Program Director: International Medical Corps

Deadline: 15 March 2022

About

International Medical Corps is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in areas worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at high risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

International Medical Corps began its operation in Zimbabwe in 2009 in response to the cholera outbreak and since, we have delivered quality health services, nutrition and food-security programs, and have reduced the spread of waterborne diseases by increasing access to clean water and improving hygiene practices. International Medical Corps’ Zimbabwe mission has recently provided Nutrition, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and maternal and child health support and preparedness capacity-building. Operations have been centralized in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces and there are plans to expand programmatic coverage to Masvingo Province.

Job summary

The primary function of the Programs Director is to support the Country Director in providing technical oversight to projects and operational support to the mission. As part of the senior leadership team, the Programs Director also plays an active role in the strategic development of the mission. S/he in collaboration with country senior management team, is expected to coordinate IMC strategic development, design sustainable interventions and provide technical guidance and oversight. The Programs Director will follow the execution of programs by ensuring alignment and technical proficiency of projects to donor specifications, evaluation and coordination with operational support units. S/he is expected to provide development programming that is evidence based, aligned with national priorities and IMC policy and procedure. The Program Director will conduct frequent visits to the various program sites to support the field sites and conduct programmatic analytics.

Job description

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation. The tasks listed are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Program Management

Manage the programs to ensure that objectives are met and impact achieved; Proactively oversees projects under her / his responsibility through all components of the project management cycle, identifies needed areas for quality improvement and facilitates communication between Technical, Operations and Finance leads in country and with global International Medical Corps departments (e.g. technical units, finance, logistics and operations); Initiate processes and Co-Lead the development of concept notes, project proposals, budgets, and donor reports to expand the program portfolio of the mission; Co-Lead internal and external project planning and reporting, including annual work planning with IMC country office and field teams including sub-award partners if any; Ensure all activities are conducted in a timely, cost and quality effective manner; Ensure that meetings between all Field Site Coordinators and their respective teams are held on a regular basis; Ensure that all the field offices are running efficiently, with frequent field visits; Provide program support and have oversight of project staff and site managers; Ensure donor compliance in implementation of projects and with donor contract requirements / reporting deadlines; Oversee the collection and timely reporting of project data and statistics for programs (including objective, indicators and outcomes of programs) according to internal and donor requirements; Support the selection, recruitment, and training of program staff; Technically supervise, orient, monitor, and evaluate program staff under his / her supervision in close collaboration with technical supervisors.

Training / capacity building

Determine capacity needs for staff under supervision and facilitate the participation of these staff in necessary trainings in order to build capacity and increase job responsibilities; Advocate and plan for professional development for program staff; Guide and support curriculum development and training program for staff and local NGO partners, if any.

Working relationship

Maintain regular communication with Country Director, Nutrition Director and other Senior Leadership Team members and Field senior staff to ensure program objectives are met; Work with Country Director, Nutrition Director, Logistics, HR and Finance to ensure the coordination of timely delivery of program supplies and ensure expenses are within budget; Flag challenges and opportunities to Senior Leadership / CD in a timely manner; Maintain good working relationships with the relevant Ministries including MoHCC, agency health advisors, and relevant clusters and interface with them on a regular basis and actively participate in those meetings.

Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning

Ensure in coordination with MEAL Manager, new program proposals adhere to donor requirements and expectations regarding MEAL, demonstrating the country mission’s commitment to quality, accountability, and continual improvement; Ensure in coordination with MEAL Manager, the implementation of MEAL activities in line with donors’ requirements and IMC’s minimum standards; Ensure in coordination with MEAL Manager, formal design, implementation, training, and monitoring of community-based feedback and response mechanisms (CBFRM) to capture, monitor, respond to and act on feedback and complaints from communities; Ensures findings, lessons, feedback and evidences from the previous project cycles inform future program strategy, planning and design; Regularly check on the complaints handling to ensure local guidelines are followed with respect to documentation, referrals, reporting pathways, and feedback loop; Ensure effective use and implementation of MEAL minimum standards across program management; Ensure Managers at all levels are aware of their roles and responsibilities related to CBFRM staff training and handling feedback / complaints referred by MEAL.

Security

Collaborate with Operation Officer and CD in order to ensure staff and the reputation of the organization are safe and secure at all time; Ensures application and compliance of security protocols and policies.

Representation

Attend sector working group meetings in coordination with Nutrition Director; Represent the organization at any task force meetings, UN coordination meetings, INGO coordination meetings, as appropriate and delegated by the Country Director; Ensure maximum visibility of the organization amongst the INGO / UN community; Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of the organizations Code of Conduct, ethics, values and standpoint about internal and external actors.

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Human resources management

Assist in the selection and training of qualified program staff, recommend promotions, and conduct other key HR related aspects in consultation with the HR Manager; Supervise staff to ensure high quality performance and team spirit; Ensure compliance to local labor laws including working hours; Maintain open lines of communications with all field staff and service departments.

Supervision

Maintain close contact with Field Site Managers in the designated areas to be fully aware of their needs for support and coordinate applicable department heads within the country office to make such support is available; Visit field sites frequently to know the working environment, needs and priorities first-hand and provide guidance to the Field Site Managers to overcome operational challenges; Guide Field Site Managers in cultivating positive working relationships with the local counterparts at the provincial and district levels.

Code of conduct

As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adhere to those standards; The position holder is expected to set an example of ethical behavior through one’s own conduct and oversight of the work of others; ensure that those who report to you have sufficient knowledge and resources to follow the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Ethics; monitor compliance of the people you supervise; enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics and International Medical Corps’ policies, including the Safeguarding Policy and the Protection from Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Policy, consistently and fairly; support employees who in good faith raise questions or concerns.

Safeguarding

It is the shared responsibility and obligation of all staff to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report.

Equal opportunities

International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

Qualifications

Master’s Degree in International Development, MPH or Medical Degree or Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate; Typically, 12+ years of relevant and progressive experience in the development field, UN / NGO project and personnel management experience; Knowledge donors’ regulations (ECHO, EU, BPRM, USAID / BHA, UN agencies etc) preferred; Familiarity with project management cycle; Familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures and the mandates of donors, UN agencies and NGO’s; Excellent written and oral communications skills; Solid organizational skills, ability to be flexible and with well under pressure in a fast paced multi task team environment; Profound cross-cultural awareness; Fluency in written and spoken English is essential; Previous experience working in emergency and conflict situations; Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently; Experience in program growth and diversification (Health, WASH, Protection, Food Security and Livelihoods, Nutrition programming a plus)