Senior Specialist, Health Quality Assurance, Lebanon

JOB SUMMARY:  Responsible for designing quality assurance policies and procedures and development of quality initiatives and their guidelines in health. Will work with the Lebanon health and program team to ensure that programs meet quality standards in service provision to beneficiaries. Will work with the field teams to identify gaps in quality standards and develop implementation plans in coordination with the technical coordinators. Works with the MEAL team to design quality monitoring tools that allow the MEAL team to track progress in quality improvement activity implementation, which will in turn allow the Senior Specialist, Health Quality Assurance to advise the team on gaps and achievements.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation:

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Oversee the development and implementation of quality assurance policies and procedures and standards 
•    Develop, Interpret, and comply with quality assurance standards as per National guidelines and protocols 
•    Elaborate standard operating procedures of monitoring, auditing and sampling of quality data in supported Partners health facilities 
•    Develop guidelines and tools necessary for documentation of quality activities, data collection, analysis and reporting 
•    Oversee the implementation of quality standards and ensures efficiency of quality systems and monitoring 
•    Create quality training materials and operating manuals for health staff Assembles SOPs & resource manuals for technical coordinators and managers and senior officers and area managers. 
•    Identify partners’ quality gaps, issues and challenges and recommends solutions  
•    Monitors gaps in implementation of quality activities by IMC health team and recommends corrective actions 
•    Coordinates with the health team and technical team to ensure program standards and protocols adhere to nationally and internationally accepted guidelines. 
•    Solicits feedback from team and other experts as needed. 
•    Responsible to ensure implementation of minimum standards set by the Regional Technical Unit. 
•    Review regularly the performance based quality program to ensure appropriateness to context and performance. 
•    Reads, summarizes, and distributes updates on quality standards circulated within IMC and the sectors. Incorporates these updates into quality standards and guidelines used for monitoring and improvement initiatives within IMC programs. 
•    Attend meetings on quality with national and international partners and stakeholders and reports on discussions and recommendations from meetings to technical health team. 
•    Develop comprehensive tracking tools and follow up of QI action points, including: 
     o    Works with appropriate program team to ensure progress on agreed QI action points. 
     o    Develops a tracking system to monitor improvements across activities over time, including mechanisms for soliciting & capturing feedback from beneficiaries including partner organizations (i.e. PHCs). 
•    Provides regular reports and updates on QI initiatives to Reporting team for donor reporting purposes 

Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

Code of Conduct
As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment.  If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report.

If this is a supervisory position, one must set an example of ethical behavior through one’s own conduct and oversight of the work of others; ensure that those who report to you have sufficient knowledge and resources to follow the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Ethics; monitor compliance of the people you supervise; enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics and International Medical Corps’ policies, including the Safeguarding Policy and the Protection from Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Policy, consistently and fairly; support employees who in good faith raise questions or concerns.

Safeguarding
It is all staff shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons. 

Equal Opportunities
International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran. 

Job Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

•    Typically, a Bachelors’ degree in related field. Master’s Degree in Public Health, Health Management, Program Planning, Epidemiology, Public Policy or Nursing is preferred. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
•    Typically, 8+ years of relevant and progressive experience in health delivery and quality. 
•    Working knowledge of the policies and protocols Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon. 
•    Core knowledge of public health principles and techniques
•    Excellent communication skills 
•    Able to take initiative within a defined framework 
•    Able to work within a team 
•    Flexible and creative  
•    Strong commitment to work 
•    Able to work under stress 
•    Strong commitment to the organization and its values 
Desirable
•    Certification, such as “Healthcare performance improvement”, Healthcare quality certificate, Quality Auditor, Six Sigma, or Quality Improvement Associate. 
•    Advanced reporting skills both qualitative and quantitative  
•    Advanced Microsoft excel skills 
•    Advanced writing skills (develop SOPs)  

Additional Technical or Language Requirements

Please note, for Lebanon-based roles, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to work in Lebanon. Since the position is a national role, we are unable to progress applications that would require sponsorship

Misconduct Disclosure Scheme

All offers of employment at International Medical Corps are subject to satisfactory references and background checks. International Medical Corps participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme from the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR). In accordance with this, we will request information from an applicant’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.