HEALTH EMERGENCY SPECIALIST NORTH EAST SYRIA

Position: Health Emergency Specialist – NES

Location: Amuda, North East Syria

Type of contract: Contract of collaboration

Duration: 12 months (3-month probation period) – with possible renewals

Closing date of the vacancy: 07 March 2024 (applications on a rolling basis)

Starting from: April 2024

GENERAL CONTEXT

Un Ponte Per (UPP) is an Italian NGO established in 1991 with a mission to prevent armed conflicts, protect human rights, and support local civil society in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries. Since 2015, UPP has been leading the way in the North East Syria (NES) response, developing a comprehensive system of health services delivered in 26 facilities, including mobile units, hospitals, primary health care centers, and rural health posts, as well as providing capacity building for local actors on Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, Child Protection (CP), Psycho-social Support (PSS) and protection mainstreaming in health programs. In 2022, UPP also launched a multi-year Health System Strengthening (HSS) programme to address the structural needs and contribute to the reinforcement of the NES health care system in the medium/long-term, encompassing the different components of HSS such as health education and capacity building of health professionals, health care planning and management at territorial level, quality of care, emergency management, preparedness and response, data management and production of health statistics to support evidence-based decision making.

For further information please refer to our website: www.unponteper.it/en/

DEFINITION OF THE POST

The Health Emergency Specialist (HES) will be responsible of achieving UPP Health System Strengthening programme’s outputs aimed at enhancing the emergency referral system in NES, and at developing health preparedness and response plans that will form integral part of the Health Master Plans at cantonal level in the 7 NES cantons. This role will foresee the design and implementation of assessments, strategic researches, capacity building and technical assistance programmes to relevant stakeholders (local health institutions, NGOs, private actors). Additionally, the Specialist will provide technical advice and monitor the functionality of emergency services supported by UPP and its local partner across NES. The Specialist will form integral part of UPP Health Governance Department, she/he will work under the line management of the Project Manager and the technical coordination of the Health Governance Specialist and/or the Public Health Specialist (depending on the task) and will closely coordinate with the the Health Governance Coordinator (HGC) and the Information Management (IM) Specialist. She/he will also regularly coordinate with UPP Medical Coordinator to streamline approaches and ensure health strategy alignment. She/he will be technically supervising and mentoring a local Health Emergency Officer and will provide advice and recommendations for mobilising additional expertise (both international and local) to achieve the planned goals throughout the project implementation, as needed.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Health Emergency Specialist, in coordination with the key figures mentioned above, will be responsible of:

• Mapping of emergency services and referral pathways in the different cantons, complementing the mapping already available for NES;
• Revision of the current Emergency Management and Coordination Centre (EMCC) role and scope, and cost analysis and strategy development of a proposal for expanding the current referral system into a NES-wide EMCC, including a sustainability and handover plan, in coordination with relevant stakeholders;
• Coordination, monitoring and supervision of the EMCC expansion process in coordination with relevant stakeholders;
• Designing and coordinating an in depth assessment and review of available health emergency preparedness and response plans across NES cantons and for NES overall;
• Based on the results of the assessment, coordinate the development of health preparedness and response plans at cantonal level, that will be integrated in the cantonal Health Master Plans, in the 7 NES cantons;
• Closely coordinate and supervise the work of the UPP Health Emergency Officer, including the development and roll out of a capacity building and mentoring plan;
• Coordinate the review and the assessment of emergency services supported by UPP and provide technical assistance to enhance the medical emergency program and related clinical protocols in accordance with international standards and organizational mandates;
• Ensure the regular monitoring and quality control of UPP supported emergency services;
• Regularly update the emergency preparedness and response plan for the NES program and monitor the health situation to ensure timely, robust and effective emergency prevention, mitigation and response;
• Develop, or review sector-specific guidelines and policy papers with the necessity to offer updates as required
• Providing advice and technical support in the technical dialogue with the Contracting Authority and in the development of reports and new proposals related to the specific area of expertise, as requested by the Line Managers;

Any other activity as requested by the Project Manager or the HGS directly related to the achievement of UPP objectives in health emergency management.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Masters level qualification in Emergency Medicine or related subject (Medicine, Nursing)
• Expert in Emergency Management, Preparedness and Response, and emergency programs implementation at facility and territorial level, with at least 5 years’ progressive experience in the area of planning and implementing emergency programs liaising with local health institutions, NGOs and relevant stakeholders in low-resources settings
• Health professional, doctor, or nurse, with at least three-year experience in the practice of health profession
• Experience as a healthcare manager in primary care and/or hospital settings with at least five years’ experience
• Experience in designing and delivering capacity building programmes
• Experience in the planning and programming cycle including implementation and evaluation of programs
• Accredited experience as planning, design and operation of health services and health programs
• Fluent in English

MERIT ACCREDITATION:

• Experience in management and coordination of health care facilities, programs and projects
• Fluent in Arabic or Kurdish
• Organizational experience in evaluation and monitoring of health services
• Proven leadership capacity
• Working experience with NGOs in NES or Middle East
• Experience in humanitarian aid and early recovery health projects
• Good understanding of the project life cycle management
• Excellent capacity to work in team
• Proven capacities to plan activities successfully targeting results and objectives
• Experience of planning, organizing, and prioritizing work, working under pressure, and meeting deadlines
• Ability to work under pressure in stressful environments

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Un Ponte Per is an International NGO committed to diversity and inclusion within its teams, in line with the principle of non-discrimination. UPP encourages all candidates irrespective of gender, religion and ethnicity including persons with disabilities to apply and become part of the organization.

Ethical Conduct:

UPP upholds all the minimum standards in terms of Ethical Conduct and strives to increase its standards over the minimum. Zero tolerance is reserved to Sexual Abuse and Exploitation and to Child Abuse, Violence, Harm, Injury and Negligence. UPP participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, therefore, any candidate assures that s/he has never breached any standard in terms of SEA and Child Safeguarding and that s/he will not in the future. UPP will conduct extensive reference check and vetting on shortlisted candidates that might compromise candidates’ privacy. Shortlisted candidates shall promptly provide an up-to-date criminal background check. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.