Ireland | Health Adviser

Closing date: 22 Jan 2012

Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and the elimination of extreme poverty in the world's poorest countries.

Job Title: Health Adviser (Maternal and neonatal health) 

Reports to: Head of the Health Support Unit 

Job Location: Dublin, London or New York with up to 30% overseas travel 

Contract Details: 2 year fixed term contract Pay Band Dublin : Pay Band 5 : €41,281 - €48,151 London: Pay Band 5c: £36,149 - £39,955 Job Background: Concern Worldwide is currently advertising for the position of Health Adviser to be based in Dublin, London or New York.

Concern Worldwide operates a Health Programme in emergency, transition and development contexts and has adopted an integrated approach to health programming by combining, maternal neonatal and child health, health systems management, nutrition, environmental health, HIV, and other aspects of primary health care. Concern’s new health strategy increases the emphasis on addressing maternal and neonatal health issues and, to this end, are seeking a health adviser to focus in this area.

Concern Worldwide strives to support the development of effective, evidence-based health programmes to assist countries to achieve the MDGs. The organisation actively supports programmes in 25 countries worldwide and currently implements its global health programme in approximately 18 of these. The Health Adviser will be engaged in policy development, networking, research, and technical support to selected country programmes. The Health Adviser will be an integral member of the Health Support Unit (HSU), which has a team of nutrition, health and environmental health advisers. The post offers a public health professional the chance to work with a multi-disciplinary team to build and strengthen comprehensive health programmes and policies to improve health among people living in extreme poverty. The team emphasizes situational analysis, evidence-based interventions, rigorous monitoring and evaluation, institutional learning and documentation of programme results and best practices. Concern is developing health programming models for countries prone to conflict and/or natural disaster, persistent poverty and low levels of human development and in vulnerable urban populations. The health team is also building stronger links with HIV, livelihood security, education and other sectors.

Job Purpose: To contribute to high quality health programming, particularly in maternal and neonatal health, and comprehensive learning and policy change across the range of contexts in which Concern works

Main duties & Responsibilities: 1. Provide technical and strategic support for design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of country and multi-country health programmes, with a focus on maternal and neonatal health, in line with Concern’s global health strategies and global best practice 2. Support capacity building initiatives for Concern and partner staff including distance mentoring and information sharing, formal and informal training and coaching during field visits. Engagement in recruitment of new staff as needed. 3. In coordination with country programme staff, synthesise, document and disseminate lessons learned from Concern health programming and operation research in the form of internal and external papers and presentations. Where possible support the design of programmes and operational research to contribute to the evidence base of effective health programming. 4. Support and develop relationships with other agencies and donors and represent Concern in national, regional and international fora as relevant. 5. Collaborate on multi-sectoral / inter-departmental integration and initiatives (e.g. assessment and monitoring tools, learning papers, global reports, advocacy and communication activities), as appropriate. 6. Participate in Rapid Emergency Response as necessary 7. Collaborate with local campaigns and fundraising teams and engage technically with key donors.

Person specification: Essential:
• Post graduate qualification in public health or equivalent • At least three years experience in the design, management and monitoring and evaluation of health programmes in varied developing country contexts, particularly maternal, neonatal and child health programmes • Experience in health system strengthening and a good understanding of capacity building approaches in health • Competence using quantitative, qualitative and participatory methods for programme planning/design, monitoring, evaluation and operations research • Empathy with organisational vision, mission, goals and objectives • Analytical and problem solving skills • Training and facilitation skills • Excellent interpersonal, communication and writing skills in English • Ability to work both as part of a team & independently.

Desirable: • Experience in social and behavioural change communication methodologies. • Experience of USAID Child Survival Health Grants Programs • Experience of HIV programmes as it relates to maternal and neonatal health. • Good knowledge of recent developments in maternal, neonatal and child health research • Good knowledge/ experience in operational/ action research design and principles • Familiarity with HIV mainstreaming, rights-based approach, partnership approaches, and standards for humanitarian interventions • Written and spoken French Candidates must be legally entitled to work in either Ireland, United Kingdom or the USA at the time of application Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.

Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).

Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

How to apply:

To apply: All applications should be submitted through our website at www.concern.net/jobs by closing date 22nd January 2012. 

 

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