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Country Health Director
Source: Merlin - UK
Jackelyne Weeks
| Deadline: | 19 Oct 2008 |
| Organisation: | Merlin - UK |
| Location: | Afghanistan |
| Type: | temporary |
| Salary: | over 50 (000's USD) |
| Description: | Responsible To: Country Director with technical line management from the Health Advisor
Working With: All Merlin Afghanistan staff; Non-Merlin Afghan Partners (e.g., CAF, Government of Afghanistan Ministries, Donors, UN agencies, National NGOs, etc) Location: Kunduz Province, with travel to Kabul, Takhar and Badakshan. Start Date: ASAP Duration: 24 months (flexible) Salary: £25,956 - £28,181 annual salary dependent on relevant experience, plus an annual cost of living allowance of £3,717, insurance cover, accommodation and flights. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short-listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date. Please note: this is an unaccompanied position. Merlin International Profile Merlin is the only specialist UK charity which responds worldwide with vital health care and medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in natural disasters, conflict, disease and health system collapse. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries. Merlin Afghanistan Profile Merlin has been implementing health programmes in Afghanistan since 1993, when it set up operations in Kandahar, and in northern Afghanistan. Merlin's activities in Afghanistan span two different periods: 1994-1999 and 2001 to the present. Operations closed in August 1999, prompted by increased difficulties experienced in working with the Taliban regime. Merlin returned to Afghanistan in 2001, assisting the Internally Displaced Persons/refugees stranded along the Tajikistan/Afghanistan border in the North-eastern region. The current Merlin programme is located in the northeastern region (Takhar, Badakhshan and Kunduz provinces). The programme has two distinct components: 1) Provision of Basic Package of Health Services, including community based healthcare deliver and facility based care from PHC facilities (BHCs, CHCs and District Hospitals) in all the three provinces and 2) Managing Community Midwife Education (CME) schools in Takhar and Kunduz Provinces. The overall purpose of Merlin programmes in Afghanistan is to reduce excess morbidity and mortality amongst vulnerable populations through the provision of priority health services to a network of health facilities and Community Healthcare Workers and addressing health human resource shortages through community midwife education schools. Main Purpose of the role To provide strategic and technical leadership to ensure the effective development and implementation of quality health programmes in Afghanistan. Overall Objectives (scope) Will be to: Provide leadership and management to the programme in Kunduz Ensure the effective implementation of Merlin health programming in line with approved programme proposals and budgets. Contribute to the overall planning and strategic direction of Merlin's programme in Afghanistan. Provide technical support to the programme Represent Merlin to national authorities, international donors, international organisations and other NGOs at the national level Responsibilities Leadership Ensure the effective implementation of Merlin's programming To provide technical support to Merlin's programmes in Afghanistan; Create a shared vision, among all staff, of Merlin's health programme aims and their role in achieving these goals. Programme Development Develop Merlin's emergency preparedness capacity in relation to the humanitarian context and advise the Regional Programmes Manager and Health Advisor accordingly Monitor the provincial health and humanitarian situation Coordinate with Merlin HQ Health & Policy Department to ensure Merlin's practical experience in Afghanistan informs organisational policy development, as appropriate Programme Support Ensure implementation of programmes in line with the approved project proposal and budget, anticipating and communicating issues/problems in advance to Merlin HQ and preparing written amendments as required Provide technical assistance and oversight to Merlin's existing health programmes Ensure compliance to Merlin, Donor and National policies, procedures and guidelines that relate to: programme (monitoring, reports, evaluations, etc), health, finance, logistical and human resource management Support the project team in the fulfillment of their duties according to programme design; in particular providing supervision, direction and mentoring to national Medical Coordinator and NGO partners' medical staff, ensuring programme quality to relevant internationally recognized standards Ensure that appropriate systems and plans are in place for dealing with emergencies, and provide leadership for staff and volunteers in emergencies Establish systems and standards for assessment and monitoring/evaluation of programmes Ensure there are regular documented meetings for all key staff to discuss and plan programme objectives and work/activity plans. Capacity building Enhance programme management skills of national team through formal and non-formal training Enhance technical and health management skills of national health staff through formal and informal training in conjunction with medical coordinators / national health managers Improve capacity for facility supervision and service provision of Merlin Afghanistan's team and that of Partner(s) Improve capacity for management of medical programmes including progress against indicator targets, drug supply and distribution and HMIS systems Representation Represent Merlin's health work (in partnership with our Afghan NGO partner) to the Ministry of Public Health (at all levels), international donors, UN agencies and NGOs (and build Afghan capacity for the same) Build professional networks with stakeholders in-country Contribute towards the dissemination of Merlin's health work through publications (general, health sector, academic literature, etc.) in consultation with Merlin HQ Health & Policy, and Communications departments Manage external/international communications with the media in consultation with the Country Director and the Communications section in Merlin HQ Staff Management / Human Resource (HR) Manage staff effectively, including appropriate and systematic delegation Co-ordinate and support/team build national and international staff teams, ensuring that the individuals work effectively together and achieve the programme objectives Establish and/or maintain HR management tools for the medical teams e.g. staff appraisals Maintain good inter-team communications, engender good team dynamics, and take suitable action when problems occur Administration and Logistics Prepare reports and articles for both internal and external distribution as requested by the Country Director and Merlin HQ and as stated in the operational contracts signed with donors, including monthly and quarterly reports. Ensure medical supplies are managed appropriately in the programme sites Security Maintain an overall understanding of the provincial and national security situation Finance Management Ensure that programmes are implemented within the agreed budget Staff Health Responsible for staff health and well-being through implementation of Merlin Staff Health Policy including medical evacuation procedures Ensure national staff health policy is developed and implemented. Other Carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Country Director Person Specifications Essential Qualifications, experience and competences Medical doctor with a Masters in Public Health Extensive experience of managing a health project Experience of both emergency and transitional / development settings Ability to use appropriate management tools to ensure effective running of the programmes, staff management and development Understanding of security management and the ability to live and work in an insecure environment Experience in training, capacity building and community participation Experience of communicating and representation, at a senior level, with a range of people, organisations and cultures Experience/familiarity with HMIS Ability to identify and analyse opportunities that contribute to strategic aims and translate them into practical plans and action Ability to reflect on and learn from personal and programme performance and act upon lessons learnt Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office and Epi-Info Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues An understanding of and commitment to Merlin's mission and values Desirable Qualifications, experience and competences Previous experience in Afghanistan Knowledge of a local language i.e. Pushtin, Dari Competence in epidemiological analysis Data Protection Please note, on submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin holding and using the information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment - should an offer be made. In order to process your job application, it may be necessary for your application form to be sent to the Country Director (in the country you are applying for) for consideration. If you do not agree with this, please can you state so when applying. To Apply for this Post Please download an application form from our website www.merlin.org.uk Completed forms should be emailed to applications@merlin-uk.org stating clearly in the subject field the job title, country and reference number (if any) |
Contact Details
| Name: | Jackelyne Weeks |
| Email: | applications@merlin-uk.org |
