Health Technical Lead
Description
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.
Program Summary
Mercy Corps has been operational in Sudan since 2004, and currently has a country office in Port Sudan and field offices in South Darfur, Central Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Kassala, River Nile, Northern and Gedaref states. Mercy Corps’ current areas of programming include food security and livelihoods, WASH, health, nutrition, resilience, and Market Systems Development. Mercy Corps’ Sudan crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Sudanese and other conflict-affected people across the country. Mercy Corps Sudan is recognized as a leader in market systems, agricultural, and food security and building on this experience, the Mercy Corps Sudan humanitarian program will layer in resilience and other program activities where appropriate and feasible to do so.
The Sudan Somoud - Enhancing Community Resilience Project is an initiative funded by the World Bank which has two interlinked components:
Component 1: Community Led Basic Service Delivery. This component supports: (i) delivery of improved community led basic services; (ii) temporary engagement of frontline workers and volunteers in select sectors; (iii) project management and technical assistance costs; and (iv) technical assistance and training to select local authorities.
Component 2: Improving Food Security. This component supports: (i) increased resilience and production of select crops and protection of livestock assets in rural areas that supply food to the target communities; (ii) agricultural value chains; (iii) the scaling-up and strengthening of community consumer cooperatives and organizations and community food centers that distribute agricultural outputs and provide affordable food to vulnerable groups; and (iv) project management and implementation costs.
General Position Summary
Mercy Corps seeks a Health Technical Advisor to lead the quality assurance of all health interventions under the SOMOUD program in Gedaref. The Health Technical Advisor will be responsible for ensuring that health initiatives meet the highest standards, align with the SOMOUD’ health strategies, and are effectively implemented to meet the needs of vulnerable populations, including IDPs and conflict-affected communities. This position will work closely with local implementing partners to improve the quality and effectiveness of their health interventions, ensuring consistency, compliance, and impact.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Program Quality Assurance
- Oversee the implementation, and monitoring of health interventions under the SOMOUD program to ensure quality, relevance, and effectiveness.
- Develop and implement quality assurance protocols and standards to assess and continuously improve health services.
- Ensure that health interventions meet SOMOUD health objectives and comply with national health policies and guidelines.
Technical Support to Local Partners
- Provide technical guidance and capacity-building support to local NGO health partners involved in the SOMOUD program.
- Conduct regular field visits to assess and support health service delivery by local partners, providing feedback and technical guidance.
- Ensure that local partners’ health interventions adhere to standards for quality and alignment with the overall program goals.
Coordination and Partnership
- Act as the primary health technical point of contact for health partners and stakeholders within Gedaref in relation to Health.
- Coordinate with Mercy Corps’ Monitoring, and Evaluation teams to analyze program data and ensure informed, data-driven adjustments to program strategies.
- Engage with relevant government authorities, health clusters, and other NGOs to foster collaboration, share best practices, and strengthen local health systems.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
- Work with the program’s M&E team to develop and implement systems for monitoring and evaluating the impact of health interventions.
- Conduct regular program reviews to identify achievements, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
- Contribute to the preparation of donor reports, success stories, and lessons learned to showcase program impact.
Security
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
Organizational Learning
- As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
- Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Supervisory Responsibility
MEL Officers
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Chief of Party
Works Directly With: Director of Programs, MSD Specialist, Director of Finance, Director of Operations, Program Performance & Quality Director & MEL Manager
Knowledge and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in managing or advising health programs, preferably in humanitarian or post-conflict settings.
- Strong experience with health quality assurance processes and working with local health partners.
- Knowledge of public health issues and challenges in conflict-affected settings.
- Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, report writing, and analytical skills.
- Excellent writing and verbal skills in English is required.
- Extensive travel to program areas is required.
Success Factors
The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. A professional standard of program, finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The post must be willing to travel to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Gedaref, and it requires up to 40% travel , which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MercyCorps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).