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.

Qualification Required & 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

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

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.

People and Culture Manager
Plan Ghana
Private Mail Bag
Osu Main Post Office
Accra

E-mail to: recruitment.ghana@plan-international.org
Office Location: No. 10 Yiyiwa Street, Abelenkpe

Closing Date: 25 June, 2013

Plan is an equal opportunities employer, committed to the protection of children and gender equity and our recruitment procedure reflect this. Selected applicants will be expected to comply with the child protection policy of the organization.