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Provincial Health Director, Maniema

Provincial Health Director, Maniema Responsible To: Provincial Director and technically the Health Advisor in London Responsible for: Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Coordinator and technically for Health Coordinators and Field Medical Coordinators Works With: All Merlin Maniema Staff and partners (e.g., Government of DRC, Ministries, Donors, UN agencies, National NGOs and communities) Location: Kindu (Maniema), DRC, with frequent trips to the field sites. Starting Date: ASAP Contract Duration: 24 months
Salary: £37,980 - £38,730 per annum (dependant on relevant experience), Inclusive of annual Cost of Living Allowance Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.

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 that this is an unaccompanied position.

Merlin Undaunted and determined, Merlin saves lives. We deliver medical expertise to the toughest places. And we stay to help build lasting health care.

Our mission is to end the needless loss of life in the poorest countries caused by a lack of effective health care. We help communities set up medical services for the long term including hospitals, clinics, surgeries and training for nurses and other health workers.

We do whatever it takes and we stay for as long as it takes.

Context and Background The Democratic Republic of Congo is the third largest country in Africa and one of the poorest. Decades of dictatorship and an ongoing, unresolved civil war has left much of the national infrastructure destroyed. Merlin has been operational in eastern DRC since 1997 when it established emergency medical support to populations in Maniema Province. Merlin teams have been providing emergency medical care to the most vulnerable, accessible populations in Maniema Province, Kasai Oriental Province, North Kivu and Orientale Province, and in response to the Goma volcanic eruption of Jan 2002. Activities include: emergency response, primary and secondary health care support including, reproductive health, institutional capacity building, nutrition, WASH, rehabilitation of health facilities.

Currently, three main programs are being implemented by Merlin in Maniema:

 Support to primary health care across ten health zones Maniema: This 3 year program covers health centre rehabilitation, drug and medical equipment supplies, training, partners capacity building, reproductive health, gender-based violence activities, specific support to reproductive health activities and support to immunization campaigns.  Support to Kindu Provincial Referral Hospital: Funded by DFID, this program started in September 2002 and aimed at reviving Kindu hospital through rehabilitation, medicines supplies, re-equipment and staff training. Capacity-building of the team to enhance hospital self-sustainability.  A SIDA 2 year’s funded multi-provinces Emergency Obstetrical and Neonatal Care project which is implemented in Punia and Ferekeni health zones.

Main purpose of the role

The main purpose of the role is to provide technical leadership and guidance to Merlin’s health programme in Maniema province in order to successfully realise the goals and objectives of Merlin’s country strategy for DRC. The role should also ensure and facilitate the full inclusion of the Ministry of Health within the design, planning and implementation of programming. This role will play a key role in the successful progress of the activities in Maniema province.

Overall Objectives (scope) Will be to:

 Provide technical leadership and management to the programme in Maniema  Ensure effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Merlin health programming in line with approved program proposals and budgets.  Contribute to the overall planning and strategic direction of Merlin’s program in Maniema Province.  Provide technical support to Merlin’s health staff and their MoH counterparts.  Represent Merlin to national authorities, international donors, international organizations and other NGOs at Provincial and National level

Responsibilities Programme Development/ Management  Responsible for technical programme quality in all project sites, covering the provincial hospital, the HGRs, the Centre de Sante and the community level work in collaboration with the provincial Director.  Monitor the health and humanitarian situation in the province and advise the Provincial Director and London based staff, on appropriate course(s) of action.  Coordinate/undertake needs assessment in line with evolving humanitarian priorities in coordination with Provincial Management Team, Health Advisor and Regional Desk and formulate future plans for possible programme extension.  In collaboration with the Provincial Director Develop and implement provincial strategic plan in close consultation and coordination with the other members of provincial Management Team (PMT) HQ based Health Advisor; Health Coordinators and Field Medical Coordinators and National authorities.  Support in preparing accurate and timely funding proposals in collaboration with PMT, relevant field teams and Health Advisor  Support Provincial Director in designing, drafting and negotiating new funding programmes with the representatives of existing and new donors  Ensure that programmes are implemented according to National Merlin policies and recognised international standards with appropriate monitoring and evaluation plan
 Provide technical specifications, quantities and quality control for medical supplies in collaboration with the Provincial Logistics Manager.  Enhance technical and health management skills of national health staff through ensuring the provision of formal & informal training in conjunction with project medical staff.
 Ensure that appropriate medical protocols and data collection forms are available in all project sites and designed in collaboration with provincial MoH representatives, and ensure the team is fully conversant with and trained in their use.  Liaise closely with the Merlin London Health Department on policy/strategy development when required  Support the capacity building of the Ministry of Health at provincial and zonal levels though the development of appropriate training plans in collaboration with the MOH

Leadership  Ensure the effective implementation and quality of projects, i.e. provide overall technical supervision for the programme in Maniema in co-ordination with relevant medical personnel  Actively support the development and implementation of a coherent Provincial Programme strategy that contributes to national, international and Merlin’s aims in collaboration with the operational field staff and technical teams.  Coordinate and technically manage the overall planning and direction of Merlin's health activities  Ensure effective communication with and information exchange between the medical team members and the Provincial Management Team (PMT)  Play a leading role in the promotion of a shared vision among all of Merlin's programme staff and their role in achieving these  Maintain constructive working relationships with MoH counterparts and senior members of the BZC in the zones of operation.

Monitoring and Evaluation  In collaboration with M&E Co-ordinator provide technical support in designing and implementing a Monitoring & Evaluation framework for the provincial program including qualitative and quantitative assessment for evidence-based programming and quality assurance  Conduct regular visits to project sites, at least quarterly to all project sites , for the purposes of monitoring, quality control and strengthening of relationship between Merlin field staff, the BCZ and other NGOs in the area  Submit monthly technical health reports to the health department in head office for monitoring of progress and any constraints.  Ensure implementation of Merlin health information systems at provincial level and provide support to Merlin partners in operating of health information systems in all Merlin sites  Monitor consumption of medicines and other medical supplies in all field sites through field Medical staff to ensure that orders are in line with consumption and predict and prevent stock ruptures.  Strengthen the use of, and/or develop a monitoring and evaluation tool for field sites, in collaboration with field staff, M&E Coordinator.  in collaboration with M&E Coordinator support training of all relevant expatriate and senior national staff on the monitoring and evaluation tool, as agreed with PMT

Representation  Represent Merlin’s programmes to the MoH, UN agencies and (I)NGOs and Donors at Kindu and Kinshasa level when appropriate  Co-ordination and representation with the BCZS & BIP at district and provincial level to ensure all project activities are carried out with their agreement and, ensure their full participation.  Represent and provide technical expertise and input on behalf of Merlin at consortium (partner) meetings and workshops when required  Contribute towards the dissemination of Merlin's work through publications (general, health sector, academic) in consultation with the field technical teams, the London Health Department and the London Communication Department  Advocate at provincial and national level/ cluster meetings for adequate responses towards unmet health needs policy review and formulation
 Ensure all relevant parties are kept informed on Merlin activities as appropriate

Human Resources  Provide supervision, direction and coaching/mentoring to Health Coordinators, Field Medical officers, and Monitoring & Evaluation Co-ordinator and other health staff working in the province.  Play an active role in the recruitment of health staff in coordination with the Provincial Director, the Merlin London HR Department.  Support Project Coordinators and field medical staff in the recruitment of qualified health personnel in the Merlin -supported health facilities  Ensure briefings, appraisals and debriefings of medical staff  In collaboration with the HR Department, identify training needs and coordinate training for both expatriate and national health staff  Enhance the technical and health management skills of international and national health staff through formal & informal training.  Responsible for staff health care in general and in particular for international staff, following Merlin health policy  Update medical evacuation guidelines for international staff and being a focal person in Maniema for organizing medical evacuation in coordination with PMT, Health Advisor, London HR and Merlin’s Insurance agency  Ensure appropriate health briefings for all new staff, consultants and visitors and provide staff health services as and when required

Security  As a member of the Provincial Management Team play an active role in ensuring that security guidelines are implemented and followed up

Reporting  Support in drafting monthly reports (for organisational use) and periodic reports to donors in collaboration with field teams, PMT and regional desk  Ensure that communication/updates to MoH and other health partners are timely and accurate  Submit monthly health technical sitrep to head office on timely basis

Other  Maintain good inter-team communications, cultivate good team dynamics, and take suitable action to predict and manage challenges when they occur  Provide coverage for other positions when necessary and carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Provincial Director/ London Health Advisor

Person Specification Essential Qualifications, experience and competences

 Medical doctor or qualified nurse with Master in Public Health or equivalent degree  Extensive post qualification experience in managing public health services within developing countries  Previous experience in health programme management in emergency and transitional / development settings  Excellent interpersonal skills to motivate and encourage medical team.  Proven experience of Primary Health Care, Epidemiology, HIV and AIDS and Reproductive and child Health and prevention and control of communicable diseases  Understanding of health systems strengthening especially in the context of a developing country
 Successful experience of representation at national, provincial and local levels  Ability to write clear and concise funding proposals and donor reports  Substantial experience of training staff and a commitment to national and expatriate staff capacity development  Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken French and English  Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office HMIS and statistical package (Epi-Info, SPSS, STATA)  Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures and an ability to work well with local authorities and other humanitarian actors  Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines  An understanding of health system strengthening, particularly health financing
 An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values

Desirable Qualifications, experience and competences

 Good knowledge of DRC Health System  Experience of working in the region  Previous experience in a post-conflict environment or development  Experience in epidemiological data analysis, interpretation and qualitative/quantitative assessments and programme development

How to apply:

To apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.

If you are unable to apply online for any technical reason, please contact applications@merlin.org.uk.

Please note that we do not accept CVs. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Data Protection Please note that in accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act, Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purpose of recruitment and employment. This information can be stored in manual and/or electronic form. This information may also be disclosed to third parties in accordance with the Data Protection Act. In cases where a job offer is conditional on ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States due to donor funding requirements, Merlin will use the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.