Position Title: Program Manager – Health and Nutrition
Primary Location: Jijiga, Somali Region, Ethiopia
Position Status: Full time, field-based, regular
Program/Department Summary:
Mercy Corps is working in Ethiopia in close collaboration with
government, other INGO’s and UN agencies to provide emergency and recovery
assistance to vulnerable populations in the Degehabur, Jijiga, Afder and
Shinile zones of the Somali Region.
The Health and Nutrition Program is a strategic intervention in
the Somali region that is addressing the immediate needs of children under 5
years and pregnant and lactating women through a Community Management of Acute
Malnutrition (CMAM) Program composed of an Outpatient Therapeutic Program
(OTP), a Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), and stabilization centers (SC).
The health and nutrition interventions address the basic health
care needs of the community through mobile clinics, including immunizations, health
consultations, reproductive health, and disease surveillance.
Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004 and began
its Nutrition Program in Somali Region in October 2008.
General Position Summary:
General Position Summary:
The Health and Nutrition Program Manager will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision in the implementation of the Nutrition and Health Program, managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget.
The Program Manager will supervise key program staff and ensure
accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulation.
S/he will be the primary program representative to donors,
relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external
stakeholders in Degehabur, Afder and Shinile.
Responsibilities also extend to the management of security,
implementation of all Mercy Corps policies/procedures, compliance/controls with
regard to operational activities, and submission of monthly updates and
quarterly program reports. Position requires field trips to project sites in
remote areas.
Essential Job Functions:
Essential Job Functions:
- Manage
the emergency nutrition and health program running in Degehabur, Afder and
Shinile zones according to the set budget and deadline.
- Oversee
all aspects of quality program implementation; ensure that effective
program reporting, assessment, monitoring/evaluation systems for internal
and external use are being maintained.
- Provide
on site supervision and monitoring of program activities as well as team
performance.
- Coordinate
with program, finance and administration staff to ensure operational
systems are in place to support field activities.
- Manage
and motivate an informed, skilled and efficient team; incorporate staff
development strategies and performance management systems in to team
building process.
- Create
a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of
excellent personnel at all levels. Foster a collaborative team atmosphere
which engages the stakeholders.
- Develop
positive working relationships and coordinate/collaborate with the
Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureau, relevant international and
national agencies active in the target area.
- Conduct
community assessments and make recommendations on needs and
vulnerabilities of the populations in conjunction with program objectives.
- Work
collaboratively to design and implement nutrition program activities using
participatory methodologies involving project stakeholders, ensuring
strategic sustainable development of communities and program.
- Provided
regular updates and reports to head office along with timely submission of
reports as per donor requirements.
- Represent
Mercy Corps in forums related to the sector and share information with
colleagues and partners.
- Bring
to note any emerging humanitarian requirement in the areas of operation to
the IHR Director and support in gathering information and proposal
writing.
- Lead
and implement assessments and program start-up/implementation in other
regions of Ethiopia as necessary
- Other
duties as assigned.
Organizational Learning
As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning
Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time
in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts
towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international
standards guiding international relief and development work while actively
engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in design, monitoring and
evaluation.
Supervisory Responsibility: 1 Project Officer and 3 Project Coordinators
Accountability
Supervisory Responsibility: 1 Project Officer and 3 Project Coordinators
Accountability
Reports Directly To: IHR Programs Director.
Works Directly With: RAIN Program Managers,
Jijiga Head of Office, Afder Head of Office, Field Staff, Finance and other
Support staff, and Health Technical Support Unit?
Knowledge and Experience:
Knowledge and Experience:
- An
MPH or Master’s Degree in Nutrition or Health related field required
- 5-7
years of experience successfully managing nutrition and health projects in
difficult and often insecure environments in relief and/or post-conflict
settings (preferably augmented with experience in community mobilization
and WASH programming).
- Strong
written and oral communication skills in English, including report
development, writing and editing.
- Fluency
in Somali written and oral communication required.
- Demonstrated
knowledge of USAID/OFDA programming and experience managing programs
compliant with USAID regulations.
- Proven
program leadership, management, project planning, organizational,
interpersonal, communication, and security management skills.
- Previous
experience working in the Horn of Africa required.
Success Factors:
- Ability
to communicate, takes direction, assume leadership, and make rational
decisions.
- Diplomacy
skills in managing a team with different backgrounds, abilities, and
technical knowledge.
- Ability
to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with
various skill sets and differing work styles.
- Contextual
knowledge of Ethiopia and the often complex clan structures of Somali
society.
- Effective
communication and team-building techniques.
- Excellent
organizational and strong interpersonal skills.
- High
motivation, initiative, and adaptability.
- Ability
to live and work successfully in remote, insecure, and challenging setting
with limited resources.
- Even
temperament and good sense of humor.
Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions:
This position is based in Jijiga, the Somali regional capital.
Jijiga is an unaccompanied location eligible for hardship and R&R.
From Jijiga, there is an airport and roads to Harar and Dire Dawa. Several UN and INGOs are present in Jijiga and it is the center for coordination of humanitarian operations for the Somali region of Ethiopia. There are periodic water shortages and power cuts at all sites. Hotels, restaurants, and banks are available in Jijiga and Dire Dawa. Telephone landlines, internet and mobile network capacity exist but are frequently at a less than optimal level.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
From Jijiga, there is an airport and roads to Harar and Dire Dawa. Several UN and INGOs are present in Jijiga and it is the center for coordination of humanitarian operations for the Somali region of Ethiopia. There are periodic water shortages and power cuts at all sites. Hotels, restaurants, and banks are available in Jijiga and Dire Dawa. Telephone landlines, internet and mobile network capacity exist but are frequently at a less than optimal level.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.