Health Coordinator

Position: Health Coordinator Location: Kisii, Kenya with frequent travel to programme sites and Nairobi Programmes: Integrated Primary Health Care (including Safe Motherhood), Nutrition, Sanitation, Hygiene Promotion and EP & R programmes in Nyanza province Responsible To: Project Coordinator Start Date: ASAP Duration: 24 Months Salary: £24,920 - £25,670 per annum (dependant on relevant experience) inclusive of annual Cost of Living Allowance. Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R and annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin

Closing date for applications will be the 7th September 2011

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.

Please note: this is an unaccompanied position.

Merlin International Profile Merlin specialises in health, saving lives in times of crisis and helping to rebuild shattered health services. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.

Context and Background Merlin has been operational in East Africa since 1997 with programmes in Kenya since 1998 and Somalia since 2004. During this time Merlin has developed a strong reputation in the respective health sectors through its emergency response programming, provision of technical assistance and support to longer term health system strengthening. In Kenya Merlin currently operates in two regions - Nyanza Province in the Western Highlands and Turkana Province in the Arid and Semi Arid region of northern Kenya. Currently Merlin's programmes in Nyanza focus on the prevention and control of highly prevalent malaria, HIV/AIDS and TB. In Turkana, Merlin is responding to the humanitarian needs of pastoralist communities caught in the vicious cycle of drought, food insecurity and lack of access to essential health services.

The overall objective of Merlin’s work in Kenya is to contribute to a reduction of health inequalities and to a reversal in the current downward trend in health related indicators. Merlin does this by responding to emergency needs as well as continuing to build on lasting working relationships with communities and local partners; supporting the strengthening of the Kenyan health system; approaching health problems with innovative interventions; developing answers to key practical questions through operational research; and using the lessons learned at local levels to feed into national-level programming and planning.

Main purpose of the role The Health Coordinator have overall responsibility for the technical management of Merlin’s integrated health, nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, emergency preparedness and response (EP&R) and safe motherhood projects in Nyanza province in collaboration with the Project Coordinator and Country Health Director. The Health Coordinator will have overall responsibility for the management and development of Merlin health programmes in the district and ensures that the implementation of the projects are carried out in line with Kenya Ministry of Health policies and guidelines and Merlin’s strategy, internal procedures and policies.

Overall Objectives (scope) • Plan and implement Merlin’s response to the present unmet health needs in Nyanza province, in close collaboration with the PC and Country Health Director, Merlin existing programme site teams, MoH and other actors. • Assist in the analysis of health / humanitarian contexts in Nyanza province. • Establish mechanisms and strategies for providing response to further identified needs. • To lead in assessments and contribute to the development of the longer term Merlin strategy and programming in Nyanza province.

Responsibilities

Technical Programme Management/Development • In collaboration with the Project Coordinator, be technically responsible for the implementation and further development of Merlin supported primary health, prevention and control of highly prevalent malaria, HIV/AIDS and TB programmes in the Nyanza province district.

• Develop and implement quality programmes in the district in close coordination and collaboration with the district health authorities.

• Co-ordination of all health related project activities in close collaboration with local partners and stakeholders to ensure objectives are achieved.

• Liaise with key representatives of the Kenyan Ministry of Health at national, provincial and district levels to ensure that the programme remains in line with national strategy and to ensure the sustainability of activities at the end of the project period.

• Develop, plan and implement project activities in close collaboration with medical and non medical personnel, ensuring coherence and integration of activities and contingencies for changes in project direction and priorities related to the humanitarian context.

• Ensure accurate collection and analysis of data. Compile epidemiological reports for inclusion in project situation reports and any other pertinent reports, including dissemination of the same.

• Regularly monitor progress of project implementation and conduct assessments of the health needs of the community and prioritize project activities based on findings.

• Together with the Project Coordinator responsible for encouraging community participation in health activities to ensure the long term ownership and effectiveness of the programme. ? Ensure that the medical supply stocks are sufficient and that drugs are stored and used correctly. ? Work with district health facilities, community representatives and persons responsible for training health workers at different levels to ensure close links between health facilities and communities. ? Be the lead in emergency preparedness and response planning including design of mitigation, response and recovery interventions. • Prepare monthly, quarterly, mid-term and final technical project reports for submission to the PC.

• Assist the Project Coordinator, Country Health Director and senior management team at country level in designing new programmes including undertaking assessments, proposal and log-frame writing, and budget preparation. • Deputise the Project Coordinator and perform any other duties assigned.

Representation and Coordination: • In liaison with the Project Coordinator, co-ordinate and represent Merlin with the provincial and district health authorities and ensure all project activities are carried out with their approval in line with national strategy and, as far as possible, their participation. Ensure that local health authorities receive regular activity reports.

• Contribute towards the dissemination of Merlin’s health work through publications (general, health sector, academic) in consultation with Country Health Director and health department.

• Co-ordination and representation with the MoH and other NGOs in the region to avoid project activity overlap whilst sufficiently addressing the full needs of the communities.

• In consultation and coordination with the Project Coordinator and Country Health Director, liaise with relevant project donors over matters related to specific projects including reports, amendments and extensions, funding for continuation of projects, as well as answering questions raised by donors.

Programme Support: • Provide technical support to all project team members and review all work plans for technical soundness.

• Assist Kisii Project Coordinator and Country Health Director to establish systems and standards for regular assessment, monitoring and evaluation of the programme against its strategic aim, objective and expected output.

Staff Management / HR: • Assist with recruitment of technical project personnel.

• Support project personnel, with the aim of ensuring that individuals work effectively together to achieve project objectives. • Responsible for organizing training of all health staff and local partner staff to ensure the maximum use of their skills and their full and effective participation in project activities whilst conforming to Merlin and MOH protocols. • Ensure that staff are fully conversant with and trained in donor and Kenya health authorities guidelines, protocols and data collection forms.

• Conduct induction in the field for new staff on Merlin health policy as well as project aims, objectives, and activities.

• Responsible for international staff health within the project areas including first aid provisions, medical evacuation and general monitoring of staff welfare with the Country Health Director.

Person Specification Essential Qualifications, experience and competences • A medical doctor or nurse with post graduate degree in health related field such as public health with significant experience in managing health programmes in a developing country context. • Previous relevant experience of the programmatic aspects of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, malaria control and epidemic management within a humanitarian aid organisation. • Proven experience in project proposal development, logical framework and report writing • Experience in budget management. • Experience of assessing evolving health needs quickly and calmly under pressure as required. • Good computer skills to allow reporting and representation. • Flexibility and relationship building skills. • Ability to successfully work in a multi-cultural and diverse team. • Excellent communication skills, with good spoken and written English. • Ability to understand the cultural and political environment and to work well with local representatives and programme staff in a consultative and participatory approach. • Proven problem solving and organisational skills. • Excellent management and capacity building skills to enable the motivation, encouragement, participation and development of team members.

Desirable • Experience in epidemiological analysis. • Experience of working in Kenya and knowledge of the Kenya context in an advantage.
• Ability to reflect on from personal and programme performance and act upon lessons learnt. • Willing to travel extensively and ability to work in dynamic work environments.

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 please download and complete an application form and email it to: applications@merlin.org.uk.

Please note that we do not accept CVs and any application must therefore be made online or by completing our application form. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Data Protection In accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment should an offer of employment be made. This information will be stored in manual and/or computer 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.

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