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Health & MHPSS Advisor - Ukraine

Job Details

Experienced
Field Assignment - Odessa, Ukraine
Full-Time
Up to 50%

Description

Assignment Location: Dnipro or Odessa, Ukraine

The Health & MHPSS Advisor position contributes to the calling of Medical Teams International through strategic design, planning and technical supervision of all health and emergency adjacent programming at the country level, which in Medical Teams Ukraine involves mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS) and integrated Protection programming. Takes the lead in representing the organization technically in national bodies, coordinates with technical stakeholders and donors, identifies areas of improvement in quality or expansion of programming to address critical needs in targeted communities.   

 

Medical Teams International Calling:   

Daring to love like Jesus, we boldly break barriers to health and restore wholeness in a hurting world.  

 

Medical Teams International holds strict child and vulnerable adult safeguarding principles and a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct related to sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse in the workplace and other places where the organization’s activities are rendered. Parallel to technical competence, recruitment & selection, hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing candidates’ eligibility thorough background checks, police clearance, and professional reference check processes. 


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Lead the development of country level organization health and MHPSS strategies, models, and standards for implementing field teams  
  • Build technical and managerial capacity to contribute to localization objectives of the Ukraine response and ensure work is well-planned, informed by sector standards and norms, and senior program staff are accountable in delivery of high-quality work.  
  • Ensure programs and projects are aligned with Medical Teams strategy, core service package, and interventions are based on best available evidence and international standards.    
  • Work closely with the Country Director, senior management and field teams to identify strategic health needs in targeted communities or gaps in country level health response   
  • Work closely with Medical Coordinators to support and advocate for operational needs of the health and MHPSS programs  
  • Contextualize and adapt global guidelines, tools, and protocols to meet local clinical needs for program implementation and training with support of the HQ Health Advisor  
  • Monitor the health information systems and data management as carried out by M&E teams to ensure it is regularly analysed and meeting the needs of heath and MHPSS teams  
  • Support the Medical Coordinator, MHPSS Coordinator/Managers and health staff to troubleshoot challenges and respond to emerging needs   
  • Monitor and evaluate health and MHPSS services against accepted international humanitarian standards and ensure application of evidenced based practices to deliver high quality services to the targeted communities   
  • Assist in staff recruitment along with senior management, program manager/field coordinators and medical coordinators and ensure training and capacity building of health technical staff based on assessed needs  
  • Liaise with logistics teams to support medical supplies and pharmaceutical supply chains including technical aspects of procurement, warehousing, consumption tracking and pharmaceutical projections  
  • Liaise with Medical Coordinator, and logistics teams to support pharmaceutical supply chains for mhGAP medications including forecasting, procurement, warehousing, consumption tracking where relevant 
  • Support Field Coordinators to ensure timely procurement of equipment, supplies and training in line with work plans for MHPSS and Health 
  • Represent Medical Teams International at health, MHPSS Technical Working Group (TWG) and Protection coordination meetings at regional and national level, task force meetings and other partner coordination meetings and communicate relevant information back to country office team and HQ technical team  
  • Maintain relationships as first point of contact with the Ministry of Health and local health authorities, donor technical teams and partners  
  • Act as last line clinical consultation and make recommendations for referrals for specialized care  
  • Lead the production of site and donor reports leading on analysis of data and response to achievements or shortfalls  
  • Collaborate with management and partner agencies for outbreak and emergency preparedness and contingency planning  
  • Lead the delegated staff on technical related work including assessment planning, implementation, and reporting.   
  • Lead sector strategy and project design development for new donor proposals and budgeting processes including support for log frames and monitoring and evaluation plans along with M&E team  
  • Contribute and advise Health and MHPSS senior staff on workplans and objectives.  
  • Mentor, coach and capacity build Health and MHPSS senior staff members in the humanitarian architecture, donor approaches and compliance requirements.  
  • Participate in performance evaluations and uphold Medical Teams’ policies 
  • Ensure the Safeguarding of program participants and employees through promoting an environment of awareness and upholding the code of conduct provisions of Medical Teams Protection from Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Child & Vulnerable Adult protection, and harassment-free workplace policies. Incumbents will remain alert and responsive to any child and adult safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child and adult safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding code of conduct and behavior expectations. 
  • Ensure accountability is integrated into country strategies, program design, monitoring and evaluations, recruitment, staff onboarding, training and performance management, partnership agreements, and highlighted in reporting. 

Qualifications

EDUCATION, LICENSES, & CERTIFICATIONS 

  • Doctor of medicine (MD) or other relevant clinical degree is required (e.g. Psychologist, Licensed counsellor, Marriage and Family Therapist, Social Worker) 
  • Postgraduate training in Public Health is an added advantage  
  • Certified trainer in Psychological First Aid, mhGap, and/or Problem Management + desirable  

EXPERIENCE 

  • Minimum 3-6 years’ progressive responsibility in international humanitarian programs  
  • Minimum 2 years’ senior management related to primary, maternal and child health, reproductive health, communicable diseases, MHPSS and Protection, in humanitarian or development programming, with at least one year in a humanitarian context at an NGO.  
  • Experience with an international NGO or UN agency is required  
  • Experience outside of home country is desired  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES 

KNOWLEDGE  

  • Knowledge of humanitarian principles and operations and project cycle management  
  • Knowledge of WHO and UN health systems and policies, including MHPSS 
  • Strong knowledge of evidenced based practices in health in humanitarian settings  
  • Basic knowledge of principles and current approaches to monitoring and evaluation in relief and development programs  
  • Strong knowledge of evidenced based practices in MHPSS particularly in humanitarian settings 
  • Knowledge of Ukraine conflict situation and current humanitarian response 
  • Knowledge of trauma-informed care and working with conflict affected populations 

SKILLS  

  • Skilled in communications using email, applications including teams, and whatsapp  
  • Skilled in project cycle management  
  • Strategic thinker with analytical skills  
  • Skilled in capacity building and mobilizing staff to achieve a common goal  
  • Skilled in relationship building with the ability to liaise with multiple partner agencies  
  • Skilled in using HIS and HMIS database systems  
  • Skilled in data analysis and writing proposals and reports  
  • Skilled at using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook  
  • Skilled at building and maintaining a high functioning, high performing work team. 

ABILITIES  

  • Keen interest to mentor others  
  • Ability to travel to health facilities frequently and at times upon short notice   
  • Ability to exercise considerable initiative to plan, organize and follow through to meet deadlines  
  • Ability to support Medical Teams’ Calling and adhere to the Medical Teams’ Code of Conduct  
  • Commitment to Medical Teams International Calling Statement and Core Values. 
  • Ability to work collaboratively with others. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS 

Physical Requirements: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

  • Frequent use of a personal computer, database and digital platforms, and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and computer printer. 
  • Frequently uses hands, fingers, and arms to reach, handle, touch or feel equipment, medical instruments, materials, computer. 
  • Frequent communication and exchange of information among colleagues and persons of concern which requires the ability to speak, hear, convey and express oneself. 
  • Frequent close vision and the ability to adjust focus. 
  • Occasionally ascends/descends stairs, steps, or ladder 
  • Occasionally move about inside an office to access file cabinets, office machinery, meet with colleagues, etc. 
  • The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. 
  • Seldom to occasionally positions self to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. 
  • If in travel status, occasional to frequent traversing over rough or steep terrain in either a motor vehicle or on foot. 

Work Environment: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

  • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet. 
  • Sleep interruptions may occur due to air raid sirens. 
  • There may be times of limited to no power and intermittent explosions. 
  • The employee may be required to travel to remote areas of the world where there are potential health hazards and risks, limited hygiene facilities, extreme weather, and very basic living conditions. 

BENEFITS

The following information outlines typical benefits available for, regular employees scheduled 30 hours or more per week. Actual benefits may be prorated for other than full-time work. 

  • Excellent Health Benefits
  • Generous paid time off package  
  • Retirement plan 
  • Paid parental leave 
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