Local Health Coordinator

The Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) is seeking a  Local Health Coordinator will support the implementation of RIMES’ components under the Global Climate Fund’s Enhancing Early Warning Systems to Build Greater Resilience to Hydro-meteorological Hazards in Timor-Leste Project. Specifically, the Local Health Coordinator will coordinate, facilitate, monitor, and communicate the results of the public health models, health risk forecasts, and impact-based advisory products, as well as other capacity-building activities.
Position Title:           Local Health Coordinator (Timorese National)
Open Period:           13 March 2024 – 12 April 2024
Background:  The Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) is an international and intergovernmental institution, owned and managed by its Member States, for the generation and application of early warning information. RIMES evolved from the efforts of countries in Africa and Asia, in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, to establish a regional early warning system within a multi-hazard framework for the generation and  communication of early warning information, and capacity building for   preparedness and response to trans-boundary hazards. RIMES was established on 30 April 2009, and was registered with the United Nations on 1 July 2009. RIMES operates from its regional early warning center located at the campus of the Asian Institute of Technology in Pathumthani.

Contract Type:  Full-time, project-based contract
Duty station: Dili, Timor Leste
Minimum Qualifications

Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, Health Social Science, Healthcare Management, Epidemiology or any related field
Experience:
- At least three (3) years of work experience coordinating and organizing meetings or workshops with local stakeholders, health practitioners and/or health care industries like hospitals, clinics, and public health agencies in Timor Leste, including monitoring of timely accomplishments of project-related activities.
- At least two (2) years of work experience in public health, including public health assessments, advisories, health-related decision support systems, and/or disease prevention and control.
Familiarity with the institutions/organizations as well as approaches and concepts in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), early warning, and climate change adaptation (CCA).

Skills and Abilities:
- Highly skilled in public health and healthcare management, including its importance in early warning, DRRM, and CCA.
- Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, and planning skills.
Strong communication, interpersonal, and writing skills.
- Ability to work amicably in a multicultural and multidisciplinary work environment.
Language:
Excellent knowledge of Portuguese, Tetum, and English (both oral and written).

Personal qualities:

• Self-motivated, flexible, and capable of working effectively and independently.
• Excellent work ethic and an aptitude for working with a constructive attitude.
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.
• Adaptability and a willingness to learn new technologies and tools.
• Demonstrates persistence when faced with difficulties or challenges.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:A) Coordinate with RIMES partners from the Ministry of Health, National Directorate of Meteorology and Geophysics (DNMG) of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and other relevant agencies and organizations, including the health practitioners and other local stakeholders on different project activities.

• Establish and maintain effective communication channels with all project stakeholders to ensure alignment with project goals and objectives.
• Engage with local health professionals and other stakeholders to gather information, address concerns, and incorporate local perspectives into project planning and implementation.

B) Support the implementation and monitoring of project activities, and the documentation and communication of highlights, good practices, and lessons learned, which includes but not limited to:

• Collecting public health data, including demographic, clinical, environmental, and hydrometeorological data for the health modeling study.
• Organizing and facilitating consultation and progress meetings, training workshops, and capacity-building activities with project partners, especially from the health sector.
• Providing technical inputs to concept notes, activity/training designs, and progress reports.
• Conducting research on the epidemiology of diseases of interest in Timor Leste, including incidence, prevalence, attributions to weather and climate, risk factors, and outcomes.
• Organizing and facilitating meetings and workshops for the field testing and deployment of the decision support system (DSS) and mobile application for public health.
• Extending assistance in the development and translation of training manuals, presentation slides, IEC materials, and other documents.
• Conducting field visits to and regular coordination with stakeholders, including assistance to field missions of project partners.

C) Provide support to the design and customization of a user-friendly DSS and a mobile application for public health, while incorporating stakeholders’ feedback and suggestions.

• Collaborate with software developers, other technical experts, and public health experts in assisting with the design and customization of the DSS and mobile application.
• Support the Systems Analyst in conducting user needs assessments to identify key functionalities, features, and usability requirements, ensuring alignment with the needs and priorities of stakeholders and end-users.
• Document feedback from stakeholders and end-users as input for the software developers in enhancing the usability, functionality, and relevance of the DSS and mobile application.

D) Ensure timely completion of project activities, including extending administrative and logistical support;

• Identify potential bottlenecks, risks, and challenges that may impact project implementation and take proactive measures to address them.
• Provide administrative and logistical support, to facilitate smooth project operations, if necessary.
• Any other relevant work necessary for the successful implementation and documentation of program/project-related activities.

Supervisor:   The Local Health Coordinator will report directly to the Programme Officer, Risk Knowledge Application Department with matrix reporting to the In-Country Coordinator.

Contract Duration: 12 months, with possible extension on above satisfactory performance; Probationary period: 6 months.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should send your application letter, resume, salary expectation and 2 references in PDF format to [email protected] by midnight of 12 April 2024, Bangkok time. Please state “Local Health Coordinator (Timorese National): Your Name “ the Subject line of the email. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.