Medical Coordinator

CONTEXT:

MdM has been working in Iraq since the 1990s. During its first mission in the country, MdM was providing general and specialized medical services (surgery, training programs for traditional birth attendants). Since then MdM had several programs which included paediatric surgery, contributing to the renewal of techniques and knowledge of surgical, medical and paramedical staff in 1997, emergency medical activities in 2002, building local capacity on basic emergency healthcare services at community level in 2006. From 2009 to 2011, MdM supported an Iraqi NGO in the implementation of a program aimed at improving the skills of midwives and traditional birth attendants in accordance with recognized international standards.

In 2014, with the arrival of ISIL, MdM started to provide immediate healthcare support through curative and preventive care including MHPSS services to IDPs and host communities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I). Later, MdM expanded its support to the most vulnerable IDPs and host communities outside of the KR-I region, in Kirkuk Governorate in July 2015, and in Ninewa Governorate in April 2016. Since 2018, MdM has developed a program where activities are gradually handed over to the MoH.

The mission strategy is to transition from a humanitarian approach to a more development approach and to strengthen the resilience and capacity of the local community affected by the conflict.

The current program focuses on supporting the local health authorities in providing quality PHC services (including MHPSS and GBV response) and continue to strengthen the capacities of local public health authorities in Dohuk, Kirkuk and Ninewa governorates, to provide quality care and respond to health needs of IDPs, returnees and vulnerable host communities.

This includes:

• A combination of direct and complementary services, especially related to general health, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), while contributing to the health system strengthening through capacity building at DOH level
• Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS),
• Gender based violence (GBV) integrated within the PHCC general health services, SRH and MHPSS services
• As a cross cutting approach MdM developed a community health based (CHB) approach to ensure community participation, while empowering individuals.

For 2022-2024 MdM Iraq has identified four main pillars to guide the strategy:

1. Community Health Based Approach,
2. Capacity-building at the DoH level,
3. Partnership with local NGOs and

Main responsibilities 

The Medical Coordinator in close coordination with the MHPSS,GBV  and MEAL coordinator is responsible for the success of the mission’s health strategy and the quality of current and future health programmes at the definition, implementation and evaluation phases.

Working relations 

The Medical Coordinator reports directly to the General Coordinator and with technical support from the medical advisor in HQ. The Medical Coordinator will plan, coordinate, monitor and evaluate all health program activities with the mental Medical Coordinator and MEAL coordinator.

S/he works closely with the full coordination team which includes:

• MHPSS coordinator
• MEAL coordinator
• GBV coordinator
• AdministartFinance Coordinator
• HR coordinator
• Logistic coordinator
• Security and access Manager  
• Field coordinators ( Mosul, Kirkuk)

S/he manages directly:

• Deputy medical coordinator
• Pharmacy warehouse manager

S/he works in close collaboration with the Field Health Teams in particular:

• Program Managers
• Community Mobilization Officer
• Health Facility Supervisor
• Pharmacist Supervisor

Essential duties

1. Monitor and update health strategy

• Contribute to the development of the mission’s operational strategy in line with MdMs Global strategy and the country strategy, national health policy and the identified needs;
• Submit any proposals for the development of new health activities to general coordinator and Medical advisor in Headquarters;
• Ensure that the health activities of the mission’s programmes comply with MdMs country strategy;
• Ensure an integration of health, MHPSS and GBV activities in the program activities in coordination with the MHPSS coordinator;
• Ensure tools and practices across the whole of the mission are harmonised and capitalised in relation to MdM tools and helps to update them in conjunction with the Medical advisor in HQ;
• Ensures that epidemiological data, health protocols, national health policy and assistance programmes from key players in the healthcare sector (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNAIDS, etc.) for the country are monitored and analysed in coordination with the HQ Health Advisor;
• Promote the production (publication) of research documents relating to the mission where appropriate, in coordination with HQ Health Advisor;
• Attend coordination meetings as an active contributor;
• Contribute in annual reflection and strategic development workshops in close coordination with the general coordinator, mental Medical Coordinator and MEAL coordinator.

2. Contribute to the development of new proposals

• Participate in and/or supervise exploratory missions and needs assessments in close coordination with MHPSS coordinator, GBV, MEAL coordinator and Field coordinators;
• Guide and train the teams participating in needs assessments and ensure the availability of tools for the needs assessment;
• Ensure the writing of quality reports of each assessment conducted in Coordination with the MHPSS, GBV and MEAL coordinator and have it validated by the Medical advisor in HQ and the general coordinator;
• Provide monitoring of the healthcare coverage provided by Ministry of Health and NGOs in the country;
• Participate in identifying healthcare needs in coordination with the field project teams, GBV and MHPSS team:
• Work with the Field project teams and coordination team to prepare and draft project proposals for health activities.

3. Monitor the mission’s health program

• Provide continuous information to the General coordinator, Medical advisor in HQ, and Health program teams on new directions on health policies at a national level and within MDM;
• Analyse health data received weekly or monthly received from field health and share with the mission teams and HQ;
• Ensure reports on health activities (monthly and quarterly for the health department), in particular in relation to epidemiological data, indicators and results of the mission’s health programmes are monitored and analysed;
• Ensure accurate reporting to health cluster at governorate and national level;
• Supervise the operation of health activities, including project and site visits, monitoring the quality of care, meeting health and staff and organising meetings and training for the staff;
• Provides technical support for programmes by responding to technical questions, analysing health strategy and identifying solutions to problems;
• Contribute to adapting implementation and monitoring methods for health activities on projects run by the mission;
• Ensure that orders for medical equipment, medicines and consumables are appropriate to programme requirements and local constraints (country certification, health monitoring, etc.) and according to MdM Policies;
• Communicate internal and external reports to the General coordinator and Medical advisor in HQ in line with internal approval time schedules (situation report) and external contractual deadlines (project reports).

4. Supervise the health team

• Is familiar with MdM’s Internal Regulations in relation to the mission and ensures these are understood and complied with by his/her team.
• Participate in defining health positions for the mission;
• Draw up job descriptions for the members of the health team and has them approved by HR coordinator and General coordinator;
• Participate actively in in recruitment (interviews, tests, etc.) for health staff;
• Ensure a coordination mechanism  with all health staff and their line managers;
• Participate in staff performance evaluation for health staff (setting objectives, monitor and evaluate);
• Identify training needs for health staff  and provide organisational, and technical support for trainings
• Participate in identifying training needs of local partners, DOH staff, and NNGO;
• Build capacity of MDM teams and national Partners (DOH and NNGOs) through training and supervision;
• Ensure the quality of the training and supervision conducted by the health teams by preparing or validating training manuals, training tools and supervision tools.

5. Ensure quality Phramacy management

• Ensure quality Pharmacy management in line with  MDM standards;
• Supervise the  pharmacy warehouse manager and the pharmacy supervisors in pharmacy management and in their role of supervising DOH pharmacy management;
• Guide, support and train the team where needed in the preparation of a needs analysis and final order for medical supplies (medicines, consumables, medical equipment);
• Ensure international orders adequacy in line with MdM standards and budget available;
• Review and validate technically all medical purchases;
• Ensure monthly Phramacy reports from field are submitted, analysed and provided with feedback (narrative reports and SAGA back-up)

6. Ensure logistical and administrative monitoring of health and programme(s)

• Contributes to analysing bids made by suppliers for purchases with stringent technical specifications;
• Provides all the information needed to produce a cash flow forecast for his/her own department to the Finance Coordinator on a monthly basis.
• Ensure up-to-date budget monitoring for the health department on a monthly basis and participates in analysing, identifying any discrepancies and proposing adjustments to the Finance Coordinator.

7. Represent MDM to key players in the healthcare sector

• Represent MdM to NGOs, UN agencies, local and national government bodies, donors and other relevant parties in the field and share information with the coordination team;
• Represent MDM in the health cluster, ensuring active participation and timely reporting
• In the event of a visit by a donor, play an active role in preparing and managing the visit.

8. Ensure the safety of property and people

• Ensure the security rules are understood by the team for which he/she is responsible and that security rules are respected;
• Contribute to gathering information relating to safety and security in his/her area of operation and disseminate this on a regular basis or ad hoc in the event of an emergency with security manager and general coordinator;
• Ensure that the health teams have access to safety equipment appropriate to their activities (e.g. PEP kits, gloves, etc.).
• Ensure the availability of medical hibernation boxes and first aid kits and in offices and guest houses;
• Participate, as necessary, in managing medical evacuations in coordination with the general coordinator.

This list of activities is not exhaustive and may change depending on the situation.

Skills required:

Education

• Master’s in Public Health
• Professional Health training OR Paramedic training (Doctor, Nurse, midwife etc)
• Project Management training

Professional experience

• At least 3 years relevant professional experience in similar position in humanitarian sector
• Health project management in humanitarian work or a related field
• Solid experience of project planning and budget holding; proposal and report writing.
• Experience in remote management and post emergency
• Experience in middle east is an asset

Skills and qualities required

• Knowledge and understanding of project management tools (Logical Framework analysis, project cycle management, objectives and indicators etc.)
• Experience in management of multi projects budgets
• Capacity building skills
• Supportive management style (experience managing and supervising staff)
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office

Required personal skills

• Independence, ability to take the initiative and responsibility
• Ability to work under stressful situation
• Good analytical skills
• Anticipation and adaptability,
• Strong problem solving and organisational skills in day to day and crisis situations
• Ability to plan, organise, prioritise and meet deadlines
• Ability to classify and to manage priorities
• Adaptability to changing priorities
• Listening and diplomacy skills
• Good people and communication skills
• Ability to manage remotely when needed
• Team spirit
• Trustworthiness and rigor
• Flexibility, and able to adjust to changing context and situations

Languages

• English: Fluent
• Arabic: Fluent
• Kurdish: Fluent
• French: an asset

Submit CV and Cover letter  by Email to [email protected]

including the subject:

Ref: 2022-ERB-18

LAST SUBMISSION DATE ON March 28, 2022

please make sure to send your CV in PDF/word format (other formats or links aren’t considered) and write the reference (2022-ERB-18)on the subject of your email. Only Short-Listed Applicants Will Be Contacted. Reviewing the application CVs will be on a rolling basis, as such; MdM reserves the right to fill the position before the closing date of the job advertisement.