Contract Duration: 12 Months
Starting Date: ASAP
Responsible To: Project Coordinator
Working with: County Health and Social Welfare Teams, Health Coordinators and
Country Management Team
Salary: £29, 850 - £ 30,600 per annum (dependant on relevant experience),
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.
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 a good reputation as a key partner of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH&SW) in Liberia. The main focus of Merlin’s programme in Liberia at present is supporting the (MoH&SW) with the provision of quality primary and secondary level health care services and influencing policy at the national level. In the course of implementing its activities in Liberia, Merlin supports over 800 MoH&SW workers through incentive payments. Merlin actively collaborates with the MoH&SW, UN Agencies, local partner NGOs, and other INGOs and agencies such as Mentor Initiative and International Committee of the Red Cross.
Merlin’s activities include technical, capacity building and logistical support to the County Health and Social Welfare Teams (CH&SWTs) as well as capacity building health facility staff through training, mentoring and/or supervision to ensure improved quality of care in the supported facilities. In 2009 Merlin will be supporting 54 primary health care facilities in Montserrado, Maryland, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, Grand Kru and Grand Gedeh counties, and 5 hospitals in Buchanan, Zwedru, Greenville, Grand Cess and Harper. Merlin also has a Reproductive Health/Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) team to mainstream maternal health promotion and HIV/AIDS prevention into all Merlin projects as a cross-cutting theme.
Merlin Liberia is working with the MoH&SW and CH&SWTs in each supported county to create a more coordinated strategy in line with the MoH&SW lead partner approach. As a first step towards this Merlin has developed a Counterpart Strategy geared towards a closer, more efficient and effective collaboration with the CH&SWTs in the delivery of health services and the development of their managerial capacity.
Main purpose of the role
The Systems and Capacity Building Manager (SCBM) will coordinate and strengthen the organizational capacity of the County Health and Social Welfare Teams (CH&SWTs) which provides health care services to vulnerable populations in Sinoe and Grand Kru counties. Capacity building will be focused on the following areas: financial management, Health Management Information Systems (HMIS), leadership, strategic planning, partner and stakeholder coordination, human resource management, logistics and supply chain management. The Systems and Capacity Building Manager will be embedded within and provide direct technical assistance to the CH&SWT.
Specific Responsibilities
Systems development and implementation
• In collaboration with the Health Coordinator (HC) and Project Coordinators (PCs), the SCBM will organize and provide technical leadership in assessing institutional capacity of the CH&SWT and identify priority areas that need strengthening
• Provide technical assistance, guidance and support to CH&SWT in order to strengthen their HR, M & E, HMIS, logistics (including supply chain management), and Finance, administration and planning functions
• Support the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other policies developed by the MOH&SW at the central level and facilitate training for the CH&SWT on the same
• Provide support to the Liberia Government Hospital (LGH) management and administration in order to implement systems to improve the efficiency and smooth running of the hospital.
Training and capacity building
• Conduct individual capacity assessment for the CH&SWT to identify current capacity, define gaps and develop capacity building plans to address them
• In collaboration with the central MoH&SW, organize and implement activities such as workshops, on the job training and sharing of good practice that provide capacity building opportunities to CH&SWT members thus increasing their organizational effectiveness
• In collaboration with the MoH&SW, develop training modules relevant to capacity building efforts of CH&SWT
• Undertake ongoing monitoring of activities to anticipate and troubleshoot problems and issues, track milestones and recommend and ensure appropriate action.
• Provide oversight, feedback, and guidance to CH&SWT, with regard to capacity development needs and initiatives
• Develop system-wide network for continued sharing of lessons and practices on capacity development with the other counties
Coordination and partnerships
• Provide support to the CH&SWT to coordinate all stakeholders in the health sector in the county (including I/NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, vertical programmes such as National Malaria Control Programme and private institutions
• Coordinate with the MoH&SW in the implementation of policies and SOPs
• Support the development of annual work plans and budgets for the CH&SWT in close cooperation with the HC and the PC, and all stakeholders
• Represent Merlin’s activities and achievements in the counties, as required by the CMT
Human Resource Management
• Assist in recruitment planning for national staff for positions identified to support the CH&SWT and where relevant contribute to job descriptions and staff selection
Other
• Provide coverage for other posts when necessary and carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Health Coordinator and Operations Coordinator
Person Specification
Essential
• Advanced degree in Public Administration, Hospital Administration, Business Administration, Business Management or equivalent
• Extensive experience in capacity development in the health sector at international level
• Comprehensive experience of providing high quality advisory services, on-the-job training and mentoring to local partners of government departments in an international context
• Experience in managing organizational change
• Demonstrable skills in health programming, health system strengthening, and capacity building of organizations
• Demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to use sound judgement in applying technical expertise to identify and resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems
• Strong negotiating, influencing and consultative skills, with the ability to form strong internal and external working relationships
• Excellent team worker with experience of communicating effectively with colleagues from different functions and cultures
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
• An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
• An ability to live and work in a hot and humid environment
Desirable
• Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment
• Very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines.
• Previous experience of working in West Africa within health care projects/public health
To apply for this position
Please download an application form from our website www.merlin.org.uk Completed form should be emailed to applications@merlin-uk.org stating in the subject field ‘SCBM LIBERIA.’
Data Protection
Please note, on submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin holding and using the information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment – should an offer be made. Where required by donors funding requirements, some job offers are conditional on our ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States. On submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin using the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.
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