IRC worked in Haiti from 2010 to 2016, first launching an emergency response to the earthquake, then implementing programs for child protection, water and sanitation, health, protection and women’s empowerment and economic recovery in Port-au-Prince and beyond. Even with the closure of its national office in 2016, the IRC continued to provide operational, technical and financial support to a small number of Haitian NGO partners, including in response to the 2021 earthquake. Haiti has been identified as one of the 20 countries most at risk of another major humanitarian crisis or significant worsening between 2023 and 2026 and is on the IRC Emergency Watch List, due to its political instability, gang violence,growing food insecurity, epidemics and climate shocks that could lead to a rapid escalation of the humanitarian crisis.
The IRC Emergency Unit (EmU) led the initial emergency response and support, establishing a national program that can be fully transferred to the Latin American region (LATAM). The IRC national team was strengthened towards the end of 2024 and is now fully operational.
SCOPE OF TASKS REQUESTED
The Health and Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for facilitating the design and implementation of high-quality health and nutrition service programs, implemented by partners, to reduce morbidity and mortality rates through through primary health, including reproductive health, water, sanitation and hygiene, and nutrition. Likewise, the individual will be responsible for ensuring compliance with national and international guidelines, applying quality standards and ensuring results-based monitoring and evaluation. The Health Coordinator will identify specific opportunities for growth and program development for the IRC,including managing existing and future partnerships and developing strategic plans for the national program to deliver scalable, high-impact programs.
The Health Coordinator will identify specific opportunities for local partnerships and NGOs with a partner-focused approach. He/She will serve as a key liaison with local and international operational partners, health, nutrition and WASH clusters where applicable, as well as other coordination platforms, municipalities, government partners and other stakeholders.
The Health and Nutrition Coordinator reports to the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP). The incumbent will work in close collaboration with the Protection Sector Manager, the MEAL Coordinator, the Grants Coordinator, the Partnerships Manager and the Finance, Humanitarian Access, Security and Operations services.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Program strategy
• Provide strategic direction as well as overall technical and management support to primary health programs implemented by partners (including reproductive health), nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Haiti, including including emergency response, post-conflict recovery and the transition to longer-term programs with business continuity and health systems strengthening.
• Advise and assist in the design of new programs and co-creation with partners, including identifying project development opportunities, supporting the conceptualization/design of program activities, drafting or making substantial contributions to technical proposals, concept notes, design of monitoring and evaluation systems and budgets for international donors, and respond to any requests for additional information from the IRC Global Health Office or Emergency Unit (EmU), if applicable.
• Ensure that partnership considerations are integrated into program design and proposal development, and that partners are proactively involved in program development efforts. Ensure adequate budgetary resources for partner projects in the Health, Nutrition and WASH (Water, Hygiene and Sanitation) sectors.
• Refine a comprehensive strategic approach to health, in collaboration with officials from other sectors, as well as multi-sectoral programs with Protection.
• Provide oversight and leadership in the overall management of the Health, Nutrition and WASH department, including overseeing operational functions to achieve project objectives and budget management.
Quality, management and implementation of the program
• Responsible for coordinating the project with partners and directly implementing the program in accordance with the IRC intervention strategy and international priorities, frameworks and policies.
• Provide technical leadership for all health activities in accordance with the Results and Evidence Framework (OEF), designing and implementing context-specific interventions to maximize coverage and impact for those affected by violence or natural disasters in Haiti. Participate directly in Partner Capacity Analysis (PCA) and the subsequent development of partner support plans for program activities. Implement the existing Plan.
• Develop and maintain all required standard operating procedures (SOPs) and program guidelines in accordance with IRC internal policies and global program standards. Work closely with supply chain colleagues for targeted sourcing of medicines, medical equipment and medical supplies as needed.
• Ensure regular communication with other Program Technical Coordinators and Regional/Global Technical Advisors for Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Protection, in order to integrate appropriate priorities of technical units, latest data valid and best practices in program design and implementation.
• Adapt IRC tools and systems for direct implementation by partners based on identified needs and requests.
• Collaborate with IRC staff and partners to conduct needs analyses, infection prevention and control (ICP) assessments, health facility assessments and other sector assessments to inform the design of activities and share results with humanitarian stakeholders. Collaborate with key personnel from other technical areas to prepare strategic work plans with clear objectives and performance criteria, long and short term priorities, implementation plans and evaluation tools, including indicators.
• Oversee program implementation in partnership with local partners, ensuring activities are completed on time, on budget and in line with targeted objectives, using robust monitoring, evaluation and adaptive management to achieve desired results.
• Ensure that all program activities comply with SOPs and maintain rigorous quality standards, integrating customer feedback into continuous improvement processes.
Equitable partnerships
• Promote a culture of respectful and equitable partnerships, fostering partner-led programs in accordance with the IRC principles why not collaborate? ” and “collaborate on an equal footing”.
• Establish health and nutrition staff structures with an appropriate number of staff members to effectively manage partnerships and ensure quality.
• Ensure that partnership considerations are integrated into the Health and Nutrition components of all proposals and that local partners are actively involved in intervention design and program implementation.
• Participate in the process of identifying potential partners and analyzing systems and stakeholders.
• Contribute to Partner Capacity Analysis (PCA) and support the development of partner support plans for future interventions.
• Manage the implementation of actions attributed to Health, Nutrition and WASH in partner support plans.
• Lead or support the collaborative design of projects and budgets with partners, ensuring that fair market value is reflected and that the IRC allocates appropriate disbursements in accordance with the overall program design.
• Ensure that each program design articulates the IRC emergency approach in terms of how best to support, strengthen and complement local actors.
• Review technical tools, reports and partner data, provide feedback and collaborate on recommended adaptations or process improvements. Review technical tools, reports and partner data, provide feedback and collaborate on recommended adaptations or process improvements. Actively participate in the Partnership Working Group (PWG) set up by IRC Haiti and implement the resolutions issued by the Group.
Grants and financial management
• Manage the full cycle of grants and emergency program implementation, including recruitment and training, work plan development, purchasing and inventory planning, budget management, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Develop high-quality technical proposals and reports in collaboration with relevant program staff and partners, in accordance with IRC and donor requirements.
• Oversee the development and timely delivery of all internal and external reports in collaboration with the Grants, Partnerships, Programs, Finance and MEAL departments.
• Collaborate with IRC grants and finance staff to finalize proposals and respond to requests for additional information, including active participation in monthly grant review meetings.
Personnel management
• Recruit, onboard and supervise IRC Health, Nutrition, WASH/IPC program staff, and provide targeted capacity building and professional development as needed, including technical advice, coaching and field supervision, as well as technical and managerial skills development plans.
• Comply and ensure that new Health, Nutrition and WASH department staff understand the IRC Code of Conduct and policies relating to Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Protection of Childhood. This includes ensuring that staff and communities are informed of reporting mechanisms and support services and have access to them in a secure and confidential manner.
• Coordinate performance management within the department and ensure a culture of high performance through staff engagement and accountability.
• Maintain open and professional relationships with team members, foster strong team spirit, and provide supervision and guidance to enable staff to succeed in their roles.
Coordination and Representation
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government counterparts, UN agencies and international and local NGOs.
• Regularly attend Health, Nutrition and WASH cluster meetings and other relevant coordination forums to represent IRC priorities and raise awareness of the organization’s activities.
• Ensure that health and nutrition challenges are brought to relevant forums, advocating for standards and procedures that support the coordinated and integrated delivery of health and nutrition programs.
Other:
• Other relevant tasks assigned by the supervisor to improve IRC programs.
Job requirements:
Education: A clinical degree (in medicine or nursing) with a Master’s degree in public health or equivalent is required.
Professional experience:
• Minimum of six years of experience in humanitarian health programs in acute emergencies and post-conflict recovery (including at least two years of field experience).
• Strong experience in implementing integrated health programs including reproductive health, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Demonstrated skills and abilities:
• Prior experience working with IRC and knowledge of IRC systems and processes strongly preferred.
• Sincere interest and commitment to collaborate with local and national NGOs as well as government partners in emergency programming.
• Demonstrated experience leading a team and building partnerships to achieve results.
• Ability to innovate and implement integrated multi-sectoral programs in collaboration with the reproductive health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and protection sectors in contexts of complex emergency and post-conflict such as Haiti.
• Previous experience leading programs in complex emergencies and low-resource settings, as well as the ability to recruit, supervise and mentor staff.
• Proven leadership and strategic planning skills, including budget management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of gender equality issues and mastery of project management.
• Proven ability to work well and foster teamwork, comfortable in a multicultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional ease.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, Power BI and Outlook.
• Demonstrated commitment to an anti-racist and “Do No Harm” approach, as well asgender equality.
• Exceptional planning and personal organization skills.
• Able to effectively prioritize and track multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Very organized with attention to detail.
Language skills:
Fluency in French and Haitian Creole is required, with strong English skills.
Work environment:
IRC office in Port-au-Prince with local travel to partner project sites in Port-au-Prince, the Center and Artibonite when security and access permit.
Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles set out in the IRC Method – our Code of Conduct. It’s about integrity, service, accountability and equality.
IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment, where all people are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation or intimidation of IRC individuals in any work environment. We aim to increase the representation of women, people in the country and the communities we serve.
HOW TO APPLY
To begin the application process, applicants are required to send their CV to: [email protected]
Applications must be sent to the email address above with a CV and cover letter no later than May 20, 2026. Subject of the email indicated as:
“Health, Nutrition and WASH Coordinator”
Due to the large number of applications received for all published positions, only candidates shortlisted for an interview will be contacted. IRC Haiti does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Any solicitation in the recruitment process results in disqualification.
