Job Opportunity – Child Health Specialist

WHY CHOOSE INTRAHEALTH

At IntraHealth, we are a global team of creative, committed humanitarians on a mission. We are advocates, technologists, health workers, communicators, program officers, finance experts, and technical leaders. We are passionate and diverse. And we’re united in our belief that everyone everywhere should have the health care they need to thrive. That’s why we work every day to improve the performance of health workers around the world and strengthen the systems in which they work.

For almost 40 years in over 100 countries, IntraHealth has partnered with local communities to make sure health workers are present where they’re needed most, ready to do the job, connected to the technology they need, and safe to do their very best work.

Our programs are designed with a deep understanding of and appreciation for the context of human rights, gender equality and discrimination, economic empowerment, and changing populations. And the longstanding relationships we’ve built with government agencies, private-sector partners, and members of civil society make our efforts stronger and more effective.

Join us and together we can make lasting changes in global health—for all of us.

THE PROJECT

The Ingobyi Activity is a five-year project funded by USAID and designed to improve the quality of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) and malaria services, in a sustainable manner with the goal of reducing neonatal, child and maternal mortality in Rwanda. The Ingobyi Activity builds upon the tremendous gains Rwanda has made in the health sector as well as previous USAID investments to provide a healthier, more productive future for all Rwandans.

SUMMARY OF ROLE 

IntraHealth seeks a Child Health Specialist who will provide technical and program support in Child Health for the USAID-funded Ingobyi Activity. The Child Health Specialist will be based Western Zone – Rubavu – serving at least 5 districts per catchment area and will coordinate all child health activities in health facilities. S/he will participate in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of appropriate and sustainable approaches related to child health to contribute to achievement of project deliverables. The Child Health Specialist will be reporting administratively to the Zonal Coordinator and technically to the Newborn & Child Health Advisor.

Essential Functions: 

Child Health Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Senior RMNCH Specialist, Newborn & Child Health Advisor and the Zonal Coordinator to implement scale-up strategies for high impact child health interventions in facility and link them to the community  including integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) and Emergency, Triage Assessments and Treatment plus admission (ETAT+).
• Plan implementation of activities in close collaboration with the other respective zone-based technical specialists and RBC counterparts for child health.
• Provide technical support on child health as part of Ingobyi’s Rapid Response Team
• Conduct training of trainers on clinical skills, mentorship, Low Dose High Frequency (LDHF) approach, and Quality Improvement (QI) principles for district-based mentors/trainers.
• Conduct supportive supervision for district-based mentors to ensure quality of IMCI and mentorship activities.
• Conduct supportive supervision in hospital to ensure the recommendations of RPA mentors are implemented in emergency and pediatric wards.
• Ensure ETAT and QoC standard for children are implemented in hospitals
• Specifically monitor the implementation of Ingobyi’s workplan activities related to child health, ensure that activities are executed according to plan and are integrated across the RMNCH and malaria platforms.
• Lead all child health aspects of the project in the assigned zone, including the adaptation of the latest best practices on child health and evidence-based approaches into the local context.
• Actively participate in the preparation of the project work plan, budgets, and technical reports for submission to the line manager.
• Provide technical support and guidance on key program approaches for child health, including sustainable approaches to mentoring child health providers
• Collaborate with the MEL team, and other project personnel, to support ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• In close partnership with the Senior RMNCH Specialist, Newborn & Child Health Advisor and Zonal Coordinator, develop and monitor learning and documentation activities related to child health in supported districts.
• Lead efforts to translate program data and findings into programmatic guidance and policy advocacy.

Operations

• Assist finance staff to prepare financial forms to advance/reimburse funds for on-going activities.
• Assist finance staff to review process and reconcile payment documentation from trainers, program, technical and management staff as well as from consultants.
• Prepare and avail job-aids and training materials in coordination with the Zonal Coordinator and the procurement officer and ensure that materials and supplies reach target sites in a timely manner.
• Prepare and submit reports on child health activities to the Zonal Coordinator with copy to the Newborn & Child Health Advisor, upon request, in timely manner.
• Assist with organization of meetings, trainings, field visits, events, and other activities.
• Assist with other programmatic and administrative duties as required.

Learning and documentation

• Contribute/coordinate with Ingobyi Activity MEL team to ensure that the project meets targets in accordance with the MEL framework.
• Ensure that activities related to child health in the assigned zone are properly documented and that program data are systematically collected, analyzed, submitted and properly archived as well as shared across the project to inform Ingobyi’s technical reports and to feed into Ingobyi’s learning activities.
• Share experience related to child health activities to inform the design of Ingobyi’s subsequent workplans.

Requirements

• A degree in medicine or nursing and/or public health or other clinical disciplines.
• Valid License ( Medical doctors / Dentist, Nursing or para-medical license.
• Additional training related to child health, and project planning and management.
• Strong experience for training in one of the high impact interventions for child health: Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) and Emergency, Triage Assessments and Treatment plus admission (ETAT+).
• At least five (5) years of professional experience working in child health program
• Hands-on knowledge and skills in designing, planning, implementing, and monitoring of facility programs for promoting child survival.
• Sound understanding of current policy developments related to child health.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, including MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint.
• Strong skills in teamwork and networking.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English, French and Kinyarwanda.
• Solid skills in documentation and report writing.
• Ability to travel nationally frequently.

COMPETENCIES

Managing Performance: Ability to plan and design practices, processes and procedures that allow for effective management of people, resources and processes to optimize overall organizational performance. Managing for performance includes the ability to delegate and encourage growth and leadership across the team(s) as part of maximizing performance and productivity.

Strategic Thinking: Applies organizational knowledge to identify and maintain focus on key success factors for IntraHealth while recognizing, anticipating and resolving organizational challenges. Ability to develop organization- and industry-specific expertise and apply sound decision-making processes to reach productive resolutions that translates strategy into actionable business plans.

Effective communication (oral & written): Understands effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, explain complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience; and receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

Risk management: Knowledge of processes, tools and techniques for assessing and controlling the organization’s exposure to risks of various kinds; ability to apply this knowledge appropriately to diverse situations.

Innovation: Develops new, better or significantly different ideas, methods, solutions or initiatives within assigned role that result in improvement of IntraHealth’s performance and meeting objectives, results and global commitments.

Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for all work activities, research and personal actions and decisions; follows through on commitments and focuses on those activities that have the greatest impact on meeting measurable high-quality results for IntraHealth’s success. Exercises ethical practices, respectful words and behaviors, and equitable treatment of others in all activities.

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS

IntraHealth International, Inc. is a great place to work and prides itself on its comprehensive benefits package.  We offer competitive salaries and a dynamic inclusive work environment which supports health workers so they can improve the lives of people throughout the world.

IntraHealth International is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law, and requires affirmative action to ensure equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.  This is also to include inquiry about, disclosing, or discussing their compensation or the compensation of other applicants or employees.