Country Director

BACKGROUND

Welbodi Partnership is a UK-registered charity working to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity in Sierra Leone. Since 2008, Welbodi Partnership has worked in partnership with hospital management, health facility staff, and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to improve maternal and child health outcomes in the Western Area of Sierra Leone. We do this through a range of health system strengthening activities, staff training, hospital improvement projects, and community engagement.

Our vision is that all women and children in Sierra Leone will have access to effective essential healthcare services characterised by respect and dignity for all. Our mission is to build the capacity and effectiveness of the health system in Sierra Leone using evidence-based practice to reduce the number of women and children who are sick, suffer, or die unnecessarily.

Our programmes include support to Ola During Children’s Hospital, the only national tertiary referral hospital for paediatrics, supporting maternal health and research capacity building across Sierra Leone through implementation of the CRIBS Research Programme.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1. Deliver Lasting Results

2. Working in Partnership

3. Health Systems Approach

4. Valuing People

5. Evidence based approach

For further information, please see: www.welbodipartnership.org

CONTEXT

One in ten children in Sierra Leone die before their fifth birthday, mainly from preventable and treatable diseases. A lot of work remains to be done if Sierra Leone is to reach Sustainable Development Goal 3; ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. Whilst there are interventions which address child health, there are few providing the high-level technical support needed, meaning care remains rudimentary. There is an urgent need for quality tertiary healthcare for children, requiring trained staff and well-equipped facilities to enable clinicians to make appropriate decisions about care.

The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Sierra Leone is the highest in the world, 1 in 17 women are will die during pregnancy or childbirth. Maternal deaths account for 36% of all deaths in women aged between 15-49 years. Although not all deaths in the community may be accounted for due to low levels of reporting, maternal death review and surveillance reports indicate that the majority of these women will die in a health facility (81.8%).

The recent Ebola outbreak highlighted severe challenges to Sierra Leone’s health system: a limited health workforce in numbers and quality, ineffective supply chains and challenged management systems. Sierra Leone has one of the weakest health infrastructures in the world and continues to be liable to outbreaks and other considerable public health issues.

ODCH is a national teaching hospital with over 300 clinical staff; around 75% are nurses, as well as a continuous stream of nursing and medical students who rotate through the facility as a part of their undergraduate training. Since students and junior doctors, who may later take up jobs at district hospitals, have mandatory rotations through the paediatric hospital, our capacity building work has the potential to impact the quality of clinical care across the country.

The Country Director will collaborate with ODCH management and Welbodi partners to support the work of the organisation. This will involve working with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, UN agencies and partner NGOs to identify priority areas for improved maternal and child health. This builds on our commitment to respond to the needs of health workers and patients, and to support the MoHS in addressing issues in child and maternal health in line with their strategic plan and available resources.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Country Director, based in Freetown, is primarily responsible for the planning, management, and appropriate development of Welbodi Partnership’s work in-country, and is the leader of the in-country programme and operational teams.

S/he is responsible for the design, planning, development, and co-ordination of appropriate medical/clinical projects and activities to improve the quality of care delivered at health facilities supported by Welbodi Partnership in Sierra Leone.

Reporting to, and supported by, the Board of Directors, the Country Director will be responsible for programme oversight, the management of in-country employees and volunteers, building and maintaining relationships with partners, leading the strategic vision of the organisation and identifying funding opportunities.

Specific responsibilities are listed below, but the role will also include other duties necessary for the success of the organisation’s programmes and of Welbodi Partnership.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILTIES

PROGRAMMES AND PARTNERSHIPS

• Overall responsibility for ensuring that Welbodi Partnership’s work in Sierra Leone is delivered to a high standard and is in keeping with our values.
• Establishes and maintains close working relationships with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Medical Superintendents and other health facility managers, NGO partners, UN agencies and donors.
• Leads engagement with partners, focusing on equitable partnership, aligning programmes with contextual needs and Ministry priority areas, and capacity building
• Directs the development and delivery of key clinical and research programmes in collaboration with the Welbodi Partnership Programmes Managers and key stakeholders.
• Leads the clinical vision of the organisation in line with MoHS strategies and policies.
• Provides clinical co-ordination to a team of international healthcare professionals.
• Provides oversight, expertise, and leadership to ensure improvements in the quality of healthcare provided at supported health facilities.
• Overall responsibility for delivering high quality reports to the programme donors and the Welbodi Partnership Board.
• Keeps abreast of health system strengthening and hospital management models.
• Identifies opportunities to collaborate and develop integration/co-ordination with other organisational partners working in the supported districts.

VISIBILITY AND REPRESENTATION

• Represents Welbodi Partnership in Sierra Leone to governmental and non-governmental health partners, including funders and potential funders.
• Shares information and lessons learnt with our partners and other stakeholders and organisations with shared aims.
• Contributes regularly to Welbodi Partnership’s communication with supporters and partners, in close co-operation with the Welbodi Partnership Board of Directors.

STRATEGY AND PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT:

• Works with the Board of Directors to develop and implement the strategic direction of Welbodi Partnership programmes.
• Contributes to the development of strategic plans and policies.
• Identifies funding opportunities and develops proposals for funding alongside the Grants Manager.
• Works with the Welbodi Partnership Board of Directors and Grants Manager to support the development of project proposals through generating ideas, collecting information in Freetown (e.g. for budgets, needs assessments) and producing technical materials.
• Leads senior management organisational and clinical strategy development and implementation.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

• Overall responsibility for the financial management of Welbodi Partnership in Sierra Leone.

PERSONNEL

• Responsible for managing the team in Sierra Leone, which includes national and international staff. Line management may be delegated to other team members where appropriate.
• Responsible for ensuring that all staff have appropriate objectives, appraisals, support and training, and dealing with grievances and disciplinary issues when necessary.
• Lead international and local recruitment with support from the Operations and HR Manager.
• Overall responsibility for managing accommodation and transport that Welbodi Partnership provides for staff.
• Responsible for ensuring the safety and security of staff and of programme participants.
• Overall responsibility for ensuring that Welbodi Partnership’s policies and procedures are implemented, and updated according to the policy tracker, particularly regarding financial management and human resource management, in order to fulfil risk management obligations.
• Leads on institutional capacity building of staff.

SECURITY AND SAFEGUARDING

• Ensures Welbodi Partnership security and safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented and appropriate and reflect the organisation’s duty of care regarding the safety and security of its programmes staff and participants in Sierra Leone.
• Ensures that the security policies are regularly updated and reviewed in conjunction with the Board of Directors to maximise staff, participant, and visitor safety at all times.
• Keeps abreast of outbreaks / epidemics and provides oversight for employees, attending emergency partner meetings and circulating government guidelines as appropriate.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field from a recognised University.
• Experience in clinical medical practice and/or non-clinical healthcare.

Experience

• Demonstrable management experience.
• Results-oriented: experience of programmes and human resources management.
• Experience in liaising with government officials and a variety of donors and other partners.
• Experience managing multiple tasks and/or projects concurrently.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of healthcare systems, medical quality management (Quality Improvement/Quality Assurance) and risk management.
• Demonstrated ability to assess needs, design and implement programmes and evaluate results.
• A keen grasp of the role played by an organisation like Welbodi Partnership in the context of global health and development.
• Knowledge of research programmes in low-income settings.

Skills

• Demonstrated management and organisational skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Strategic and innovative thinker with proven ability to communicate a vision.
• Excellent IT, interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated financial skills: budget monitoring and financial reporting.
• Demonstrated problem solving skills: providing solutions to challenging situations.
• Demonstrated management skills in emergency situations.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas with others.
• Ability to learn and apply new skills and techniques on the job.
• Ability to work effectively with others in a cross-cultural environment, as a leader and influencer.
• Committed to partnership working: building equitable partnerships with all stakeholders.

Personal attributes

• Motivated and hardworking.
• Strong ability to manage time well and work to multiple and strict deadlines under pressure.
• Reliable and conscientious approach to duties.
• Passionate about improving maternal healthcare in Sierra Leone and a keen interest in Health System Strengthening.
• Absolute commitment to teaching and learning and skills improvement of others.

Other

• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Willingness to accept basic living and working conditions.
• Commitment to the goals and principles of Welbodi Partnership.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Qualifications

• Licensed medical doctor or nurse, paediatrician, or other clinical background and Public Health considered.

Experience

• At least four years’ senior management experience is preferred. International development and/or global health experience preferred.
• Senior management experience to include fundraising, operations, and finance management.
• Experience in proposal and report writing with a proven ability to secure donor funding.
• Experience in the charity sector and/or in impoverished, post-conflict, or other challenging environments.
• We are open to considering exceptional and committed candidates with less management experience if they possess the energy and skill set to drive our organisation forward.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of relevant evidence-based approaches to improving maternal, neonatal, and child health, and of national and international strategies and frameworks in these areas.

Other

• Fluency in Krio and/or other local languages desirable.

GENERAL POLICIES PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES

In addition to the key job responsibilities detailed in this job description all employees and volunteers at Welbodi Partnership are expected to comply with the general duties outlined below and detailed in full in our policies.

SAFEGUARDING

Welbodi Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff and volunteers are therefore expected to behave in such a way thatsupports this commitment. Applicants for this position should be aware that if successful, they will be requested to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, or equivalent in countries other than the UK. The Welbodi Partnership complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice.

DATA PROTECTION

Welbodi Partnership complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

Welbodi Partnership is committed to a comprehensive policy of Equal Opportunities in volunteering and employment in which individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and are given equal opportunities within the organisation. It is the Welbodi Partnership’s policy as an employer to treat all people equally irrespective of race, ethnic origin, nationality, sex, marital or parental status, gender, sexual orientation, creed, disability, age or political belief.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Welbodi Partnership operates in tertiary and primary healthcare facilities in one of the world’s poorest countries. Consequently, working conditions can be challenging, including many things we take for granted in other working environments, such as running water, power, communications, staff competency and regular supplies of essential medicines and equipment – many of these things are not a given in the environments where we work. Whilst every reasonable effort is made to ensure a safe working environment, this is a challenging context, much of which is out of our control. Welbodi Partnership places a strong emphasis on staff health and well-being and strives to ensure staff comfort at all times.

JOB REVISION

This job description should be viewed as a guide to the duties required and is not definitive or restrictive in any way. The duties of the post may be varied from time to time in response to changing circumstances.

SALARY/BENEFITS

Based on job competency alignment to internal pay scales. The full remuneration package will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.

How to apply

APPLICATION PROCESS: The closing date for applications is the 9th of June 2022 – we encourage potential applicants to submit as soon as possible.

To apply for this position please send your cover letter, CV and contact details of 3 referees in one email to [email protected] using the following subject title: Application – Country Director.

Please include the following in your cover letter (2 pages maximum):

1. 1. Reasons for applying to this position
   2. Overview of key experience related to this post
   3. Your country of residence and nationality
   4. Date you are able to commence and duration of availability

Please note: CVs should be no more than 4 pages long. Please do not send any additional documentation at this stage.

For any queries relating to the position, please email [email protected].