Background of IRC

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview: 
The Gavi REACH Health Officer will join the team across three zones in the Tigray region—Northwest, Central, and South—focusing on ensuring that Zero Dose Children (ZDC) and overlooked communities in fragile and conflict-affected settings receive high-quality immunization services as part of Primary Health Care (PHC) platforms. They will assist the team in delivering training to community-level and facility-based health providers, aiming to reach ZDC with superior immunization services. They will also take the lead in bolstering surveillance systems, engaging with communities alongside Health Extension Workers (HEWs), health workers, and other local collaborators like Community Health Volunteers (CHVs/HDAs) to heighten community awareness for identifying and reporting vaccine-preventable and priority zoonotic diseases. She/he supervises the planning, execution, and assessment of immunization programs within the organization's areas of operation, focusing on enhancing community-based disease surveillance, increasing immunization coverage, and verifying the quality of immunization data.

Major Responsibilities:

• Coordinating in the micro-plan preparation for immunization and SIAs campaign including for routine EPI and with emphasis on inaccessible, border and poorly performing areas.
•  Work to map out missed communities, ZDC, and hard to reach populations to develop strategies that will ensure adequate reach of immunization service
• Coordinating effective cold chain logistics, including adequate forecasting, quantification and requisition of vaccination supplies, timely delivery of vaccines and health supplies for campaigns and routine activities, vaccine stock management, and appropriate maintenance and expansion of the cold chain.
• Support team in developing weekly movement plans to project support areas in line with the project activity work plans to ensure regular support supervision and mentorship of field teams, last mile delivery of HMIS, vaccine and other needed supplies to health services delivery points.
• Develop IPC action plans with the relevant teams and use them for continuous quality improvement.
• Work with TRHB and key collaborators to design and successfully disseminate risk communication and community mobilization (RCCE) materials on immunization to generate community acceptance and consensus.
• Support the project teams to detect, identify, report, and handle adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in supported project locations.
• Highlight gaps using field reports and empirical data on performance and technical coverage in EPI activities that need to be addressed.
• Represent the IRC and actively engage in weekly regional health cluster meetings, RMNCH, and other technical working groups.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Compile and report project progress (weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual) to the Senior Officer and Health and Nutrition Manager.
•  Ensure the timely compilation of social mobilization field data, including checklists, within the polio and RI monitoring and evaluation framework.
• Supervise and assess program activities to settle if monthly and quarterly indicators have been met.
• Provide technical support to evaluate the effectiveness of program implementation and recommend adjustments in goals, objectives, intervention strategies, and measurable outputs. timelines.

Safeguarding Responsibilities: 

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies

Educational Requirements:

• Diploma/BSc/MSc or equivalent experience in Nursing, public Health /MD from a recognized university/ College 

Preferred experience & skills: 

• Two years of validated experience with the first degree and one year of experience plus a postgraduate degree and five years of relevant experience for diploma holders.
•  Work experience in immunization and PHEM is an asset.
• Good project management skills and experience.
• Capability to coordinate and supervise the implementation of Zero-Dose Children (ZDC) initiatives in hard-to-reach regions.
• Understanding of Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) and disease surveillance /PHEM/ policy in Ethiopia.
• Excellent communication skills as well as an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven record to prioritize and deliver on time.
• Possessing strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in working independently as well as within a dynamic, cross-functional team.
• Highly skilled in the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Validated capability to work effectively with partners.
• Adept at leading and positively navigating change in a proactive manner.
• Results-based attitude, as well as excellent organization skills, are a MUST.
• Excellent digital literacy, with a good knowledge of MS-office Windows, including Word, Excel, Power point and Access would be an advantage.
• Proven behavior of professional and personal ethics, clarity, and willingness.
• Basic supervisory/managerial skills with strong inter-personal skills.
• NGO experience in emergency health response project activities is preferable.
• Validated experience in working with communities in participatory approaches and capacity building of health centers.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and supervise the implementation of health emergency intervention projects.
• Good technical and report-writing skills with digital literacy and knowledge.
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual and ability to constructively address gaps and weaknesses.
• Proficiency in handling pressure in remote locations and a deep understanding of the cultural nuances specific to the local area.

Language Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication in English. The ability to speak the local language is advantageous.

Certificate and License

• Renewed professional license

How To Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website: 

IRC Career Site: - https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req57744/GAVI-REACH-Health-officer

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information. 

• Name of the position you have applied for 

• Date of application 

• Summary of your qualifications and experience 

• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address 

• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees. 

Disclaimer: - Please note that IRC will never request applicants or candidates to make any form of payment at any stage of the recruitment process.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.