Public Health Manager-Primary and Community Health Services

JOB

Summary

This role is responsible for providing strategic technical leadership, direction and oversight in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of Primary and Community Health Care Services interventions and initiatives under the Health & Social Services (HSS) department.

The position will lead KRCS technical work in Primary Health Care and Universal Health Coverage service delivery, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), Blood Donor and Retention Services, HIV/TB services and Digital Health Integration, with a strong focus on strengthening public health systems, improving service quality and expanding equitable access of care for vulnerable and underserved populations.

The role will ensure that KRCS programming in these areas is evidence-based, aligned with Ministry of Health policies and standards, integrated within government systems and responsive to both routine service delivery needs and humanitarian or emergency contexts.

The position will also support partnerships, resource mobilization, implementation science, policy engagement and generation of learning to strengthen KRCS’ contribution to national and county health priorities.

SCOPE OF THE ROLE:

Provide technical support and leadership in all KRCS’ Primary and Community Health Care interventions under the HSS Department.

Lead technical oversight for PHC & UHC Delivery, RMNCAH, Blood Donor and Retention Services, HIV/TB Services, and Digital Health Integration.

Provide strategic and operational support to KRCS teams implementing primary and community health projects at national, regional, county, and branch levels.

Strengthen health systems building blocks relevant to PHC service delivery, including service delivery quality, workforce capacity, information systems, health commodities, financing and governance.

Build the capacity of implementing teams, county coordinators, volunteers and relevant government counterparts.

Support design and scale-up of integrated community and facility based PHC delivery models.

Liaise with the Ministry of Health, county departments of health, the RCRC Movement, technical partners and development partners in the relevant thematic areas.

Support planning, implementation oversight, quality assurance, documentation, implementation science, and use of data for decision making.

Contribute to resource mobilization, advocacy, technical proposal development, and partner engagement for the Primary and Community Health Care portfolio.

KEY

Responsibilities

• Strategic Primary and Community Health Care leadership and integration:
• Provide overall technical leadership and strategic direction across the Primary and Community Health Care Service unit within HSS.
• Lead the design, implementation and review of KRCS interventions related to PHC and UHC delivery, RMNCAH, HIV/TB, Blood Donor and Retention Services and Digital Health Integration.
• Spearhead integration of these thematic areas within broader health systems strengthening efforts and ensure alignment with national and county priorities.
• Guide development of integrated service delivery models linking community systems, primary health care facilities, referral systems and digital health platforms.
• Ensure KRCS programming is aligned with Ministry of Health policies, standards, strategies and quality of care frameworks.
• PHC & UHC delivery:
• Lead KRCS technical work aimed at strengthening primary health care systems and advancing universal health coverage, especially for vulnerable, underserved and hard-to-reach populations.
• Guide implementation of integrated PHC approaches, including preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and referral services.
• Support county governments and facility teams to improve service delivery readiness, quality, equity and responsiveness within PHC platforms.
• Promote community – health facility linkages and continuity of care across the life course.
• Support interventions that improve service availability, utilization and resilience in routine and fragile settings.
• RMNCAH leadership:
• Provide technical oversight for RMNCAH programming including maternal, newborn, child, adolescent and reproductive health interventions.
• Lead and support scaling up of evidence based high-impact RMNCAH interventions in collaboration with government and partners.
• Support strengthening of provider competence, quality improvement, MPDSR, emergency obstetric and newborn care, referral readiness and continuum-of-care approaches.
• Guide design and implementation of approaches that improve survival and quality of care during pregnancy, labour, delivery, postpartum and early newborn periods.
• In consultation with technical leads colleagues, support integration of nutrition, adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health and disability inclusive approaches within RMNCAH programming.
• Blood Donor and Retention Services:
• Provide technical leadership for KRCS blood donor mobilization, donor retention and blood access programming.
• Support strategic collaboration with the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service and other relevant institutions to improve blood donor recruitment, safe blood availability and timely blood access.
• Guide planning and implementation of blood donation campaigns, donor engagement strategies and retention models.
• Support innovations and systems strengthening for blood supply, last-mile access and emergency transfusion readiness.
• Contribute to policy dialogue and resource mobilization aimed at sustainable blood services strengthening.
• Digital Health Integration in the HSS department:
• Lead technical guidance on digital integration within the HSS department.
• Support digitization of service delivery, data capture, reporting, referral tracking, community feedback, and decision-support systems across Health & Social Services programmes.
• Work closely with the KRCS Digital Transformation team and Ministry of Health digital health actors to strengthen interoperability, data use and alignment with national digital health strategies.
• Promote practical use of digital systems to support continuity of care, patient tracking, learning, and accountability.
• Collaborate with the HSS national technical teams to support with the design and adoption of digital innovations that enhance quality, efficiency, access, and program performance.
• Programme planning, oversight, quality assurance and learning:
• Ensure high quality, evidence-based and compliant programming across all Primary and Community Health Care thematic areas.
• Lead development of annual plans, technical workplans, implementation strategies and quality assurance mechanisms.
• Strengthen learning loops, implementation science and generation of evidence for scale up, policy influence and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with the MEA&L department to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, accountability, routine data use and knowledge management in all relevant projects.
• Support documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, case studies, best practices and programme innovations.
• Partnerships, movement coordination and external engagement:
• Serve as technical liaison with the Ministry of Health, county departments of health, KRCS movement partners, IFRC Health unit, PNSs, technical agencies, academia and other partners relevant to Primary and Community Health Care.
• Position KRCS as a credible and trusted actor in PHC, RMNCAH, Blood services, HIV/TB and digital health programming.
• Participate in-person or effectively delegate Health Coordinators and officers to relevant technical working groups, policy forums and coordination mechanisms at national and county levels.
• Support development of strategic partnerships that strengthen KRCS technical credibility, operational reach and influence.
• Resource mobilization, growth and financial stewardship:
• Support diversified and strategic resource mobilization for Primary and Community Health Care Services thematic areas.
• Lead in technical writing of PHC thematic area concept notes, proposals, donor reports and partner engagement materials.
• Ensure value for money, technical integrity and donor confidence in the portfolio.
• Support budgeting, implementation oversight and responsible use of programme resources.
• People leadership, talent development and succession:
• Provide technical supervision, mentorship, coaching and capacity building for PHC programme staff, coordinators, officers and relevant volunteers.
• Strengthen a high performing and future ready technical team for the Primary and Community Health Care Services portfolio.
• Promote multidisciplinary teamwork, continuous learning and institutional memory.
• Support succession planning and strengthening of KRCS technical capacity in relevant thematic areas.
• Risk and Compliance Management:
• Identify, assess, manage and report strategic, operational, technical, financial, safeguarding, and reputational risks related to the Primary and Community Health Care portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with KRCS policies, donor requirements, national laws, professional standards and public health guidelines.
• Integrate risk mitigation, quality assurance and accountability mechanisms into PHC programme design and implementation.
• Promote a strong culture of compliance, responsible stewardship and continuous improvement.
• Supervisory
• Member of the HSS management and technical team providing strategic and technical support to the organization in the Primary and Community Health Care Services unit.
• Direct technical supervisor of officers, coordinators and project staff implementing PHC, RMNCAH, Blood Donor and Retention Services, HIV/TB and Digital Health interventions under the unit.
• Provide matrix supervision and technical guidance to project based staff and consultants assigned to the thematic areas under the portfolio.
• Support supervision of relevant programme assistants and technical support staff as assigned.
• DESIRED COMPETENCIES
• Strong knowledge of primary health care systems, universal health coverage approaches and health systems strengthening.
• Strong technical understanding of RMNCAH, HIV/TB services, Blood Donor and access systems and digital health integration.
• Knowledge of public health and humanitarian relief issues, trends and goals aimed at preventing and alleviating human suffering.
• Strong understanding of community and facility-based health programming and referral systems.
• Ability to translate policy and standards into implementable and scalable technical models.
• Desired competencies
• Broad knowledge of public health management, humanitarian health and health systems strengthening at national, regional and international levels.
• Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution and ability to deliver the Society’s articulated vision for change.
• Ability to initiate and manage change and to recognize and adjust to rapidly changing conditions in order to align PHC programmes to the strategic plan.
• Strong communication and presentation skills in both English and Kiswahili, including ability to develop reports and relevant publications.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills including the ability to build collaborative relationships with sensitivity to cultural, ethnic and political issues.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and resolve differences and conflicts.
• Technical expertise in strategic management, project planning, budgeting, and implementation as well as programme monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrated competence in resource mobilization and effective fundraising support aimed at expanding financial resources.
• Ability to develop and implement accountability and performance management systems, giving candid feedback and supporting professional development efforts linked to strategic objectives.
• Ability to maintain high standards of personal integrity and establish productive and respectful relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to establish flexible multidisciplinary teams in an environment conducive to continuous learning, creativity and innovation.
• Ability to empower PHC programme staff through coaching and counselling by emphasizing accountability and results-oriented management.
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, email and internet tools.
• Ability to monitor projects against milestones, verify accuracy of information, identify weaknesses and strive for high quality performance.

Education

AND

Experience

• A basic degree in medicine/surgery (MBChB), Clinical Medicine, Nursing or equivalent or demonstrated qualifications or professional experience.
• Over four (4) years’
• in planning, implementing and evaluating in one of the PHC programmes (PHC/UHC programming, RMNCAH, HIV/TB, blood services or digital health) in development and emergency/relief contexts.
• working with government systems, county health structures, donors and multi-partner PHC programmes.
• in resource constrained, remote, emergency or humanitarian settings will be an added advantage.