Advisor, Regional Health

Job Purpose

The NorCross Regional Health Advisor ensures that health projects supported by the Norwegian Red Cross in the Americas comply with relevant technical standards (e.g. NorCross Health Framework), good practices and lessons learnt, and are consistent with NorCross institutional priorities. She/he will be the NorCross health reference person during needs assessment, project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages of all health-related activities in the region and will coordinate with health counterparts within host national societies, other PNS, IFRC and ICRC in the region. The position is notably also the NorCross focal point and adviser for Community Based Surveillance in the Region and technical counterpart to the IFRC Emergency Health Delegate and potential other NorCross-supported health positions in IFRC or ICRC.

In emergencies, she/he can be deployed on behalf the IFRC Central America Cluster or Regional Office to provide support to IFRC emergency response or directly to an Operating National Society in the Americas Region.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The main duties and responsibilities for the Norwegian Red Cross Regional Health Advisor include:

• Technically supports in the design, establishment, and operation of health strategies in the region, and in particular those related to innovation in remote health, community-based surveillance CBS and sexual violence.
• Performs technical evaluations and exploratory missions in the field of health as requested, advises and supports the country teams and partners in the design and implementation of health-related projects and activities, contributes technically to the development, implementation, monitoring, quality assurance and reporting of health projects/components/activities and guarantees compliance with relevant technical standards and NorCross institutional priorities and approaches.
• Participates in the monitoring, reporting and evaluation processes of the projects according to the organization’s procedures, performs periodic field monitoring, provides recommendations and assistance on project improvements and follows up on their implementation. Contributes to NorCross reporting at country and regional level.
• Promotes studies and research related to health and protection, contributing to the development of a systematic understanding of direct and indirect impact of criminal violence, armed conflict and political unrest on access to health.
• Assesses the training/coaching needs among health counterparts in operating national societies and either provides or facilitates relevant support.
• Liaises with ICRC as well as with others in the NorCross and IFRC regional teams with a view to designing health interventions that improve access to health of populations affected by violence in an interdisciplinary manner (health, protection, security management, WASH).
• Works in the establishment of NorCross as a relevant technical partner in health in the region, and in particular in relation to CBS and actively participates in health coordination mechanisms and relevant health networks in America on behalf of NorCross and/or IFRC, both regular and in response to emergencies.
• Advises NorthCross and/or Federation on staff health issues upon request.
• Monitors (and, where appropriate, supports the NS) events related to public health in the region, risk assessments, follow-up and analysis of epidemiological data and health indicators, and supports the early detection of health problems, supporting if necessary in the development of response mechanisms.
• Provides emergency support to other countries and regions, as appropriate and at the request of the Regional Office.
• Upon request of the IFRC Regional Office/Central America Cluster, deploys in support to emergency response operations.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (preferably medicine, nursing).
• Postgraduate studies in public health, epidemiology or similar.

Experience

• 5+ years’ experience in public health, ideally including in areas affected by violence.
• 3+ years’ experience of relationship-building, interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively represent NorCross / IFRC at forums with external stakeholders including, government authorities, community organisations, other humanitarian actors, WHO/PAHO.
• Experience in training/mentoring/coaching
• Experience within a government public health system, preferred.
• Field experience of at least 5 years in a development country in the Movement or equivalent, preferred.
• Experience of IFRC health systems and tools, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Language

• General knowledge of the healthcare systems of the region/country
• Knowledge of humanitarian field work.
• Knowledge of the RCRC Movement
• Ability to work as part of a team and to build strong working relationships
• Strong attention to details, excellent communication, and presentation skills
• Problem-solving skills, initiative, and an analytical approach to work
• Knowledge of community based health interventions, ideally including surveillance, preferred

Languages

• Fluent spoken and written English
• Fluent spoken and written Spanish
• Good command of another IFRC official language or a language relevant in the region or country of assignment (i.e., Portuguese, French), preferred

Competencies and Values

• Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
• Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust
• Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others
• Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance, Managing staff development