URC is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With its non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 45 countries, including the United States.

Established in 1965, URC offers a range of technical assistance to strengthen health and social systems and service quality by empowering communities and health workers to identify and scale up locally appropriate solutions to critical problems. Internationally, we expand access to and improve the quality of services addressing maternal, newborn, and child health; infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; reproductive health and family planning; food and nutrition; and vulnerable children and families. In the US, we focus on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.

URC’s mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide. Please join us in carrying out our mission (http://www.urc-chs.com/).

Division and Project Overview

USAID/Ghana Systems for Health Project will support improved, sustainable health-service delivery by strengthening systems vital to ensure access and quality while mobilizing communities and building public-private partnerships (PPPs) to maximize coverage. University Research Co., LLC (URC) and its international and Ghanaian partners share the vision that, by 2019, Ghana’s health systems will be sufficiently robust that the Government of Ghana and its health workforce, in direct partnership with the communities they serve, will be able to sustain equitable access to, demand for, and use of high-quality, high-impact health services with reduced external support, especially in the five regions targeted by Systems for Health. URC brings recognized expertise in applying evidence-based, quality-improvement approaches to accelerate the achievement of high-impact health and social outcomes. We stand ready to provide technical expertise in malaria, family planning/reproductive health, nutrition, quality improvement, and management strengthening.

The USAID-funded Ghana Systems for Health Project is seeking an experienced Community Mobilization Specialist. The Community Mobilization (CM) Specialist will work closely with other project staff as well as Ghana Health Service at the regional, district, sub-district, and community levels to strengthen community-facility linkages for health service delivery.

Roles and Responsibilities

•   Support the design, promotion, implementation, and monitoring of community-based activities to promote community/household education/awareness on FP/RH, MNCH, nutrition, and malaria prevention and treatment issues.
•   Provide technical support for strengthening engagement and linkages between district, and sub-district, health management teams; health facilities; CHOs; community leaders; and community groups in the planning, implementation, and management of health services. Copied at: ghanacurrentjobs.com
•   Support and strengthen community-level health campaigns to build demand for key health services through gender-sensitive interventions and promotion of respectful care and male involvement, among other interventions.
•   Build capacity and provide support for monitoring of community-based results based on the quality improvement and performance-based management approaches adopted by the project.
•   Strengthen community-level advocacy efforts to reduce gender inequality and discrimination.
•   Develop and/or reproduce community mobilization training material, job aids and tool kits on key thematic areas.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   Master’s degree in public health or related field
•   Minimum of seven years’ experience mobilizing communities effectively and leading advocacy efforts
•   Demonstrated ability in program design and integrated approaches to community-level health service delivery
•   Demonstrated experience working effectively with program staff, implementing partners, civil society organizations, community leaders, and local government authorities to implement community-based health services and locally-led, community-engagement initiatives Copied at: ghanacurrentjobs.com
•   Proven ability to carry out local-level advocacy, capacity building and social empowerment initiatives
•   Proven ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with  local-level government officials, stakeholders, NGOs, and implementing partners
•   Good diplomatic, representational, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills
•   Ability to work independently and with team members and partners at all levels
•   Capacity to manage numerous tasks and report in a timely manner
•   Experience with USAID projects preferred
•   Exceptional English (oral and written) communication skills required

Please note: Only candidates who are eligible to work in Ghana for an indefinite period without a need for sponsorship will be considered for this position.

Location: Accra, Northern, Western, and Volta Region

How To Apply For The Job

For immediate consideration, please email your CV and cover letter to s4hrecruitment-regional@urc-chs.com, indicating “Community Mobilization Specialist” and location (Northern, Western, Central, Greater Accra, or Volta) in the subject line.

Closing Date: 11 November, 2014

Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, only candidates who have met the required experience and qualifications for this position will be contacted. No phone calls, please. However, since we are active around the world in the field of public health, we may wish to retain your CV in our database for other/future opportunities, unless you direct us otherwise. Thank you very much for your interest.

URC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.We value and seek diversity in our workforce.