District Health Services Officer

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RTI International is seeking “District Health Services Officer” candidates for the USAID-Health for Life (H4L) Project.  The Health for Life (H4L) is a five-year (2012-2017) project financed by USAID. The H4L project builds on accomplishments gained from USAID/Nepal’s health sector investment to date with a greater focus on health systems strengthening and measuring sustainable changes in systems performance. The primary goal of H4L is to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s capacity to plan, manage and deliver high-quality and equitable family planning, maternal, newborn, and child health services. H4L addresses key health system constraints: local health systems governance; data for decision making and evidence-based policy development; capacity development of service providers at grassroots; quality improvement systems, and knowledge and behavior change. Gender equality and social inclusion is an important crosscutting focus of the project. H4L works in partnership with the Government of Nepal/ Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP). The Project works in 12 Districts of the Mid-Western and 2 Districts of Western Development Regions. These positions are based in Jhapa, Chitwan, Kaski, Jumla and Kailai districts.

Responsibilities:

• Provides guidance and technical assistance to D(P)HO and health facilities, to identify QI issues, address gaps, mobilize resources and better serve communities with quality FP/MNCH-N services
• Coordinates with D(P)HO, DDC, health facilities, district clinics/hospitals, HFOMCs and other key stakeholders for implementation of activities 
• Provides technical assistance to D(P)HO in planning, implementing, monitoring and budgeting of QI activities
• Supports D(P)HO in establishing functionalization of district QAWC (Quality Assurance Working Committees)  
• Supports D(P)HO and health facilities establishing health facility quality improvement teams, assists improving quality of services using QI tools and monitoring implementation of action(s), including activities related to infection prevention and health care waste management, and monitoring of these activities
• Supports D(P)HO and HF staff in transferring skills (coaching) to HF staff by implementing self-assessment approaches to improve quality of services
• Strengthens the use of data at the district and VDC levels for decision-making, and for improving quality and access
• Prepares H4L district-based reports and briefs as required; documents case studies, lessons learned and challenges at the district and sub-district levels 
• Works with specialists and advisors on specific technical issues to provide support to D(P)HO and to other district and sub-district structures
• Carries out activities as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree in public health or other related areas and at least 3 years of experience or a Bachelor’s degree and at least 6 years of experience
• Demonstrated experience in the implementation of community-based health programs
• Extensive field experience working with rural and remote communities
• Demonstrated success in providing hands-on capacity building and technical assistance to health care providers and other stakeholders 
• Experience integrating cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and social inclusion 
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with USAID, government counterparts at all levels, local organizations, and other program and partners
• Good oral and written communication skills and fluency in Nepali and English. 

To Apply:

Qualified applicants should submit a resume with contact information to Operations Manager, Health for Life (H4L), P. O. Box: 3172, Lalitpur, Nepal or email:marora@np-h4l.rti.org with ‘District Health Services Officer’ with the District you wish to apply for in the subject line.  Deadline is 30 November 2014; however, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Telephone inquiry will not be entertained.  

Female and candidates particularly from disadvantaged and socially excluded groups are highly encouraged to apply.