RE-ADVERTISEMENT VB/14-012: Health Specialist (Adolescents)

If you are a committed and creative individual and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified Sierra Leoneans for consideration to the following post:

Post:  Health Specialist (Adolescents)

Level: NOC

Duty Station:  Freetown, Sierra Leone

Date Required:  Immediately

Duration: 1 year (with possibility of extension)

Major duties and responsibilities:

Under the general guidance of the Maternal Child Health Specialist with the support of the Health Manager, responsible for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the maternal and newborn health component of the Child Survival and Development section. Specifically, provide support to the implementation, scale up and monitoring of the Reproductive, Maternal and New-born health program with a specific focus on adolescent sexual reproductive health.

• Undertakes field visits, and surveys in order to monitor and evaluate project implementation. Plan for and generate new information and evidence to guide adolescent sexual and reproductive health programming. Identifies problems and proposes remedial action. Identifies alternative courses of action, to accelerate/improve programme delivery;
• Participates with UNICEF/government/and other partners in the development of strategies, methodologies and identification of new approaches for improving programme delivery, with emphasis on advocacy, community participation and social mobilization. Specifically collaborate with MOHS and health partners in the implementation of adolescent reproductive health strategy and implementation plan;
• Provides technical support to government and non-government organizations at the national, regional and provincial levels in the planning, development and implementation stages of the programmes/projects.  Plans, organizes and conducts training and orientation activities for government personnel and beneficiaries, for the purpose of capacity building at the central and regional levels, and expansion of coverage of services;
• Support the MOHS in the implementation of the Reproductive Newborn Child Health strategy with a focus on Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health. Ensures the preparation of the Situation Analysis and its periodic update.  Prepares sectoral input to the Country   Programme Recommendation (CPR) and all related documents, (e.g., Plan of Operations, Project Plans of Action, Country Programme Summary Sheet (CPSS), Programme Summary Sheet (PSS)), for assigned programmes/projects;
• Supporting work to increase the coverage of essential services to   adolescents and pregnant women and new born with special emphasis on young mothers aged less than 25 years of age while ensuring the effective integrated implementation of programmes with a focus on adolescent sexual and reproductive Health;
• Coordinates with Operations/Supply staff on supply and non- supply assistance activities.  Approves disbursement of funds ensuring proper utilization and accountability, and that activities are within established plans of action, and the programme budget allotments;
• Coordinates activities and exchanges information/ideas with other programmes, to contribute to achievement of overall country programme objectives. Participates in establishing effective monitoring, information and reporting systems, and in the development of communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and community participation;
• Participates in the preparation of all programme reports for management,donors, budget reviews, programme  analysis, annual reports, etc.\

NOTE: UNICEF IS A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT

UNICEF is committed to diversity and gender equality in its workplace.  Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply

QUALIFICATION AND SKILLS:   

Education:  Advanced university degree in Social Sciences or a related technical field or public health.

Work Experience: Eight years progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation, in a related field.

Language:  Fluency in English. Knowledge of Krio or other local languages essential.

Other Competencies & Skills:

• Communication
• Working with People
• Drive for Results
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Analysing
• Applying Technical Expertise
• Learning and Researching
• Planning and Organising
• Technical knowledge on Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming in UNICEF.
• Technical knowledge on UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines.
• Technical Knowledge on Mid-Term Strategic Plan.
• Technical Knowledge of the theories, principles and methods in one of the following areas:
  • Public Health, International Health, Health Policy and Management, Environmental Health Sciences, Family Health
  • Health Research, Biostatistics, Socio-medical Sciences, Epidemiology
  • Health Education, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Educational Interventions in Health Care
  • Knowledge of theories and practices in:
    • Child and Maternal Health
    • Public Health
    • Health Financing
    • Environmental Health
    • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
    • Educational Interventions in Health Care
    • Computer software application, including word processing, spreadsheet and corporate software packages

Applications should be forwarded under confidential cover marked “Application VB/14-012 HEALTH SPECIALIST (ADOLESCENTS)” complete with an up-to-date C.V. and names and email addresses of two referees (non- relatives) to reach the Chief of Operations, UNICEF, Central Medical Stores Compound, New England, Freetown on or before Monday 14 April 2014.

Applications can also be sent to: srlrecruitment@unicef.org.  When sending to this mailbox, please ensure that “Application VB/14-012Health Specialist (Adolescents)” is quoted on the subject line.

UNICEF is a smoke-free environment.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.

The Personal History Form (P11) in MS Word format can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Please note that acknowledgement of application will be extended only to short-listed candidates.

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