Somalia: 14-062: Medical Director

International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.

Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND IMC has been operating in Somalia since 1991, when it arrived in the Somali capital of Mogadishu after the overthrow of President Siad Barre. Since 1993, IMC has worked in south-central Somalia implementing programs that build local capacity while serving the immediate health, nutrition, WASH, and livelihood needs of the most vulnerable. IMC’s current activities include the provision of primary healthcare services in Banadir (two health centers) and Lower Shabelle (three health centers), and the provision of secondary healthcare services in Hiraan (inpatient care; referral hospital), Galkayo South (inpatient care; referral hospital), and Jowhar (comprehensive emergency obstetric care; maternity unit).

JOB SUMMARY

The Medical Director is primarily responsible for the technical design, implementation and management of all health programs in Somalia. The Medical Director will work in collaboration with the senior management team and health teams in the field to deliver high-quality health services to the people of Somalia. The Medical Director will be based in Galkayo South with frequent visits to the other field sites. The primary responsibility of the Medical Director is ensuring high-quality clinical services in all IMC-supported health facilities. S/he will monitor service quality, ensure that all staff are trained and supported, manage pharmaceutical and other medical supply-chains, and apply clinical-level data to national-level quality improvement efforts. The Medical Director will represent IMC in the national/regional Health Cluster and other technical working groups. S/he will also be responsible for program development and contributing to concept notes and proposals for funding.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Monitoring and Program Quality • Work closely with the Somalia senior management and field teams to ensure smooth running of health programs; • Provide technical guidance and ongoing supportive supervision to all clinical staff; identify capacity-building needs of clinical staff and design/implement training plans accordingly; • Ensure health activities are implemented in-line with established best practices and international (WHO/SPHERE) and national standards; facilitate the sharing of “lessons learned” between IMC Somalia health program sites; • Ensure all programs follow standardized policy and protocol for diagnosis and treatment, including rational drug use; • Ensure timely and adequate provision of supplies and drugs through review of pharmacy consumption reports, national drug protocols, program budgets, acquisition of partner agency and UN drug kits, etc.; • Oversee the collection and timely reporting of data/statistics and narrative reporting for all health programs, according to internal and donor requirements; • Review monthly and quarterly donor reports and ensure appropriate follow up and decision making on data relevant to the organizations health programs; • Work with field teams, partner agencies, and national health authorities for outbreak preparedness and contingency planning; • Ensure Somalia senior management team and relevant field team members are kept apprised of program developments, challenges, and opportunities, through the established reporting protocol. • Other responsibilities as assigned by the Somalia Country Director.

Program Development • Work with Somalia senior management team, field teams, regional desk, and the Health Technical Unit in strategic planning for future health programs; • Work with Somalia senior management team to draft concept notes and proposals for future funding; provide technical input during proposal development; • Strive to expand the current health portfolio by identifying opportunities for incorporating activities in various sub-sectors, including mental health and GBV, and by identifying potential opportunities for integrating interventions in WASH, nutrition, and livelihoods.

Representation • Represent IMC at Health Cluster meetings and other relevant coordination forums, including with technical counterparts at other NGOs and U.N. agencies; ensure senior management and relevant field staff are briefed on meeting outcomes, per established reporting protocols; • Serve as the principal liaison with the Somalia Directorate of Health and regional and local health authorities; • Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization.

Human Resources Management • Assist in the selection and training of qualified program health staff; • Maintain open lines of communications with all field staff; • Provide technical supportive supervision to senior national staff, including the Medical Coordinator; • Support direct supervisors in ensuring staff performance evaluations and professional development plans are in place; • Work closely with the medical coordinator(s) and field teams to determine the training needs of the clinical staff; oversee trainings of national doctors, non-physician clinicians, nurses, midwives and other medical and para-medical staff to ensure that the provided trainings are of acceptable quality and address the identified needs.

Working Relationships • Work closely with country senior management team and the Health Technical Unit • Ensure continuous communication with the Programs, Logistics, and Finance to ensure coordination of programs supplies are consistent with management of budgets, including budget forecasting, development of spending plans.

Security • Collaborate with security officer/CD in order to maintain security of health staff in the field • Ensure application and compliance of security protocols and policies

Qualifications: • Minimum medical degree, preferably with a Master’s in Public Health • Minimum 3 years of experience at the managerial level relating to primary health care, maternal and child health, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, communicable diseases and outbreak/emergency response; experience in Somalia strongly preferred. • Demonstrated experience in humanitarian and development programming • Excellent communications skills in Somali and English (oral and written) • Self-motivated • Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently • Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations and frustrations • Ability to relate to and motivate staff effectively • Creativity and the ability to work with limited resources • Ability to assume non-medical responsibilities from time to time to cover for other team members • Skills and knowledge in program sustainability and capacity building, public-private partnerships and project monitoring and evaluation (both quantitative and qualitative methods) • Proven capabilities in leadership required • Strong negotiation, interpersonal and organization skills

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To officially begin the application process, qualified candidates please go to our career page http://careers.internationalmedicalcorps.org/careers.aspx , noting where you noticed the position you are applying for and complete the online employment application form.