Health Advisor

Responsible for the strategic design, planning and technical supervision of all health and nutrition programming at the country level. Takes the lead in representing the organization technically in national bodies, coordinates with technical stakeholders and donors, identifies areas of improvement in quality or expansion of programming to address critical needs in targeted communities.

Medical Teams International Calling:

Daring to love like Jesus, we boldly break barriers to health and restore wholeness in a hurting world.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development of country level organization health and nutrition strategies, models, and standards for implementing field teams
• Ensure programs and projects are aligned with Medical Teams strategy, core service package, and interventions are based on best available evidence and international standards.
• Work closely with the Country Director, senior management and field teams to identify strategic health and nutrition needs in targeted communities or gaps in country level health and nutrition response
• Work closely with Health and Nutrition Managers to support and advocate for operational needs of the health and nutrition programs
• Line manage the Nutrition Coordinator to ensure well-coordinated multisectoral program design and that quality oversight and implementation support is being provided
• Contextualize and adapt global guidelines, tools, and protocols to meet local clinical needs for program implementation and training with support of the HQ Health Advisor
• Monitor the health information systems and data management as carried out by M&E teams to ensure it is regularly analyzed and meeting the needs of heath teams
• Support Health and Nutrition Managers and other health staff to troubleshoot challenges and respond to emerging needs
• Monitor and evaluate health and nutrition services against accepted international humanitarian standards and ensure application of evidenced based practices to deliver high quality services to the targeted communities
• Assist in staff recruitment along with senior management, program manager/field coordinators and Health Nutrition Managers and ensure training and capacity building of health technical staff based on assessed needs
• Liaise with logistics teams to support medical supplies and pharmaceutical supply chains including technical aspects of procurement, warehousing, consumption tracking and pharmaceutical projections
• Represent MTI at health and nutrition coordination meetings at regional and national level, task force meetings and other partner coordination meetings and communicate relevant information back to country office team and HQ technical team
• Maintain relationships as first point of contact with the Ministry of Health and local health authorities, donor technical teams and partners
• Act as last line clinical consultation and make recommendations for referrals for specialized care
• Support production of site and donor reports leading on analysis of data and response to achievements or shortfalls
• Work with management and partner agencies for outbreak and emergency preparedness and contingency planning
• Serve as technical lead or manage delegate for assessment planning, implementation, and reporting
• Lead sector strategy and project design development for new donor proposals and budgeting processes including support for log frames and monitoring and evaluation plans along with M&E team
• Ensure direct reports have clear objectives, receive mentorship and participate in capacity building opportunities
• Conduct performance evaluations and enforce disciplinary procedures as per MTI policy
• Ensure the Safeguarding of program participants and employees through promoting an environment of awareness and upholding the code of conduct provisions of Medical Teams Protection from Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Child & Vulnerable Adult protection, and harassment-free workplace policies
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION, LICENSES, & CERTIFICATIONS

• Doctor of medicine (MD) or other relevant clinical degree is required
• Postgraduate training in Public Health is an added advantage

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 2 years progressive responsibility in international humanitarian programs
• Minimum 2 years senior management related to primary, maternal and child health, reproductive health, and communicable diseases in humanitarian or development programming, with at least one year in a humanitarian context at an NGO.
• Experience with an international NGO or UN agency is required
• Experience outside of home country is desired

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Knowledge

• Knowledge of humanitarian principles and operations and project cycle management
• Knowledge of [Country] MoH, WHO and UN health systems and policies
• Strong knowledge of evidenced based practices in health and nutrition in humanitarian settings
• Basic knowledge of principles and current approaches to monitoring and evaluation in relief and development programs

Skills

• Skilled in communications using email, applications including teams, and whatsapp
• Skilled in project cycle management
• Skilled in capacity building and mobilizing staff to achieve a common goal
• Skilled in relationship building with the ability to liaise with multiple partner agencies
• Skilled in using HIS and HMIS database systems
• Skilled in data analysis and writing proposals and reports
• Skilled at using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Abilities

• Strategic thinker with analytical skills
• Keen interest to mentor others
• Ability to travel to health facilities frequently and at times upon short notice
• Ability to exercise considerable initiative to plan, organize and follow through to meet deadlines
• Ability to support MTI Calling and adhere to the MTI Code of Conduct

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

This position requires frequent travel to health facilities located in remote areas with very basic living conditions.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.
• The employee may be required to travel to remote areas of the world where there are potential health hazards and risks, limited hygiene facilities, extreme hot or cold weather, and very basic living conditions.