Health Specialist Full-Time

The Right To Play Mozambique is hiring a Health Specialist.

About Us

Right To Play is a global organisation that protects, educates, and empowers children to rise above adversity through the power of play. We help millions of children each year to stay in school and out of work, to prevent life-threatening diseases and to stay safe from exploitation and abuse. We are the leading global development organization that uses play to transform the lives of children and youth impacted by poverty, war, disease, and inequality.

Established in 2000, Right To Play reaches children through experiential programming in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. These programs are supported by our headquarters in Toronto, Canada; London, UK and seven national offices across Europe and North America.

With a shared passion for our mission, our Culture Code guides how we act and interact based on five core pillars:

• Accept Everyone – Be intentional about inclusion
• Make Things Happen – Seek opportunities to lead and innovate
• Display Courage – Act with integrity
• Demonstrate Care – Look after yourself and one another
• Be Playful – Have fun at work

Please visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do, and watch this video to find out about the five pillars of our Culture Code.

Job Summary

The Health Specialist reports directly to the Country Director and works in close collaboration with the Global Health Specialist at Right To Play HQ. The incumbent works in coordination with the Program team that includes the Program Manager, Project Managers, Project Officers, MEL teams and Program Specialists, and is responsible for technical support and strategic leadership for improved integration of Health and Well-being with a focus on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights into the Country Program Strategy, including the development of Health and Well-being-specific projects and initiatives. The Health Specialist is a strategic technical lead for health program planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting and ensures quality health programming for Right To Play (RTP) and partners, including RTP work with consortiums and networks. He/she is also responsible for building the Health and Well-being capacity of Right To Play and its partners, for policy advocacy and providing technical support to knowledge management initiatives, and ensuring adequate collection and sharing of information/knowledge generated to orient decision-making in program management. The Health Specialist liaises closely with Health Specialists / Officers/Advisors in other countries and HQ to share best practices and lessons learned for improved health programming across One RTP.

What you’ll do

In accordance with Right To Play approved policies and procedures, the incumbent performs to contribute to deliverables as follows: Time %

1. Strategic planning, program design and implementation: 30%

• Leads detailed context analysis, including needs assessments and health and wellbeing analyses as per RTP’s CSP, focused on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), at program and project levels.
• Advises the Country Director on strategic program priorities in relation to Health and Well-being and facilitates the integration of priority thematic areas in the Country’s Strategic Plan and in programs according to needs.
• Provides input to the country team to ensure appropriate inclusion of Health and Wellbeing perspective in all planned activities, decisions and policies based on the country context and global organizational policies on Health and Wellbeing.
• Designs and develops Health and Wellbeing program strategies, activities and plans, ensuring they are in line with the Country Program Strategic objectives and intended results and guarantee alignment with the country
  context and the government’s (MoH’s) standards and policies.
• Participates in the development of new proposals and concept notes by providing advice to ensure appropriate integration of Health and Wellbeing into future programming.
• Advises and supports the implementation of health and wellbeing focused program activities within the country, including technical leadership to programs, to strengthen and standardize program technical assistance frameworks to ensure alignment with government and global best standard practices in our programs and maximize alignment across stakeholders and project partners, including consortium partners.
• Provide technical support to RTP and implementing partners to adapt and co-create school and community-based sexual education intervention, health service quality improvement, and support with effective strategies for community engagement to address barriers to adolescents’ access to health services and information (SRHR).
• Work with project managers to understand operational challenges and continuously identify opportunities for learning and improvement.
• Collaborate with project managers and program and MEAL teams to promote the use of project-generated data and evidence to improve the implementation of quality programs.
• Develops relationships with Health specialists at HQ and Health Specialists/Advisers  Officers at country Programs teams to share lessons learned and best practices.
•  Ensures that specific donor requirements related to Health and Wellbeing, including SRHR, are well understood and implemented by program and other relevant teams.

2. Monitoring and Evaluating impact measurement, learning, and reporting: 20%

• Provides technical advice and input on the design and implementation of transparent and accountable mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the progress of the country office on Health and Wellbeing (SRHR) at programming and organization levels.
• Advises on health program indicators related to SRHR that should be incorporated into the program and project-level performance measurement frameworks and advises on SRHR and Health and other Wellbeing sensitive data-collection methodologies.
• Supports and monitors the overall planning and implementation of SRHR and Health and Wellbeing in the country program; gathers lessons learned and builds upon strengths and improves on weaknesses.
• In collaboration with the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning team, participates in regular monitoring and evaluation as required to ensure quality implementation of Health and Wellbeing, including SRHR into programming and adherence to donor’s deliverables and RTP program management policies.
• Monitors the external contexts and emerging needs regarding SRHR and Health and Wellbeing to introduce programmatic changes as necessary.
• Provide technical support to the projects’ MERL strategy development and implementation.
• Leads the development of SRHR and Health and Wellbeing technical narratives and policy briefings.
• Assists, as required, in the review of RTP documentation, policies, procedures and manuals.
• Lead the development of project technical reports as required by the donor, including documentation of successes, lessons learned and challenges in implementation.
• Contribute to core publications, articles, books, and panels to share research results and practices.
• Consolidate learnings from projects’ programs to inform strategic direction priorities and learning.

3. Capacity building/technical support and organizational development: 20%

• Conducts capacity assessments and facilitates capacity building for country office staff and RTP partners to enhance their capacity for effective implementation of health and wellness strategies and activities in programming.
• Ensures identification and satisfaction of training needs of RTP country office and RTP partner staff on relevant standards and instruments for health and wellness.
• Designs and implements demand-driven program approaches and methodologies aiming towards enhanced capacity and behavior change and transformation on health and wellness, working in partnerships, policy
  analysis and advocacy.
• Designs and documents training modules and capacity-building processes on health programming related to SRHR, including children and youth health-related advocacy.

4. Networking, partnerships, and advocacy: 25%

• Participate in Technical Working Groups with CSOs and the Government Ministries of Health, Education and Gender Children and Social Welfare, and other related government sectors for WASH and Youth Development, maintaining communication and feedback loops on all substantive work regarding the project.
• Participate in stakeholder meetings related to SRHR at the national and regional level.
• Build collaborative relationships between ASRH activities with the broader ASRHR networks.
• Look for synergies among consortium partners working in health programs with RTP and push for effective interactions (partner meetings, national strategy sessions and workshops, county-level work, etc.).
• Provide clear communication and updates to the Country Director, Program and Project Managers/POs and HQ, national and local governments, consortium partners and implementing partners.
• Serve as Right To Play representative in national/regional meetings as needed to develop and strengthen core partnerships and networks with key stakeholders in the health sector, including governments, networks, and multi-lateral institutions, to contribute to the health policy dialogue.
• Supports RTP’s policy advocacy and engagement with key government stakeholders on child and youth health promotion policies/practices.
• Supports collective advocacy initiatives at the national level to advance key health positions and contribute to policy papers, standards, and tools in collaboration with national networks.
• Facilitate other aspects of health programming at the national level based on needs. This may include facilitating relationships, issue-specific problem solving, escalating questions to the national level, developing project management solutions to SRHR program challenges, enabling stakeholder collaboration, coordination/follow-up of agreed action points, etc.

5. Performs other duties as assigned: 5%

Planning and Organizing

The incumbent is expected to support the Project managers, Project Officers and the programs teams in line with the approved country strategic plan. However, the incumbent is required to have some flexibility in the plan to respond to urgent needs.

What you’ll bring (essential)

Minimum Qualifications (Must have)

Education/ Training/ Certification

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, or a similar discipline is required.
• Formal training in Reproductive Health, including clinical, public health, programmatic and demographic trends, is strongly preferred.

Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in SRHR, Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health programs is required.
• Experience with gender-responsive and transformative programming in the health sector.
• Experience with children, adolescents, youth development and gender equality and empowerment programming.
• Experience in strategic planning and results-based programming.
• Demonstrated experience working with government and local partner organizations and managing contacts with key multiple stakeholders.
• Familiarity with MOH, MOE, WHO and SRH education guidelines, policies, regulations, program priorities and key planning documents is required.
• Experience with programme planning models, project management, monitoring, and evaluation systems.
• Demonstrated experience providing capacity building and training at individual and organizational levels.
• Demonstrated a strong understanding of the Mozambican healthcare system.
• Experience working on Global Affairs Canada, NORAD, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, and other international development projects.

Competencies/ Personal Attributes

• Consistently communicates a compelling vision that generates excitement, enthusiasm and commitment to the group’s mission, purpose and goals.
• Identifies and pursues opportunities to build and strengthen partnerships and alliances that are mutually advantageous and support the strategic interests of Right To Play.
• Applies culturally appropriate approaches to communicate and interact with the Right To Play team and diverse audiences.
• Values and recognizes individual and team contributions. Expresses positive expectations of staff and provides specific coaching and feedback.
• Demonstrates a commitment to and understanding of adolescent SRHR, children’s rights, protection and broader safeguarding.
• Ability to critically and reflectively explore new knowledge, theory, perspective and practice to support evolving leadership in a health role.
• Demonstrates ability to adapt, learn and change through self-awareness and management of emotions and ability to develop supportive and productive work relationships.
• Assesses impact (cost, risks, etc.) associated with changes to current processes, systems, services or operations; considers the broader implications to the organization, partners, donors, governments, etc.
• Ensures approved change initiatives are implemented and sustained.
• Manages key user/client expectations.
• Champions the culture of continuous improvement that institutionalizes learning, innovation, and achievement.

Knowledge and Skills

• Thorough public health knowledge of contemporary SRHR issues and community-based interventions is required.
• Experience in technical tools and materials development.
• Experience in research and developing high-quality literature reviews and case studies.
• Experience in training and capacity building.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken Portuguese and English languages.

Desired Qualifications (An Asset)

• Specialization in sexual and reproductive health, population studies, health policy, play-based learning.
• Experience in Psycho-Social Support (PSS) in health programs for child and youth development.
• Training/Professional Experience in Child Protection, Safeguarding and/or Gender-based Violence best
  practices.

What you’ll get

The opportunity to collaborate with an innovative global team who are passionate about working with children and youth. You will gain experience working for a globally recognized organization with a healthy culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care and be playful). You will be immersed in an environment where learning and development is encouraged and valued, and “play” is appreciated as a core avenue to building community.

• Competitive salary and benefits;
• Up to 3 personal days per year;
• Up to 5 personal learning and development (L&D) days per year;
• Maternity/paternity/parental leave top up and support;
• Playful activities and events.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your resume and cover letter in English, with the title: Application for Health Specialist Position.

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. Shortlisting of applications will begin immediately, and interviews may be held before the closing date.

Right To Play provides equal employment opportunities to employees regardless of their gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or marital status. As such, we encourage women and groups who have been historically disadvantaged with respect to employment to apply for positions at Right To Play. We offer a family-friendly environment that allows for flexible work arrangements to support staff diversity and ensure a healthy work-life balance.

We value and promote a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Should you require any accessibility related accommodations or specific adjustments to ensure fair and equitable access throughout the recruitment and selection process, and thereafter, please reach out to the People & Culture team by email at careers@righttoplay.com. All information provided will be treated as confidential and used only to provide an
accessible candidate experience.

We are a child-centered organization. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety and protection of children in our programs. The successful candidate will be required to provide a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening or equivalent criminal check as a condition of employment.

Should you require any form of accommodation during the recruitment process, kindly contact the People & Culture team by email at careers@righttoplay.com To learn more about who we are and what we do, please visit our website at www.righttoplay.com.