Plan Ghana Recruiting [June 2013]

Job Title: Health Specialist: This is a middle management position based in the Country Office, Accra. The position reports directly to the Program Support Manager.

Job Purpose:
To lead and provide technical expertise in the design and management of all Health related programming within the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and manages the implementation of the Health Program Section of the Country Strategic Plan to achieve the set objectives in a quality and timely manner to support the fulfillment of the rights of children;
• Provides technical support to Program Unit offices (PUs) in the implementation of all health related programme activities;
• Provides technical support in building the capacity of Community Based Organisations to enhance their capacity and improve their performance;
• Facilitates situational analysis, baseline studies, monitoring and evaluation of health activities in the PUs to identify current situations, future impacts and guide implementation;
• Liaises with Grants Department in sourcing adequate funds both internally and externally for the implementation of health activities as outlined in the Country Strategic Plan;
• Develops training programmes, and facilitates training of staff and partners;
• Conducts regular visits to the PUs to provide technical guidance to staff and partners;
• Facilitates building partnerships, networks coalitions and alliances with other stakeholders;
• Ensures Gender and Child Protection is mainstream in all health related programs;
• Conducts health related research to inform Plan’s advocacy strategy;
• Ensures an effective Health Management Information System (HMIS) is in place to support knowledge Management;
• Participants in, and contributes to regional, sub-regional and national networks and alliances on partnership development and other health intiatives;
• Fulfills Plan’s Child Protection Policy at all times to protect children from all forms of abuses;
• Designs, appraises, manages, monitors as well as adapts and evaluates nutrition programs;
• Supports multisectorial and non-health sector approaches to tackling under nutritions in children under five. 

Required Skills or Experience

Minimum Requirements:

• A Masters degree in Public Health or a University Degree in Health or Allied Science or equivalent;
• At least 5 years experience as a health staff;
• At least 5 years experience in the civil service would be an added advantage;
• At least 5 years experience in a similar role in an international organization similar to Plan

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes required for the positions:
Knowledge:

• Knowledgeable of the health system in Ghana;
• Seen as a source of health expertise, and proactive in sharing knowledge and advice;
• Strong knowledge of the Rights of the Child;
• Development of winning proposals for Grants funding;
• Strong competencies to plan, prioritize, and execute autonomously with a strategic approach;
• Knowledge and application of wider determinants of health;
• Knowledge of key quantitative and qualitative research methods in health and nutrition in children;
• Knowledgeable about the linkage of agricultural and nutrition programming

Skills:

• Good analytical skills;
• Communicates clearly and effectively;
• Excellent report writing skills;
• Strong team-building and motivational skills;
• Strong negotiating, facilitating and influencing skills;
• Proficient in Microsoft applications and use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, internet etc.
• Good teamplayer;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Ability to work in a participative community approach

Attitudes:

• Develop, motivates, coaches and promotes high performance by Health staff and collaborators;
• Open to feedback and willing to try new approaches and processes;
• Ability to work within multiple teams at country and international levels;
• Promotes innovation and learning;
• Ability to facilitate participative processes that aim at decision making and agreement 

How To Apply

Interested applicants should submit their applications with a comprehensive CV and a copy of the certificate of their highest academic qualification to the address below. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.