the scope of work, the TC will contribute to the ambition to scale up IRC cash and partnerships in their respective sectors.
Detailed responsibilities
Strategy and Business Development
·Advance IRC SAP 100 ambitions within Health sector programming and contribute to the achievement of the articulated commitments including developing strategic partnerships with local organization (emphasis on women and youth led organizations), the advancement of cash programming and GEDI integration/mainstreaming within IRC programming.
·Provide technical contribution in developing and implementing evidence-based, cost-effective funding applications and identifying opportunities for sustainable program growth through the pursuit of new programming initiatives
·Direct the development of in-country Health sector strategy and lead subsequent reviews and cascade down sector ambitions to field staff.
Program quality assurance and technical monitoring
·Provide technical guidance, capacity building and ensure adherence to government sector specific policies, strategies, guidelines and protocols from project inception through the project cycle. This also includes global standards and practices.
·Coordinate with other TCs on appropriate management, compliance, and performance standards, as well as effective systems for knowledge management and risk management.
·Formulate integrated programming initiatives by coordinating with other TCs and promote integration/ main streaming of GEDI-responsive approaches.
·Provide guidance, strategies, and tools to ensure that programming choices are based on needs assessment findings (primary & secondary data) and analysis, input from communities, partners, stakeholders, a thorough understanding of context, technical standard methodologies, and operational viability.
·Work closely with Technical Advisors to benchmark programming to global and in country standards and that of relevant institutions and statutory bodies, ensure application of best practices, review, and advance Health sector programming policies and guidance.
·Along with program staff and the Technical Unit/Advisors, support the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols for program activities contributing to the standardization of models and protocols.
·Setting up quality assurance mechanisms and providing joint integrated technical support supervision of program staff.
·Contribute to design and implementation of robust M&E plans, provide technical advisement for assessments, the incorporation of methodologies and tools to strengthen the quality of data collection, analysis, and reporting and any required operational research, with technical support from Technical Advisors as needed.
·Support research and learning within IRC’s programmes and documentation that will be used in programme adaptation and advocacy on behalf of the communities IRC serves and work with.
·Identify gaps in existing sector specific programs and work with the team to develop innovative approaches and mechanisms to address them.
·Conduct regular field visits to assess progress on programme implementation, identify emerging issues and provide onsite technical support to the field teams
Project Management
·Support the Programme Coordinator and field teams in the development and monitoring of the work plans viz-a-viz budgets ensuring that activities reflect the commitments IRC made to the donor and the community.
·Work with the field teams in the development of Health sector program budgets and those of other sectors during Business Development processes as may be required.
·Support Programme Coordinators and managers to monitor budget spending and develop remedial plans where necessary to ensure budgets are optimally utilized.
·Work with the Grants Coordinator, Programme Coordinator and field teams to ensure all Health sector grants are in compliance with donor technical guidelines.
·Ensure field concerns and challenges as identified are brought to relevant stakeholders to push for standards and procedures that systematize how programmes and projects are implemented and coordinated.
·Support in technical reviews of reports from the field teams to ensure quality and meets donor standards
·Develop sector specific workflows for running grants
Systems Strengthening and Advocacy
·Support IRC programs to fully reflect and where required transition their approach to system strengthening as an essential component of sector programming.
·Support the Governance and Systems Strengthening Coordinator and Technical Advisors in articulating and implementing an advocacy vision for the Kenya program which includes an advocacy framework for refugees and for various sectors the country program is engaged in for citizens engagement in demand driven service delivery.
·Work at the policy level with key decision makers from various national and county government and donors, participating in strategy development and technical discussions relating to future direction of the Health sector program and influence policy reforms/development across all sectors.
·Develop strategic partnerships with relevant international and local partners, wherever possible and maintain open and effective communication with partner technical focal points for technical input into project management.
·Support the Health sector team to incorporate advocacy, policy & campaign priorities into all business development initiatives, in the implementation of projects.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
·Ensure that the IRC Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, in relation to the Health sector, are prepared in consultation with relevant government and aid partners, are kept up to date with protocol, standards and guidance from relevant bodies and conform to the needs of clients.
·Together with the Senior Management Team (SMT), collaborate on establishment and operationalization of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) as pertains to Health sector considerations.
Staff and Partner Capacity Development:
·Lead in the recruitment of direct technical reports and assist with the recruitment of Health sector staff, in coordination with HR and the field and program management.
·In collaboration with the respective Field Coordinators (FCs) and Program Coordinators, supervise and mentor direct reports providing technical performance management oversight.
·Work with the respective FCs in ensuring transition planning and capacity building of Health sector staff.
·Coach Health sector staff with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance.
Coordination, Representation and Communication
·Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders at national level, including donors, government actors, UN agencies (including UNHCR), international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
·Regularly attend sector coordination meetings and feed in IRC priorities at national level meetings.
·Coordinate with regional technical advisors for support to the Country program
·Support the communications team in identifying and offering technical reviews of sector specific communication materials for internal and external audiences
·Participate in sector specific technical working groups and other coordination forums cementing IRC’s position as a strategic partner and ensuring the outcomes from these collective approaches are reflected in IRCs strategic and technical approaches and priorities.
Working relationships:
Position Reports to: Senior Coordinator for Program Quality
Position directly supervises: Program Managers, Senior Officers as sector/ project leads in the field in collaboration with the Program Coordinator
Collaboration: Strong collaboration is expected with the Field Coordinators, Senior Coordinator for Implementation and Senior Grants Coordinator
Qualifications and competencies
•Advanced degree in medicine, nursing, nutrition, public health, health policy and administration, Health economics, health systems, health sector development or related field.
•Must have at least 10 years of experience in the Health sector and demonstrated experience in progressive management, including technical staff supervision.
•A strong public health background with a minimum of 4 years relevant experience at senior-level managing and implementing health systems strengthening programs in the areas of health policy and administration, health economics, health sector development, public health at the national land county evel.
•Should possess minimum 5 years experiences in humanitarian and development work including managing humanitarian relief and/or development programs in areas affected by large scale displacements due to conflict and chronic food and nutritional insecurity.
•Proven experience in governance programming working with GOK structures at national and county level, devolution processes for increased demand and improved service delivery.
•Demonstrated capacity to develop and work with innovative systems, new technologies, creative approaches, and sustainable models in the required sector.
•Must have at least 4 years working at a managerial position leading a notable size of team.
•Experience of working on policy and advocacy including specific work on public policy development.
•Demonstrates strong relationship building skills with a strong presence in coordination bodies and advocacy processes.
•Demonstrates strong understanding of integrated programming and has experience in managing multi-year and multisectoral programing.
•Must be capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of programming modalities, including direct implementation, advisory and blended approaches.
•Experience with research, monitoring and evaluation tools and systems for complex Health sector programs.
•Proven practical experience in program design, implementation, and M&E and experience in developing and using community participatory approaches. Strong program/technical and budget management skills, budgeting, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills across multiple grants and countries. Demonstrated experience working with new program start-up.
•Proven ability to develop winning proposals for both public and private sector donors. Previous experience in managing programs financed by US government agencies, DFID, EU, UN, foundations, and private donors is a must, with previous experience in competitive financing environments a plus.
•Experience of working with forced migrants.
•Demonstrated successful leadership experience with a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting, capacity in the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills through technical training, coaching, and mentoring of staff, as well as identified partner organizations.
•Experience working with community groups, community engagement and negotiation.
•Highly diplomatic with excellent political awareness and advanced negotiation skills.
•Proven practical experience in partnership/stakeholder engagement and management.
•Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.
•Strong people management skills with cross-cultural exposure and comfortable working as part of a diverse team. Sensitive to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints.
•Demonstrated advance planning and organizational skills. Able to effectively prioritize and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.
•Able to adapt plans and pivot approaches in response to changes in context.
•Proactive, reliable, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
•Fluency in English and Swahili, spoken and written, is a must.
Working Environment: Security risk level is 2 in Nairobi and 3 in Kakuma and Dadaab camp. The situation in most of the country is currently calm and access to project sites is possible. Some parts of Northern regions experience insecurity – highway banditry and intercommunal conflicts.
Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.