Health Project Manager – Medair

Location

Field-based position in Khartoum, Sudan. Working and living conditions may be very different to that previously experienced.

Starting Date & Initial Contract Details

As soon as possible. Full time, 6 months.

Role Overview

Manage the implementation and coordination of all health activities during the project. Providing management, strategic direction, mentorship and monitoring of staff in the COVID-19 campaign project in Khartoum. Manages good and healthy relationships with key actors. Under the technical supervision of the Health and Nutrition Advisor, the project manager will primarily act as a focal point for quality improvement in immunisation campaign programme in Khartoum. The project is also aimed to improve the quality and quantity of communication to enhance informed COVID-19 vaccine uptake decision-making by the targeted population with the aim to achieve an increased utilisation rate of the supplied vaccines in Khartoum state.

Project Overview

Medair worked in Sudan from 2000 to 2012, returned to Khartoum in 2020 and established a Gedaref office in February 2021. Medair is strongly positioned to implement this project with a high level of trust and with our experiences in engagement with both host and refugee communities. Since returning, Medair has been supporting households affected by COVID-19 and floods through support to local PHC-facilities, hygiene promotion and through the provision of basic household items in Khartoum, and Gedaref state.

In the context of the unknown fatality of the new omicron variant of C-19, the combined impact of the very low COVID-19 immunisation coverage (<3.8%) and increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the NMoH/UNICEF has called on experienced partners, particularly for C-19 vaccine delivery / RCCE activities. Medair has secured funding to both provide vaccinations through the use of mobile teams and engage in meaningful RCCE activities through community health workers.

Key Activity Areas

Project Setup

• Implement the launch of initial immunisation campaign activities and the scale-up of those activities based on previously-conducted assessment and identified prioritised needs. Develop and maintain relationships with relevant health actors (e.g. beneficiaries, community leaders, local and national government officials, donors, UN agencies, etc.) in the new location.

Immunisation Project Management

• Manage and oversee the whole C-19 immunisation project in order to meet the project objectives within budget and within the allotted time frame and report promptly any operational concerns to line manager – country health & nutrition advisor (e.g. projected failure to meet objectives; increased beneficiary needs; projected over or under spending on project budget).
• Provide strong leadership of the assigned immunisation project, working to ensure both short and long-term positive impacts and outcomes for the beneficiaries, local health authorities and local health staff. Set clear objectives and indicators for the activities in collaboration with health staff, field managers and support from the country health and nutrition advisor.
• Continuously monitor and supervise immunisation campaign activities, evaluating progress through outputs and impacts using both quantitative and qualitative data, and involving the health team in analysis and taking action to ensure continued progress.
• Provide input into the integration of accountability to affected populations (AAP) in all aspects of the project.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of activities according to Medair, donor, timeframes and formats.

Coordination/Representation

• While being assigned, attend state-level Ministry of Health and Health Cluster meetings on C-19 related issues. Take part in other technical working groups when relevant to Medair’s interventions. Proactively network and coordinate with the state-level Health Cluster and other health actors and monitor gaps in health services provision in the chosen location.
• Coordinate with the funding manager while being assigned by the country health and nutrition advisor, to review and update Project Coordination Agreements, Memorandum of Understandings, and other agreements in place with UN agencies, government ministries, and NGO partners relating to health work. Ensure clear internal coordination within the health team, the wider Project team, and with in-country Advisor, to increase integration of activities across sectors.

Quality Management/Project Design

• Responsible for ensuring project implementation is according to Medair policy and compliant with Medair, donor, Sudan and relevant international guidelines. Responsible for monitoring progress against set indicators, in liaison with the Project Coordinator and Health and Nutrition Advisor.
• Work with Health and Nutrition Advisor to improve the quality of the project activities, to improve the monitoring and evaluation, implementation of Core Humanitarian Standards and protection mainstreaming.

Staff management

• Line manage Health officers/managers and mobile immunisation coordinators. Use Medair HR tools to support professional development and to build the capacity of the staff across the team. Conduct staff appraisals and enforce disciplinary policies for positions directly managed; and regularly report this to the Country Health and Nutrition Advisor.
• Maintain a focus on building the capacity of the team, delegating tasks under supervision. Interview potential national and international staff, make recommendations for final hiring decisions with the Health & Nutrition Advisor and Project Coordinator.

Logistics

• Final authority for all project requests going to the logs and finance departments. Work with the Logistics teams to prevent stock outages and ensure stock requests, purchase requests, cash forecasts and movement requests are submitted in Khartoum.
• Monitor expiry dates of all medicines and medical supplies, including gift-in-kind, and other health stocks to prevent expiration before use. Facilitate safe disposal and report losses to Khartoum management and donors.

Financial Management

• Draft annual budgets for sub-projects. Review and approve all project expenditures and expense coding. Ensure proper financial procedures are followed by the health team. Manage the assigned project budget and track expenses against project budgets, working with the Finance manager to address issues of spending.

Security Management

• Support the development of Security Risk Assessments and Security Plans for interventions in new project areas. Monitor security situation for teams traveling to field locations, gathering information from various sources and feeding back important information to the Medair management.
• Oversee and monitor staff adherence to security protocols, including security incident reports.

Reporting and Communications

• Complete monthly situation reports (sitreps). Provide programme data for donor reports.
• Provide photographs and information at the request of the Communications Officer, Project Coordinator, or GSO, to provide to donors and for fundraising purposes; however, in copy of the health and nutrition advisor. Speak on behalf of Medair in the field, ensuring that good relationships are maintained and that Medair’s mandate and values are understood.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Degree in Nursing / Midwifery or qualification as a Medical Doctor.
• MPH/Diploma in International Health desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written). Basic knowledge of Arabic language is an asset.

Experience

• 2 years post-qualification (public health) professional experience in primary healthcare in a similar context.
• 1 year of management experience.
• Up to 1 year of international experience in immunization service delivery or covid-19 outbreak context.
• Prior experience of vaccination campaigns is desirable.
• Good numerical, report writing and administration skills. Problem solving ability.
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Sphere and CHS and other international humanitarian guidelines.

All new deploying international staff to Medair’s country programmes (and other roles which require field travel) should be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved COVID vaccine, supported with a COVID vaccination certificate as evidence.

Location

Field-based position in Khartoum, Sudan. Working and living conditions may be very different to that previously experienced.

Starting Date & Initial Contract Details

As soon as possible. Full time, 6 months.

Role Overview

Manage the implementation and coordination of all health activities during the project. Providing management, strategic direction, mentorship and monitoring of staff in the COVID-19 campaign project in Khartoum. Manages good and healthy relationships with key actors. Under the technical supervision of the Health and Nutrition Advisor, the project manager will primarily act as a focal point for quality improvement in immunisation campaign programme in Khartoum. The project is also aimed to improve the quality and quantity of communication to enhance informed COVID-19 vaccine uptake decision-making by the targeted population with the aim to achieve an increased utilisation rate of the supplied vaccines in Khartoum state.

Project Overview

Medair worked in Sudan from 2000 to 2012, returned to Khartoum in 2020 and established a Gedaref office in February 2021. Medair is strongly positioned to implement this project with a high level of trust and with our experiences in engagement with both host and refugee communities. Since returning, Medair has been supporting households affected by COVID-19 and floods through support to local PHC-facilities, hygiene promotion and through the provision of basic household items in Khartoum, and Gedaref state.

In the context of the unknown fatality of the new omicron variant of C-19, the combined impact of the very low COVID-19 immunisation coverage (<3.8%) and increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the NMoH/UNICEF has called on experienced partners, particularly for C-19 vaccine delivery / RCCE activities. Medair has secured funding to both provide vaccinations through the use of mobile teams and engage in meaningful RCCE activities through community health workers.

Key Activity Areas

Project Setup

• Implement the launch of initial immunisation campaign activities and the scale-up of those activities based on previously-conducted assessment and identified prioritised needs. Develop and maintain relationships with relevant health actors (e.g. beneficiaries, community leaders, local and national government officials, donors, UN agencies, etc.) in the new location.

Immunisation Project Management

• Manage and oversee the whole C-19 immunisation project in order to meet the project objectives within budget and within the allotted time frame and report promptly any operational concerns to line manager – country health & nutrition advisor (e.g. projected failure to meet objectives; increased beneficiary needs; projected over or under spending on project budget).
• Provide strong leadership of the assigned immunisation project, working to ensure both short and long-term positive impacts and outcomes for the beneficiaries, local health authorities and local health staff. Set clear objectives and indicators for the activities in collaboration with health staff, field managers and support from the country health and nutrition advisor.
• Continuously monitor and supervise immunisation campaign activities, evaluating progress through outputs and impacts using both quantitative and qualitative data, and involving the health team in analysis and taking action to ensure continued progress.
• Provide input into the integration of accountability to affected populations (AAP) in all aspects of the project.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of activities according to Medair, donor, timeframes and formats.

Coordination/Representation

• While being assigned, attend state-level Ministry of Health and Health Cluster meetings on C-19 related issues. Take part in other technical working groups when relevant to Medair’s interventions. Proactively network and coordinate with the state-level Health Cluster and other health actors and monitor gaps in health services provision in the chosen location.
• Coordinate with the funding manager while being assigned by the country health and nutrition advisor, to review and update Project Coordination Agreements, Memorandum of Understandings, and other agreements in place with UN agencies, government ministries, and NGO partners relating to health work. Ensure clear internal coordination within the health team, the wider Project team, and with in-country Advisor, to increase integration of activities across sectors.

Quality Management/Project Design

• Responsible for ensuring project implementation is according to Medair policy and compliant with Medair, donor, Sudan and relevant international guidelines. Responsible for monitoring progress against set indicators, in liaison with the Project Coordinator and Health and Nutrition Advisor.
• Work with Health and Nutrition Advisor to improve the quality of the project activities, to improve the monitoring and evaluation, implementation of Core Humanitarian Standards and protection mainstreaming.

Staff management

• Line manage Health officers/managers and mobile immunisation coordinators. Use Medair HR tools to support professional development and to build the capacity of the staff across the team. Conduct staff appraisals and enforce disciplinary policies for positions directly managed; and regularly report this to the Country Health and Nutrition Advisor.
• Maintain a focus on building the capacity of the team, delegating tasks under supervision. Interview potential national and international staff, make recommendations for final hiring decisions with the Health & Nutrition Advisor and Project Coordinator.

Logistics

• Final authority for all project requests going to the logs and finance departments. Work with the Logistics teams to prevent stock outages and ensure stock requests, purchase requests, cash forecasts and movement requests are submitted in Khartoum.
• Monitor expiry dates of all medicines and medical supplies, including gift-in-kind, and other health stocks to prevent expiration before use. Facilitate safe disposal and report losses to Khartoum management and donors.

Financial Management

• Draft annual budgets for sub-projects. Review and approve all project expenditures and expense coding. Ensure proper financial procedures are followed by the health team. Manage the assigned project budget and track expenses against project budgets, working with the Finance manager to address issues of spending.

Security Management

• Support the development of Security Risk Assessments and Security Plans for interventions in new project areas. Monitor security situation for teams traveling to field locations, gathering information from various sources and feeding back important information to the Medair management.
• Oversee and monitor staff adherence to security protocols, including security incident reports.

Reporting and Communications

• Complete monthly situation reports (sitreps). Provide programme data for donor reports.
• Provide photographs and information at the request of the Communications Officer, Project Coordinator, or GSO, to provide to donors and for fundraising purposes; however, in copy of the health and nutrition advisor. Speak on behalf of Medair in the field, ensuring that good relationships are maintained and that Medair’s mandate and values are understood.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Degree in Nursing / Midwifery or qualification as a Medical Doctor.
• MPH/Diploma in International Health desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written). Basic knowledge of Arabic language is an asset.

Experience

• 2 years post-qualification (public health) professional experience in primary healthcare in a similar context.
• 1 year of management experience.
• Up to 1 year of international experience in immunization service delivery or covid-19 outbreak context.
• Prior experience of vaccination campaigns is desirable.
• Good numerical, report writing and administration skills. Problem solving ability.
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Sphere and CHS and other international humanitarian guidelines.

All new deploying international staff to Medair’s country programmes (and other roles which require field travel) should be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved COVID vaccine, supported with a COVID vaccination certificate as evidence.