Full-Time Health Program Coordinator
Job Description
Project Wave of Optimism (Project WOO) – a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization – forges partnerships with people in emerging Latin American surf travel destinations and delivers collaborative programs to improve quality of life and engage citizens in decision-making and management of their community’s development. For further information on our mission, vision and approach to community development, please visit: www.projectwoo.org.
Job Purpose:
In April 2014, Project Wave of Optimism inaugurated the first Gigante Community Health Center. The center’s focus is to improve the overall public health of the community through preventative health education initiatives while providing high quality primary healthcare to local residents. The Health Program Coordinator is a vital role. She/he serves as the primary liaison for all community health stakeholders, including the local health staff, international medical brigades, Project WOO’s executive team, local community representatives, MINSA (Ministerio de Salud de Nicaragua), and program donors. The HPC will be responsible for the management of the existing health initiatives, the development of new programs, as well as the implementation and evaluation of the recently designed HC Operational Procedure system.
Position Expectations:
The position requires a commitment Project WOO’s grassroots, community-driven public health initiative. It combines program management (design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation), research, communication, creating and strengthening stakeholder relationships, budgeting, fundraising support, and staff supervision. The candidate is expected to participate in a unique cultural immersion experience through a 4-6 week homestay with a local family at the beginning of her/his assignment.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning
○ Develop Health Center and Health Program strategic plans, including short- (less than 1 year), medium- (1-3 years) and long-term (3-5 years) objectives.
○ Design and implement activities to meet the strategic objectives.
○ Support capacity building of Health Center staff during execution of strategic initiatives.
Health Program Management
● Monitoring and Evaluation:
○ In coordination with the WOO Executive Director, Health Center Advisory Board and staff: design monitoring and evaluation framework for Health Program.
○ According to plan, establish and implement monitoring activities, evaluation criteria, and reporting schedule
● Health Center Oversight:
○ Coordinate daily with Health Center staff and support them as needed.
○ Conduct weekly meetings with Health Center staff to ensure all operational tasks are being executed.
○ Serve as the public face for Health Center.
● Medical Brigade Support:
○ Supervise volunteer coordinators and Health Center staff in preparation for medical brigade trips in advance of group arrival (accommodations, transportation, meals, activities, etc…)
○ Support volunteer coordinators during medical brigade trips in Gigante (1-2 weeks per trip)
○ Serve on call as the public face of the Health Center and Project WOO for medical brigade groups.
○ Write final evaluation reports of each brigade trip.
● Project WOO Collaboration:
○ Manage weekly reporting process to Project WOO Executive Director on all matters related to Health Center and Health Program implementation.
○ Attend weekly WOO staff meetings and provide a summary of the Health Program developments.
● Advisory Board Communication:
○ Maintain weekly communication with Health Center Advisory Board Chairperson
○ Support Advisory Board Chairperson in the production of all necessary brigade documentation.
○ Attend Advisory Board meetings as requested.
Operational Protocol Implementation
○ Oversee implementation of Health Center policies, procedures, and protocols.
○ Conduct periodic monitoring and evaluation of operational protocol, including lessons learned with suggestions for improvement.
Community Engagement
○ Develop strategies to promote community engagement with the Health Center.
○ Oversee research and design of new strategies to increase community mobilization and health awareness.
Communication/ Accountability
○ Oversee publication of Health Center newsletter and social media posts.
○ Draft stakeholder reports for Executive Director.
○ Supervise file management.
○ Conduct periodic informational meetings with Gigante community members.
Partnerships
○ Develop list of potential partners for Health Center.
○ Draft proposals and presentations for partnership outreach.
○ Manage partner outreach:
1.Medical Brigades:
○ Identify and communicate with international and national university
contacts.
○ Manage efforts to secure medical brigade field trips.
2. MINSA officials:
○ In coordination with the Health Center staff, strengthen the existing relationships with MINSA officials.
3.NGOs:
○ Cultivate relationships with other organizations focused on rural community health.
Human Resources:
○ Develop scopes of work for all Health Center staff.
○ Recruit, hire, and train new Health Center staff.
○ Plan and execute bi-monthly professional development workshops/training sessions for Health Center staff
QUALIFICATIONS
● Bachelor’s degree essential; Master’s or equivalent experience in public health, public policy, urban planning, social work, international development, or related field.
● Ability to read, write and speak confidently in both Spanish and English.
DESIRED SKILLS
● Leadership.
● Professionalism.
● Project management skills: organization, ability to multi-task, information management.
● Strong research skills. Capacity to understand and engage with relevant external research and link it creatively to the programming, design and implementation of new initiatives.
● Strong interpersonal skills; capacity to engage with diverse group of stakeholders; aptitude for creating connections.
● Strategic and analytical thinking. Problem solving skills.
● Meticulous attention to detail and deadlines.
● Knowledge of MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Access).
● Knowledge of GIS is a plus.
● Clear oral and written communication skills.
EXPERIENCE:
● Experience developing and implementing monitoring & evaluation frameworks and tools.
● Rural community development experience (community engagement, capacity building, project design, management, reporting).
● Experience working with a diverse, cross-cultural team, including building professional relationships.
● Experience facilitating community meetings.