Job Opportunity – Senior Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and 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
The Senior Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) Specialist is a senior position within Ingobyi Activity’s management structure. The position holder supports the implementation of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health activities by providing training and mentorship, as well as other technical support and supervision to health providers in Ingobyi supported health facilities to deliver high quality services. S/he plans, coordinates and delivers project activities in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), district health management teams, Ingobyi zonal teams, health facilities and other partners. S/he works with Ingobyi technical team, medical professional associations, districts and health facilities to expand access to, and quality of, maternal, newborn and child health care, scale up of essential and high impact reproductive, maternal, newborn and child care interventions across supported districts and health facilities. She/he actively participates in key global and national technical consultations, including technical working groups, to keep abreast with advances in RMNCH and to disseminate learning from Ingobyi Activity. S/he leads rapid response teams to respond to facility needs in maternal, newborn and child health. The position reports to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)/Technical Director.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent is responsible for the following key tasks.
Technical oversight and quality improvement
- Provides technical leadership to ensure integration of maternal, newborn and child health priorities in both demand and supply sides of project activities;
- Provides technical leadership in design, development, planning, implementation, and capacity-building of specific reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health technical components of the project;
- Leads the design and implementation of innovative capacity building approaches, including on-the-job training and mentorship to build competencies, positive attitudes and motivation to optimize the performance of front-line health workers (nurses, midwifes and doctors) for quality maternal, newborn and child health services;
- Maintains a constructive dialogue and technical exchange with other technical counterparts to effectively support health workers for appropriate integration of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services with other services at all levels of care;
- Provides mentoring and capacity building at the individual and organizational level and oversight of work delivered by medical professional associations, namely Rwanda Pediatric Association (RPA), Rwanda Association of Midwives (RAM), and Rwanda Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RSOG);
- Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with donors, district-level officials/District Health Management Teams (DHMT), implementing partners, MOH, RBC, public and private sector entities;
- Ensures that implementation of the Activity’s reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health activities adhere to appropriate national, and international strategies and standards;
- Provides technical support to MoH and DHMTs to prioritize newborn and child health services in primary health care programs and optimizes the performance of health workers through integrated RMNCH service delivery;
- Provides technical assistance to the development or adaptation of evidence-based tools to support delivery of quality newborn and child health services;
- Provides supportive supervision for Ingobyi zonal staff and professional associations, particularly RPA, to ensure delivery of high-quality mentorship at supported health facilities;
- In collaboration with the MEL and other technical teams, fosters data use to continuously improve access and quality RMNCH services; and
- Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates the effectiveness of RMNCH activities and uses the data to lead design of improvements in service delivery at all levels.
Planning and reporting
- Supports the preparation of implementation plans, particularly activities related to RMNCH;
- Responsible for planning and scheduling workflow and timetables related to RMNCH activities;
- Supports preparation of progress and periodic reports; and
- Participates and provides logistical support in the planning and implementation of assessments, operations research, and knowledge management activities.
Supervision and management
- Supervises six technical staff, including: Newborn and Child Health Advisor; Maternal Health Advisor; FP/ASRH Advisor; FP Quality of Care Specialist; MNCH Advisor; and SBC Officer.
- Oversees the team implementing RMNCH activities, including those working at the zonal and central office levels; and
- Manages technical contributions of the three professional associations (RPA, RAM and RSOG), including providing scopes of work, regular supervision of field activities, and participation in their joint coordination meetings.
EDUCATION
- Advanced degree in clinical medicine and a master’s degree in public health.
- Candidate must have a valid license issued by Rwanda Medical and Dental Council
KNOWLEDGE (FUNCTIONAL AND/OR TECHNICAL)
- Minimum of 8 years’ experience implementing RMNCH programs in Rwanda;
- Experience in training and mentorship of health care workers in RMNCH programs;
- Experience with USAID-funded projects as Senior Technical Advisor preferred.
- Previous work with development agencies, INGOs – experience working with USAID-funded projects is preferred;
- Proficiency in Kinyarwanda and English – French language skills will be an advantage;
- Strong writing and presentation skills particularly for case studies, documentation of lessons learned and reporting of program results;
- Previous experience in organizing and providing training for health care providers or peers at project level;
- Basic knowledge of monitoring and evaluation, program learning, and quality improvement;
- Conversant with office regulations and of financial and administration systems in an international NGO setting, preferably with USAID funding;
- In depth understanding of RMNCH priorities in the Rwandan context;
- Solid understanding of Rwanda’s health system, including the decentralized structures and coordination of health activities at district level; and
- Advanced computer skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
ABILITIES/SKILLS
- At least 8 years of experience implementing and managing large public health programs focusing on RMNCH in Rwanda;
- Proven leadership and negotiation skills;
- Strong analytical and presentation skills, including ability to use health and population data to make program and management decisions;
- Ability to manage and coordinate integrated health programs at district or provincial level;
- Extensive knowledge of the Government of Rwanda’s health interventions and priorities;
- Excellent interpersonal, writing and oral presentation skills in English, French and Kinyarwanda;
- Very clear understanding of USAID rules and regulations;
- A strong sense of team work, coordination and accountability;
- Ability to communicate effectively; and
- Ability to travel nationally.
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.
HOW TO APPLY:
Learn more about IntraHealth Careers @: http://www.intrahealth.org/section/careers
Learn more about “Who We Are” @: http://www.intrahealth.org/section/about-us1
Note: Interested candidates are requested to apply for this opportunity before or by September 3, 2021
