The Specialist, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) provides targeted technical support for SRHR programming with a focus on family planning and comprehensive abortion care within the Health Unit of the International Rescue Committee. The role involves leading strategic projects, providing technical assistance, supporting knowledge management, and contributing to external influence and business development in humanitarian and fragile settings.
Responsibilities
- Lead day-to-day technical oversight of the Family Planning Impact Lab in South Sudan and Somalia
- Coordinating multidisciplinary research, user-centered design, and SRH technical teams
- Overseeing program pilots and iterative adaptations
- Liaising with partner and donor teams on project timeliness, quality, and coordination
- Serve as the technical focal point for country program, Health Unit, Airbel, partner, and donor stakeholders on assigned projects
- Monitor program implementation and key indicators; drive course correction as needed
- Identify priorities and opportunities for strategic SRHR programs and research in collaboration with the Senior Specialists, GPL, Airbel and country programs
- Identify and address technical support gaps in IRC country programs working to scale family planning in humanitarian settings in collaboration with Health TAs and SRHR leadership
- Develop, disseminate and support the implementation of training materials, program tools, evidence briefs, and measurement frameworks to support contraception scaling
- Provide specialized technical assistance on contraception and abortion to Health TAs and country programs, ensuring alignment with global best practices
- Work with the SRHR Research team and Project Coordinator to support the documentation and use of best practices and evidence across the health unit and in country programs
- Support communities of practice on contraception, fostering cross-country peer exchange
- Ensure key lessons from strategic projects inform country-led program design and implementation
- Contribute to thought leadership on select SRHR topics through blogs, working groups, and internal and external conference presentations
- Represent IRC in priority external forums including technical, policy, and advocacy workshops
- Support strategic business development opportunities in partnership with Health Unit leadership, AMU, and country programs
- Provide specialized program design support on SRHR to TAs and country programs on request
Requirements
- Degree in public health or a related field required
- Minimum 6 years' experience in public health and SRHR, including field experience in humanitarian or fragile settings
- Demonstrated technical expertise in family planning and comprehensive abortion care
- Familiarity with implementation research, M&E, and program quality frameworks
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to collaborate across countries, cultures, and departments
- Ability to work effectively in fast-paced environments with remote and multicultural teams
- Proficiency in English and French required
- Ability to travel up to 30% of the time, occasionally on short notice
Nice to Have
- Master's degree desirable
- Clinical degree (nurse or midwife) preferred
- Maternal and newborn health experience preferred
- Experience designing or monitoring M&E plans for scaling initiatives strongly preferred
- Arabic or Spanish an asset
Compensation
Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.
Work Arrangement
hybrid
Team
Team size: more than 70 professionals. Structure: Part of the Health Technical Unit, which includes teams in Primary Health Care, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Nutrition, and Mental Health; works closely with Health Technical Advisors, Regional Practice Leads, Airbel Impact Lab, Global MEAL, SRH GPL, Violence Prevention and Response Unit, AMU, and EHAU. Reports to: Senior Specialist, SRHR
- Solutions-driven
- Passionate change-maker
- Restoring health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster
- Deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions
Additional Information
- Ability to travel up to 30% of the time, occasionally on short notice
- Proficiency in English and French required
- Arabic or Spanish an asset
- Reports to: Senior Specialist, SRHR
- Internal working relationships: Health TAs, Regional Practice Leads, Airbel Impact Lab, Global MEAL, SRH GPL, Violence Prevention and Response Unit, AMU, and EHAU
- External working relationships: INGO counterparts, UN agencies, global coordination mechanisms, public and private donors
