Health Advisor
£32,000 – £37,000 per annum
London
Merlin is the only specialist UK charity which responds worldwide with vital health care and medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in natural disasters, conflict, disease and health system collapse. Each year Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.
This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive and flexible health professional, who is seeking to use his/her skills in a challenging, dynamic environment, making an instant contribution to the organisation as well as the Health Advisor function.
You will play a key role in providing strategic and technical leadership to ensure the effective development and implementation of quality health programmes based on best practice in response to the major health burdens affecting targeted countries/populations. Additionally, you will contribute to the expansion of Merlin’s organisational impact and health sector profile and influence on practice and policy through associated health related activities.
As well as holding a medical or nursing qualification or relevant health background and relevant higher degree such as Masters in Public Health, Masters in Health Policy, Planning & Finance. You will have additional qualification in tropical health or equivalent acquired through significant experience at field and or head office level.
You will have significant proven field experience in managing and implementing health programmes in relief and transitional-development contexts along with experience in needs assessment, programme evaluation, and programme development and writing of funding proposals and reports. Experience in reproductive health programming and health system strenghtening is advantegeous.
For further information please download a JD and an application form from our website www.merlin.org.uk Completed application should be emailed to applications@merlin-uk.org
Reg charity no: 1016607
Please note that we do not accept a c.v. as an application. An online application form (available from the Merlin website) must be completed.
Closing Date: Wednesday 12th November 2008
Interviews: w/c 17th November 2008
Job description
Position: Health Advisor
Department: Health & Policy
Responsible to: Director, Health & Policy
Responsible for: No direct line management but strong technical & functional line on a number of health related issues.
Works with: Country Health Directors, Policy Team, Regional Programme Managers, M&E Coordinator, interns
Grade : A
Salary: £32,000 – £37,000 per annum
Location: London
Merlin
Merlin is the only specialist UK charity which responds worldwide with vital health care and medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in natural disasters, conflict, disease and health system collapse. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.
Department
The Health and Policy Department leads the effective development and implementation of quality health programmes whilst simultaneously expanding Merlin’s national and international health sector profile. This is achieved through strategic planning and programme development, technical leadership and support to field teams and Head Office colleagues, quality control, policy and research work, training, hosting external events, publications and extensive UK and international networking. Team has ten members including Health Advisors (some based overseas), a Policy Team, a Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator and interns.
Main purpose of the role
To provide strategic and technical leadership to ensure the effective development and implementation of quality health programmes based on best practice in response to the major health burdens affecting targeted countries/populations. Additionally, contribute to the expansion of Merlin’s organisational impact and health sector profile and influence on practice and policy through associated health related activities.
Overall Objectives (scope)
· To provide strategic and technical leadership on the health aspects of Merlin programmes through direct technical support to the field based Country Health Directors, MRT and Regional Programmes Managers at Head Office.
· To ensure programme quality through the effective, systematic monitoring and evaluation of programmes under their responsibility.
· To actively incorporate lessons learned into future health policy/guidance and programme design and monitor the applications of recommendations.
· To actively contribute to the expansion of Merlin’s organisational impact and health sector profile and influence on practice and policy through associated health related activities.
Responsibilities
· Technical Leadership
o Lead in the health assessment, design, planning, ongoing implementation and monitoring of programmes.
o Provide technical support to the Country Health Directors, MRT and Regional Programme Managers where appropriate.
o Act as a reference person for all health related requests and enquiries from country programmes.
o Act as Merlin’s focal person for specific thematic health topics as agreed with the Director, Health & Policy.
· Programme Development
o Actively contribute to the strategic development of Merlin’s country programmes portfolio through horizon scanning and engagement in global health debate.
o Identify and secure health specific funding opportunities including institutional donors, research grants and alternative funding streams (e.g. private donors).
o Actively promote and lead the mainstreaming of specific thematic health topics across Merlin programmes.
· Quality Control
o Commission and undertake regular technical review visits to country programmes.
o Technically approve programme proposal, reports specialist ToRs, evaluation and survey methodologies.
o Review and approval of all health related budget lines (staff, drugs, materials, training, evaluation) etc.
o Ensure adherence to international and Merlin agreed policy and standards within their country portfolios.
· Policy Development
o Actively contribute to the development, implementation and adherence to technical policy and guidance.
· Human Resources
o Recruit and select senior and specialist health personnel in collaboration with the HR Department.
o Undertake briefing and de-briefing of all health personnel
o Contribute to the performance appraisal and career development of senior health personnel through Merlin appraisal system.
o Advise on staff health for all international personnel departing to the field.
· Representation
o Actively assist the Director, Health & Policy with Merlin representation to donors, in health forums, academic institutes and with other NGOs at national and international level.
o Actively support the Marketing and Communications Department in the health aspects of Merlin’s profile and fundraising activities.
· Operational Research
o Identify and develop operational research and publication opportunities arising from Merlin programmes in collaboration with leading public health institutions where appropriate.
· Training
o Participate in the development and delivery of the health aspects of Merlin’s strategy and other collaborative initiatives with leading public health institutions.
Dimensions and Limits of Authority
· Technical approval of all programme proposals and reports, assessment/evaluation/specialist terms of reference, survey methodology and design, health related job descriptions.
· Commission and/or undertake technical programme reviews.
· Initiate independent evaluation of Merlin’s health programmes (in close consultation with M&E Coordinator)
· Review and approval of all health related budget lines (staff, drugs, materials, training, evaluation) etc.
· Recruitment and approval of senior & specialist health posts.
· Input into appraisal and career development of health staff
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
· Medical or nursing qualification or relevant health background (e.g. experienced public health practitioner) and relevant higher degree (e.g. Masters in Public Health, Masters in Health Policy, Planning & Finance)
· Additional qualification in tropical health or equivalent acquired through significant experience at field and or head office level
· Significant proven multi- country field experience in managing and implementing health programmes in relief and transitional-development contexts
· Considerable experience in needs assessment, programme evaluation, and programme development and writing of funding proposals and reports in various counties
· Advanced experience of writing and critically appraising high quality proposals and compliance reports
· Strong practical experience or knowledge of epidemiology and basic study methodologies.
· Computer literate in Microsoft Office and Epi-Info.
· Substantial proven experience of supporting health programmes in different countries through distance management.
· Considerable proven experience of confidently and professionally representing organisations to health sector and donors at senior level.
· Ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences.
· Excellent verbal and written language skills. Fluent English.
· Strong proven ability in the development and delivery of health training courses.
· Experience of working and constructively participating within a multi-disciplinary team
· Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
· Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
· Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high and diverse workload in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
· Understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
· Able and willing to travel to remote and insecure locations often at short notice
Desirable
Qualifications, experience and competences
· Additional specialist qualification and/or significant proven experience in health systems management, reproductive & child health, specialist disease control, evaluation, or health related research.
· Previous regional knowledge or experience in Africa, Central & SE Asia, the Middle. East and Eastern Europe
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.
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 the job title, country and reference number (if any).
Closing date: Wednesday 12th November 2008
Interviews: w/b 17th November 2008
