Technical Specialist - Public Health Rapid Deployment Team Register

Department

Humanitarian Response Department (HRD)

Background

Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Its activities encompass relief and development in humanitarian emergencies, as well as campaigning to change the global policies and practices that keep people in poverty.

The search

Oxfam America, one of the nation’s most innovative, agile, and influential international development organizations, is compiling a list of qualified public health practitioners whom we can call upon to travel to disaster-affected communities and carry out projects such as assessments, trainings, and distributions of goods and services.

What it would mean to be selected for this list

Oxfam America Public Health Rapid Deployment Team Register positions are salaried and eligible for benefits upon deployment.

If and when the need arose, a representative from Oxfam America would contact you to determine your availability and suitability for that particular assignment. We would request your participation – probably at very short notice, for one to three months. Before deployment you would be provided with a comprehensive orientation on Oxfam’s principles, ways of working, safety guidelines, travel and finance policies, as well as benefits.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the HRD Rapid Deployment Team, please email your cover letter and resume to jobs@oxfamamerica.org and mention “Rapid Deployment Team” in the subject line. If we feel that there is a good match between your background and the job requirements, we will contact you in the near future to schedule an interview. If you are selected to be on the Oxfam America Public Health Rapid Deployment Team Register, we will notify you and arrange an induction meeting with you covering all matters relevant to deployment and work in the field.

Term

One to three months, depending on the nature of the emergency response.

Location

Worldwide

Purpose of the position

To strengthen Oxfam’s capacity to respond to large-scale humanitarian emergencies through public health assessments, program support, and health promotion.

Coordinates with

The Public Health Specialist and the Humanitarian Response Department in Boston, as well as the regional humanitarian team in the location of the emergency response.

Primary responsibilities

• Support the team in assessments and programming related to immediate public health responses after an emergencies.
• Provide technical support and knowledge for performing public health assessments and program response including, but not limited to, working with communities, performing registrations and surveys, working on education campaigns, training, distribution of goods and services. 
• Develop activities for public health program associates to aid in the response and community involvement in programming, based especially on the program associates’ areas of expertise and in conjunction with other specialists working on the team. 
• Make recommendations for Oxfam responses in the short, medium, and long term that are aligned with Oxfam’s approach to humanitarian disasters. 
• Build and/or strengthen the capacity of local staff in approach and response systems, procedures, and protocols. 
• Ensure that program activities related to public health programming are appropriate, measured, and used effectively. 
• Work in close collaboration with other team members to ensure cohesive work that addresses needs. 
• Maintain links and coordinate with other agencies and experts in the field that are responding to the emergency. 
• Ensure that programming is implemented in a consultative, participatory, and gender-sensitive manner. 
• Ensure appropriate standards in financial management are met to ensure accountability and transparency.

Qualifications

Required:  Master’s Degree or equivalent in Public Health or other related field

Experience and core competencies

• Knowledge of public health and one or more other relevant areas (e.g. health promotion, community development, education, community water supply) 
• 3-5 years of practical experience in developing countries in appropriate community health programs or similar environments; some of this time should have been in emergency relief programs or response 
• Experience and understanding of community mobilization in relation to public health activities 
• Experience and ability to work in insecure environments and under pressure 
• Proven analytical and planning skills and the ability to think strategically 
• Good written and spoken English reporting skills essential 
• Understanding of international health and development and relief issues 
• Experience in budgeting and budget monitoring 
• Diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills 
• Training/counterpart development skills 
• Good communication skills and the ability to work well in a team 
• Ability to travel at short notice and work in difficult circumstances 
• Familiarity and compliance with the NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct, the People in Aid Code, and other regulatory codes/protocols (e.g. Sphere Minimum Standards and InterAction Field Co-operation Protocol) 
• Sympathy with the aims and objectives of Oxfam 
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and action

Preferred

• Spanish, French, and/or Portuguese language skills are highly desirable.
• Familiarity with Oxfam International procedures

Physical and mental demands

Mental Demands: Reading, problem solving, reasoning, stress, oral communication, written communication, multiple concurrent tasks, constant interruptions.

Physical Demands: Requires the ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods. Must be able to walk or hike into remote areas to reach field locations.