Pakistan: Deputy Director of Health Programs, Pakistan (Re-Advertisement)

Pakistani nationals/citizens are highly encouraged to apply

PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has operated in Pakistan since 1986. Mercy Corps’ work in Pakistan originated from its support to Afghan refugee communities, focused on providing to water, health improvement and vocational training for the refugee community in Balochistan Province. In recent years, Mercy Corps has expanded both sectorally and geographically throughout the country, and is now one of the lead agencies providing health services through a number of programs. It has been a major player in all emergency relief efforts in the country, responding to the earthquake of 2005 in Khyber Paktunkhwa; flooding and earthquake in Baluchistan in 2007 and 2008; and to the Sindh floods of 2010 and 2011. In addition to public health and emergency response, Mercy Corps currently implements programming in the sectors of youth engagement, water/ sanitation, and development. Specifically related to the health sector, Mercy Corps is implementing and planning activities that reduce the incidence and improve the treatment of Tuberculosis; that improve maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and nutrition; and, that advocate for provincial and district-level public health policy and practice improvements.

Mercy Corps’ Country Office in Islamabad oversees programs and operations throughout the country and liaises with the Government of Pakistan (GoP) and ; main area offices include Quetta (Baluchistan) and Lahore (Punjab), while Mercy Corps also currently maintains presence of small program team in Sindh. These offices are staffed by over 200 team members, almost all of who are Pakistani nationals at any given time.

The health projects that Mercy Corps Pakistan is currently implementing include; 1) Reducing the Burden of Tuberculosis funded by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, 2) Saving Mothers and Newborns in Communities (SMNC) funded by USAID (Child Survival and Health Grants Program) and the Scottish Government, and 3) Health Communications funded by USAID, as a sub to Johns Hopkins University Center for Communications Program.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Deputy Director of Health Programs (DDHP) works closely with the Director of Health Programs in leading and supporting the identification of new health program opportunities, and for technical and design inputs for existing as well as new programs. S/he is responsible for contributing to, and leading the development of proposals. S/he works closely with the project managers and their teams in identifying areas for technical support and responding to the technical needs of the projects. S/he works to improve the quality of the project deliverables and participates in the project review meetings. S/he works with the consultants to ensure that the products they deliver are of optimal technical quality. S/he provides managemen support to all Health projects, and in the absence of the Director of Health Programs, directly supervises Senior Program Officer and Sr. Manager PR Unit.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Development (30%):

• Lead, or support, the identification of new opportunities and provide subsequent technical and non-technical inputs into program design and proposal development – including often serving as the lead writer – ensuring that new programs build upon an overall Mercy Corps Pakistan public health approach while integrating innovations, learning and best practices.


• Coordinate with health team members, headquarters counterparts, host government counterparts, , and colleague agencies as required to ensure that new programs are designed in accordance with good development practices and complement host government, donor, and Mercy Corps strategies.


• Maintain liaison and networking with external partners, and technical agencies for the purpose of identifying new opportunities for programming and partnership.

Technical Advisory Services (30%):

• Provide technical support and advisory services to all health programs, dependent on the needs identified jointly with the project/program managers in consultation with the Director of Health Programs.


• Work directly with Project Managers to review work and provide feedback as required.


• Provide feedback on assessment methodologies, M&E methodologies, community engagement methodologies, project technical , public health best practices, and other topics as required.


• Contribute to, or lead, the development of M&E plans, workplans, and operational research plans for


• Review health project reports for consistency and technical accuracy. Identify training needs of program staff and develop and implement on the job mentoring and formal training sessions.


• Work with Senior Program Officer and HQ desk officer to develop project briefs and other technical documents.

Program (35%):

• Provide direct oversight and support to all Health projects as and when required.


• Contribute to the implementation of program minimum standards in Health programs; in this regard, DDHP is required to complete PMD Pro 1 certification as per Mercy Corps requirements.


• Coordinate closely with other departments in the execution of the program responsibilities.


• Review project workplans and budgets.


• Ensure timely submission of project reports and other key documents to HQ and .


• Participate in monthly progress review meetings and guide project teams in project related issues.


• Provide feedback on project progress as well as conduct budget versus actual .


• Provide routine reviews of technical documents including but not limited to routine minutes of the meetings, monthly reports, quarterly reports, emails to and external partners, PUDR for the PR unit, letters/emails to be sent to the SRs, minutes of quarterly review meetings with SRs, minutes of PROREVs etc as part of the program responsibilities.

Organizational Learning (5%): As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve – we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to : Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

No position currently reports to DDHP

In the absence of Director of Health Programs, Sr. Program Manager (PR Unit) and Sr. Program Officer report to DDHP

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director of Health Programs.

In the absence of Director of Health Programs, the position reports directly to the Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Project Managers, Sr. Program Officer, Finance Director and Managers, Operations Manager, Team Leader – South, Evaluation and Learning Manager, and Country Director.

Works directly with Program Specialist in the absence of Director of Health Programs

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• An MPH or equivalent.


• At least five (5) years of overseas experience related to public health program design and , ideally with experience in MNCH and infectious diseases programming.


• Demonstrated analytical and research abilities.


• Demonstrated ability to successfully initiate and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, , and other stakeholders.


• Demonstrated experience leading proposal development efforts


• Demonstrated experience to oversee program


• Effective verbal and written communications skills; effective multi-tasking, prioritization, and organizational skills. Demonstrated attention to detail.


• Previous work experience in South Asia is strongly preferred. Some level of Urdu language skills is advantageous.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding the cultural, political and social environment of Pakistan, and the ability to think strategically to implement high quality, high impact public health programming within this environment. The successful candidate will have strong organizational and inter-personal skills and excellent communication skills, and will be able to function in an environment requiring a high level of entrepreneurialism and a tolerance for ambiguity. The individual must be flexible, attentive to detail, and able to meet deadlines.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position will be based in Islamabad with periodic field travel. The situation throughout Pakistan can be volatile, and parts of the country, such as Baluchistan, FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and AJK, have the capacity to quickly become situations requiring hibernation or evacuation. The DDHP is expected to follow all protocols, including limited movement, when necessary. An international standard of medical care is available in Islamabad, however for serious cases, evacuation may be required. All offices have internet connectivity and communication is reliable. Islamabad offers a number of international style restaurants, significant shopping and social activities, though and cultural considerations are always to be taken into account. The international airport in Islamabad offers daily flights to the Middle East and Asia.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.