MENTOR Initiative
The context: The MENTOR Initiative (referred to as MENTOR) is an international, not-for-profit Non-Government Organisation (NGO) that seeks to reduce death and suffering caused by infectious diseases in humanitarian crises. MENTOR has been active in Syria since 2013 where it is leading the effort to control the ongoing epidemic of leishmaniasis across the north of the country. The two pillars of the program are medical support and prevention, supported by IEC and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) delivered by skilled members of the MENTOR team. Around 110 staff in Syria (depending on the time of the year) are managed remotely by a team of 25 national and international MENTOR staff in local offices in Gaziantep, Turkey and Duhok, Iraq, as well as the organisation’s Head Quarters (HQ) in the UK.
Job Purpose: The Technical Coordinator for the MENTOR Initiative in Syria will support the country team with an efficient implementation of ongoing infectious disease prevention and control activities, be responsible for technical oversight of all medical and prevention activities in country, and lead/coordinate MENTOR technical teams across different sites within the country. The critical task is to ensure the programme achieves its objectives in all the technically related activities in accordance with the programme grant/award(s).
1.Technical Support and Direction
- Ensure timely and efficient implementation of all VBD and other infectious disease case management and VBD vector control activities in line with donor and local government requirements.
- Oversee the work of the prevention, the medical and the IEC/BCC teams and ensure regular updates to accommodate the latest evidence and developments
- Maintain continuous coordination across the MENTOR technical team, in order to efficiently and effectively roll-out infectious disease prevention and control campaigns using appropriate methods
- Review and ensure HQ approval of all training materials, prevention tools, M&E protocols and case management protocols prior to and during implementation
- Oversee that data collection is managed appropriately and efficiently
- Support the implementation of targeted field studies when needed
- Draw support and advice for specialist areas where needed from within the country team, HQ and other sources, to reinforce the quality of programme
2. Coordination and Team Management
- Direct line management of all technical programme coordinators
- Responsible for the general representation of MENTOR in Syria/Turkey – including participation in relevant stakeholder meetings and participation in external coordination mechanisms, such as cluster meetings
- Representation
- Responsible for liaising with existing and potential partners and donors, exploring possible intervention areas with regard to infectious disease control
- Upholding continuous communication with existing partners and donors, sharing updates about grant progression and potential issues
4. Programme Reporting and Proposal Development
- Ensure that all team members are aware of grant reporting requirements and provide regular internal reports and that these are responded to
- Responsible in assisting the team with collating data and drafting grant reports
- Work with the Country Director, Head of Departments and HQ-based Programme Manager to regularly assess with partners new opportunities for the developing needs for infectious disease control
- Work with the Country Director, HQ-based Programme Manager and Grants Manager in seeking new opportunities for establishing new funding streams and providing the technical input into proposal development.
- Directly responsible for sending situation reports at an agreed interval to HQ
- Communication
- Ensure regular communication with all technical staff members and HQ-based Programme Manager and Regional Team Lead
- As requested, work with MENTOR HQ to share best practice across the organization
- Act as key technical representative at donor meetings and partner meetings
- Maintain excellent communication lines with existing and potential future donor partners and technical counterparts in partner agencies
- Ensure a transparent and efficient exchange of data, context reports etc. with relevant stakeholders
Job requirements:
- University degree in in Public Health, medicine, epidemiology, biological sciences or other applicable fields
- At least 5 years of experience in working in and/or managing medical emergency and post emergency programmes in insecure environments and humanitarian crises
- Experience in implementation of medical prevention programmes and/or VBD case management and training and/or field-based operational research
- Excellent team worker and communications skills (internally and externally)
- Proven capacity in donor reporting and liaison as well as proposal writing
- Proven capacity to train others
- Flexible and willing to learn
- Fluent in English, knowledge of Arabic an asset
- Solid knowledge of NGO working environments and standard operational procedures
How to apply
CV, LM and 3 references to send to [email protected]
The Mentor Initiative applies a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse, mistreatment or harassment, and other types of unethical behaviour including fraud. The Mentor Initiative will contact previous employers of applicants to determine if they have any history of violating international standards and codes of conduct relating to such matters.