Ebola Case Management Coordinator, International Rescue Committee, Sierra Leone

Ebola Case Management Coordinator

Posted on: October 6, 2014
Application deadline: December 5, 2014
Posted by: International Rescue Committee

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a prominent international organization working in relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression.

This is the largest Ebola outbreak in history and the first in West Africa. The outbreak in West Africa is worsening, WHO, CDC, INGOs and other local and international organizations are working to ramp up the response. On August 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the current Ebola outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

The International Rescue Committee is in discussions to run a 24 (40)-bed, Ebola Isolation Unit in Bo, Sierra Leone. The Unit will be a high-capacity, isolated unit which will require the oversight of 88 staff including 8 international staff, over a period of 3 months. Given the magnitude of the need, the plan is to set up the Unit immediately. Staff safety is an absolute priority and strict adherence to infection control procedures with be undertaken to protect staff. Given the tedious nature of the work, personal protective equipment which must be worn at all times in the heat and need for strict adherence to infection control protocols, staff will have ample rest time.

SCOPE OF WORK/RESPONSIBILITIES

Under direct supervision of the IRC Country Director, the Health Coordinator (Ebola Case Management Coordinator) will be responsible for running the IU on a day to day basis. The Health Coordinator will work with country teams to develop and/or finalize strategies based upon current standards, protocols and approaches for Ebola prevention and response. S/he will work with country teams to develop/finalize key guidance documents (as informed by WHO, CDC, and MSF related to Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) including case management, contact tracing and referral pathway protocols and standards.

The responsibilities of the HC will include:

• Assuming responsibility for overall clinical care at the IU
  • Ensuring that clinical management and infection prevention and control procedures are being applied by clinical staff according to a strict protocol.
  • Providing direct patient care for complicated cases and advice on special cases (pregnant women, children, etc.)
  • Providing on the job training to clinical staff
  • Liaising with key treatment partners (WHO, MSF, MOH, CDC, IMC, etc.) to ensure proper coordination and to apply best practices
  • The hiring and training of clinical and ancillary national staff in, with the assistance of the WHO and the Ministry of Health. (If needed)
  • Supervising the EH coordinator and the supply chain coordinator and their respective areas of responsibility.
  • Monitoring the well-being of the staff and working with the HR coordinator and psychologist to address issues as they arise
  • Oversee donor and internal reports in collaboration with country and HQ technical teams.
  • Represent IRC at both internal and external coordination meetings to gather information and to inform IRC's ECM activities
  • This position will enter the wet area of the ETC
• Staff Supervision & Development
  • Directly supervise IRC project's staff (16 people )
  • Analyses the context (environment, people/bodies involved, negotiations for access etc.) and the humanitarian issues at stake.
  • Proposes exploratory missions and organises them following the CD's approval.
  • Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
  • Overall responsible for staff work plans, work and vacation schedules, and staff training/development activities
  • If/as required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies
• Grant Planning & Implementation
  • Based on assessments and strategy; draft technical proposals and budgets to enable programs required to meet the immediate needs of the affected community.
  • Responsible for the overall achievement of all environmental health grants in country
  • Anticipates plans and manages programmatic and structural transitions.
  • Has significant budget authority to pre-approved limits and responsibility for budget development and compliance.
  • Responsible for ensuring the achievement the overall grant timeline and completion date
  • Provides direction and monitor staff in their implementation of the workplan and quality of technical activities,
• Grant Monitoring & Reporting
  • Development/ maintenance of effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes.
  • Ensure regular field monitoring and modifications as required.
  • Ensure IRC and donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly and annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements are produced in quality.
• Coordination & Representation
  • Develops and maintains effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders, representing IRC positions, promoting long-term strategy and resolving problems/conflicts
  • Work closely and coordinates with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and complaint program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings
  • Represents IRC in external WASH forums and is the key WASH focal point in the WASH cluster.
• Program Development
  • Provides monthly monitoring of the Project's expenditure and undertakes and analyses the financial indicators with the support of the Mission's Administrator.
  • Contributes to, development of country strategic direction and plans
  • Leads sector specific strategy development and technical proposal design
  • Evaluates the risks and threats linked to the implementation of IRC's activities. For this, maintains an information network which allows him (her) to follow security developments. Provides continuous analysis of the situation in the field whilst encouraging the participation of the national and international team under his (her) management in this task. In particular checks that the team knows the risks it is running.
  • Regularly defines and updates the Project's security policy and the measures to set up/already set up (in consultation with the teams) and submits it to the CD's for approval.
• Other
  • Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs
  • Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs
• Professional Standards
  • All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate will be a physician with public health training who has clinical experience mostly in isolation wards and emergencies, desirable with demonstrated and repeated experience setting up isolation centers for viral hemorrhagic fevers or secondarily, field hospitals or cholera treatment centers. Demonstrated experience in supervising a team in the strict adherence to infection control is needed

• MA/S or equivalent in Health or Public Health (MPH) degrees.
• Minimum of 5 years related program management experience in a development setting; direct services experience and previous work in Health programming preferred.
• Experience in Africa essential, preferably in West Africa and experience in Sierra Leone a strong advantage.
• Strong leadership, management, planning, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills;
• Ability to live and work in stressful and insecure environment;
• Excellent initiator, able to manage multiple tasks.
• Able to work under pressure and good at timely decision making.
• Competent in Microsoft Office, Word and Excel
• Knowledge and/or experience in conflict management, protection, or other related field;
• Excellent professional approach and strong team building skills.
• Strong coordination and representation skills and well versed in convincing and clarification of views and points.

HOW TO APPLY

Please follow this link to apply: Click Here