Merlin Emergency Health Coordinator Job Vacancy in Zwedru, Liberia

Please
note that 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 various counties throughout Liberia since 1997 and has
developed an extensive reputation in the health sector. Merlin works in close
partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH&SW) at the
central and local levels to ensure that Merlin’s strategy and activities are
complimentary to the MoH&SW national plan/County health plans and policies.
The main focus of Merlin’s programme in Liberia at present is supporting the
provision of primary and secondary level health care services. Currently Merlin
is supporting 76 primary health care facilities and 5 hospitals in Montserrado,
Maryland, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, Grand Kru and Grand Gedeh counties.

Merlin’s
activities include technical and logistical support to the County Health Teams
(CHTs), capacity building of CHT staff, supervision and training of health
personnel to ensure improved quality of care in the supported facilities.
Merlin is also running a Reproductive Health /GBV project cross-cutting four
counties to improve maternal health outcomes. HIV and AIDS are incorporated
into all Merlin projects as a cross-cutting theme.

All Merlin
projects are designed to build the capacity of MoH&SW staff and Merlin has
implemented specific projects to provide national level training of CHTs to
develop their management skills and capability to assist in the transition of
service delivery support to the government. In the course of implementing its
activities in Liberia Merlin supports over 800 MoH&SW workers through
incentive payments. Merlin is actively collaborating with the MoH&SW, UN
Agencies, local partner NGOs, and other INGOs and agencies. 

Grand Gedeh Health
Program

Merlin has
been working in Grand Gedeh County since 2003.Merlin’s current programme in
Grand Gedeh County supports an integrated Basic Package of Health Services at
the Martha Tubman Hospital and 16 primary health care facilities. The hospital
provides both in-patient and outpatient facilities. This hospital is the only
secondary referral hospital in Grand Gedeh and also serves parts of the
neighbouring River gee and Sinoe Counties.

Main
purpose of the role
The Health
Coordinator – Emergency Response will help support Merlin’s and Liberia
MOH&SW response and up-scaling of comprehensive emergency humanitarian
medical intervention in Grand Gedeh County of Liberia due to the sudden influx
of refugees from Cote D’Ivoire caused by the current political crisis following
the disputed Presidential elections in November 2010.

He/She
will provide support to the medical teams and establish health programming in
newly assessed areas, ensuring good practice in the field sites and assessments
when requested. He/She will guide/lead the medical team with flexibility and
adaptability as the current context changes.

Overall
Objectives (scope)

• Plan and implement Merlin’s
  response to the present unmet health needs of the refugees and host
  communities in Grand Gedeh County, in close collaboration with the Project
  Health Coordinator , Programme Manager and Country Health Director, Merlin
  existing programme site teams, MOH and other actors
• Assist in the comprehensive
  assessment and analysis of health / humanitarian contexts in Grand Gedeh
  County
• Establish mechanisms and
  strategies for providing rapid response to further identified needs of
  refugee and host population.
• Lead in assessments and
  contribute to the development of the longer term Merlin strategy and
  programming primarily in their project area

• Oversee the implementation of
  Merlin response to the Ivorian refugee crisis in Grand Gedeh County
  Liberia, with a focus on the following key Basic Package for Health
  Services interventions:

• Working closely with the
  country management team, assess gaps in program design and adjust project
  interventions to address ongoing needs of the refugee population.
• Prepare and implement the
  MOH&SW approved Standard Operating Protocols based on the 6 components
  of Basic Package for Health Services and ensure the team is fully
  conversant with and trained in use of protocols.
• Support identification and
  training of community health volunteers to conduct basic health care
  preventive interventions including health education , support to EPI,
  sanitation and other outreach activities in the target areas
• Co-ordination of the medical
  activities within the project in close collaboration with the other members
  of the Merlin medical team and MOH.
• Update the emergency
  preparedness plan for the county in collaboration with the County Health
  Team and other stakeholders and ensure the response capability for
  emergencies
• Implement a Logistics and
  Supply chain management system for drugs and medical supplies with timely
  procurement, distribution and consumption tracking from the service
  delivery points

• Conduct full oversight for
  implementation of the project medical activities, including changes of
  project direction or priorities in collaboration with the Project health
  coordinator and Country health director
• Ensure program activities are
  implemented in accordance with the proposed activities including ensuring
  that procurement is carried according to project plans
• Conduct baseline and periodic
  capacity assessment for all the community and health facilities’ staff
  with on the job mentorship and formal training for national staff
• Provide technical support to
  the medical team, including participation in evaluation and impact
  analysis of the project
• Design a supportive supervision
  plan to clinical staff (PA, RN and CMs) and other community based health
  workers to monitor the implementation of the emergency project activities
  as well as operational functions and provide feedback to the field staff
• Regular on site and remote
  supervision of staff and their activities
• Developing links and support
  integration of the program interventions across health zones
• Promote correspondence between
  teams in the different field sites

• Develop a Monitoring &
  Evaluation system for the project in collaboration with Merlin M&E
  Coordinator and the County Health Team
• Constant assessment of the
  medical needs of the community and guiding of activities to respond to
  their needs
• Oversee timely procurement and
  tracking of emergency supplies, ensure accountability, compliance with
  Merlin regulations, and appropriate storage/usage of emergency items
• Monitor and continuously assess
  health risks and disease outbreaks in the project area
• Prepare the technical reports
  including monthly and quarterly donor and MOH&SW reports and data
• Monitor the progress of project
  activities in collaboration with the project and health coordinator
• Monitor the progress of core
  HMIS Performance Based indicator targets outlined in the proposal
• Ensure that the MOH and other
  partners receive regular activity reports and statistics
• Together with the Programme
  Manager, responsible for encouraging community participation in health
  activities, to ensure the long term ownership and effectiveness of the
  programme Human Resources
• Identify staffing requirement
  and recruit national staff as required to fulfill program goals and health
  response
• Participate in national staff
  work supervision and performance appraisal
• Responsible for training of all
  medical staff to ensure the maximum use of their skills and their full and
  effective participation in medical activities whilst conforming to Merlin
  and MOH protocols
• Responsible for international
  staff health within the project areas including first aid provisions,
  medical evacuation and general monitoring of staff welfare with the CHD

• Co-ordination and
  representation with the MOH to ensure all project activities are carried
  out with their agreement and, as far as possible, their participation,
  together
• Co-ordination and
  representation with MOH, UN, and other NGOS
• Serve as a focal point for the
  refugee response, including representing Merlin at coordination meetings
  in Grand Gedeh County and field sites

• Medical background with strong
  post graduate qualification experience in tropical medicine or public
  health
• Previous experience in health
  programming in emergency context and development or humanitarian aid field
  work
• Understanding of security
  management and the ability to live and work in an insecure environment
• Experience of managing health
  teams with the ability to motivate and encourage staff
• Good ability and flexibility to
  understand the cultural and political environment and to work well with
  local health representatives
• Strong communication skills,
  with excellent written and spoken English
• Confident and proficient in the
  use of MS Office.
• Experience of establishing
  strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and
  cultures
• Experience of a flexible
  approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks
  in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
• Experience of proactively
  identifying and addressing issues
• An understanding of and
  commitment to Merlin’s mission and values

• Experience in the region
• Knowledge of a local language

To apply
for this position 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 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.