Emergency Health Director

GOAL Emergency Health Director
Reports to: Humanitarian Director
Location: GOAL Country of Operation; requires travel to emergency settings at short notice

About Us
GOAL’s Emergency Response Unit is responsible for overseeing the organization's global emergency preparedness and response activities. The mission of the ERU is to enhance GOAL’s ability to assist affected communities in acute emergencies and hard-to-reach areas by investing in people, systems, and innovative solutions to complex humanitarian challenges. Members of the ERU are deployed to support existing country programs or initiate new programs to rapidly meet the immediate needs of affected populations. The Emergency Health Director will lead the health programming efforts, providing technical and managerial leadership to ensure the delivery of high-quality health interventions in line with organizational goals and emergency response strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Management and Development:
Provide strategic direction, leadership, and overall technical management to health programs during emergency response efforts.
Ensure program design and implementation align with best practices, operational capacity, and the local context, adjusting where necessary.
Oversee the timely implementation of emergency health programmes, ensuring all activities are completed on time and within budget.
Conduct regular program review meetings with the relevant country office leadership, including updates on budget vs. actuals (BVAs), burn rates, and progress against key indicators.
In conjunction with System Directors, lead and maintain a functional medical supply chain system, ensuring drug inventories are up-to-date and medical supplies are procured in a timely and rational manner by ensuring stock checks during field visits and subsequent follow up for continued improvement.
Draft technical narratives and budgets for new proposals, ensuring they fit into the overall emergency response strategy and reflect lessons learned.
Lead in the design of emergency health response, ensuring that the proposed response fits into the overall emergency response and provide oversight to ensure coherence in narrative, MEAL plan and proposed budgets.
Dedicate 20-30% of time to collaborate with GOAL’s Programmes Technical Team (PTT) to provide technical support to transitional health programming in GOAL operational countries as relevant and to draw further expertise of Health, Nutrition, WASH, cash, GESI and other sectors as may be necessary towards a successful emergency response.
Support PTT in evolving and designing GOAL’s approach to Health Emergency preparedness and response, particularly in relation to disease outbreak preparedness and response including Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE).

Program Quality and Capacity Building:
Ensure all emergency health programs follow standard protocols, policies, and guidelines, particularly for reproductive health, maternal and child health, and clinical care for gender-based violence survivors.
Monitor the implementation of work plans, ensuring commitments to donors and affected communities are met.
Lead capacity-building efforts for clinical health staff, working closely with the Health Coordinators to strengthen their ability to oversee health activities in line with project best practices.
Build Capacity of GOAL health teams on Early Warning and Response Systems and Emergency Preparedness and Response planning for disease outbreaks and shocks that impact on health.
Oversee monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in coordination with the MEAL team, focusing on strengthening data collection, information sharing, and data management systems.
Analyse health data to identify evidence-based trends, track program progress, and make informed decisions regarding program direction.
Support data analysis review meetings to guide program decisions and improvements based on evidence.
Working with GOAL business development teams, identify and establish relationships with local partners in intervention and non-intervention countries, who can support with emergency health responses.

Representation and Coordination:
Actively develop and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, UN agencies, and other NGOs involved in health interventions. Represent GOAL ’s health programs in external forums and coordination platforms, advocating for the needs of affected populations and the organization’s response efforts.
Coordinate with field teams, supply chain, and logistics teams to ensure effective pharmaceutical management and timely procurement of supplies.

Staff Supervision:
Provide ongoing technical support, training, and mentorship to the health program staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
Conduct annual performance reviews for team members, offering constructive feedback to enhance performance and achieve program goals.

Job Requirements:
Master’s or post-graduate degree in Public Health or a related field.
Proven experience leading health programming in emergency contexts, with demonstrated leadership and team management skills.
Proven track record of leading emergency health programs and/or operations in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
Experience working in multinational, diverse teams, with a focus on resource mobilization for health emergencies.
Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly.
Fluency in English is required; knowledge of additional languages is an advantage. Fluency in French desirable.
Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and email applications is essential; experience with MS Access, Project, and GIS is preferred.
Proven ability to manage people and programs effectively in acute emergency contexts.
Flexibility, focus, and reliability in the face of shifting demands and operational challenges.

We strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single requirement listed.  At GOAL we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment.hq@goal.ie   

GOAL commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: 
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued, we are particularly eager to receive applications from women (and other underrepresented groups). We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  

 All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee or volunteer; or any applicant for employment or volunteering on the basis of age, gender identity, ancestry, political opinion, civil status, medical condition, ethnic background, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. 

Accountability within GOAL 

A commitment to GOAL values and GOAL’s integrity framework is critical to working with GOAL. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability: 1) Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols; 2) Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area; 3) Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner. 

Safeguarding 

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates. 

General Terms and Conditions 

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document.