Job ID
45307
Job Title
Primary Health Care Senior Officer
To work for
Aga Khan Health Services-Syria
Country
Syria
City
Damascus
Field of Work
Medicine/Nursing - Quality Control
Job Type
Full time
Military service
Finished or Exempted (For male)
Minimum Education Level
Master
Responsibilities
This role requires a strong understanding of primary health principles and a hands-on approach to implementation. This scope of work provides a comprehensive overview of the role and responsibilities of the PHC Senior Officer.
These specific responsibilities may evolve based on the project's needs and priorities.
Technical Support to Strengthen the Primary Health Care (PHC) Model
Engagement and Strategic Planning
•Partner with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and key stakeholders to map, assess, and analyze performance, productivity, service quality, and capacity gaps across public PHC centers (PPHCs), using locally validated tools and methodologies.
•Lead comprehensive needs assessments and co-develop detailed, context-specific implementation plans to upgrade PHC services, including the management of MNCARH, Communicable Diseases, NCDs, Mental Health and emergency cases. in addition to the development of SOPs and referral systems.
•Collaborate with MoH at all levels to improve the health management information systems (HMIS) and design a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, securing necessary approvals for pilot rollout and ensuring alignment with national health priorities.
Capacity Building for PHC Facilities
•Identify and address critical gaps in human resources, equipment, supplies, and infrastructure through actionable, cost-sensitive plans tailored to local constraints.
•Co-design and review training curricula for PHC managers, nurses, and community pharmacists, with a focus on enabling task-shifting and optimizing workforce roles.
•Facilitate targeted training programs to strengthen clinical and managerial competencies of frontline health workers and community health personnel.
•Co-establish systems for ongoing supervision, mentoring, and performance support for newly trained PHC staff, ensuring sustainability and accountability.
•Support the contextual adaptation and phased implementation of recognized quality standards (e.g., SafeCare) to elevate service delivery and patient safety.
•Co-develop and deploy digital health solutions—such as mHealth, telemedicine, and health IT platforms—that enhance access, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. All interventions will be tailored to HMIS requirements, human resource realities, and infrastructure limitations.
Network Strengthening and Community Mobilization
•Co-create with MoH and health directorates a community-based Health Service Network that integrates PHC facilities with local providers and referral hubs.
•Strengthen referral pathways and continuity of care by engaging local healthcare actors and aligning service delivery across levels.
•Working to achieve greater community participation in health affairs, including encouraging healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, and monitoring healthcare programs for different age groups.
•Mobilize and train Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), and support the formation of community governance structures—including mutual fund mechanisms—leveraging short-term health economics expertise where needed.
Health System Strengthening:
•Manage the scaling up of pilot activities from financing aspects focused on expanding the scope of community pharmacy practice to enhance access to primary care services.
•Assess the digital health landscape and collaborate with partners to design and implement user-friendly, scalable digital health solutions.
•Lead Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) related to PHC.
Research and Knowledge Sharing:
•Contribute to operational research activities to generate evidence and inform program design, implementation, and scale-up.
o Map the distribution of health facilities and different categories of health workers to identify underserved areas and where task-shifting initiatives, especially for community pharmacists and nurses, can play a key role in improving UHC.
o Lead operational studies, such as health-seeking behavior and related expenditures, which can be part of the proposed research in the SAMA project.
•Disseminate research findings and best practices to advocate for policy and practice improvements in the Syrian healthcare system.
General Responsibilities:
•Demonstrate strong teamwork and collaboration skills, actively participating in team meetings and supporting colleagues.
•Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, maintaining clear and professional communication.
•Adhere to ethical principles, professional standards of conduct, and organizational policies.
•Proactively identify and address challenges, demonstrating critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
•Effectively manage time and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and achieve objectives.
•Stay updated on current trends and best practices in primary health care, health financing and related fields through continuous learning.
•Take responsibility for actions and decisions, demonstrating accountability for achieving assigned tasks and goals.
•Lead organizing, filing, archiving, reporting, budgeting, etc., of the primary health care and health financing initiatives.
These specific responsibilities may evolve based on the project's needs and priorities.
Technical Support to Strengthen the Primary Health Care (PHC) Model
Engagement and Strategic Planning
•Partner with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and key stakeholders to map, assess, and analyze performance, productivity, service quality, and capacity gaps across public PHC centers (PPHCs), using locally validated tools and methodologies.
•Lead comprehensive needs assessments and co-develop detailed, context-specific implementation plans to upgrade PHC services, including the management of MNCARH, Communicable Diseases, NCDs, Mental Health and emergency cases. in addition to the development of SOPs and referral systems.
•Collaborate with MoH at all levels to improve the health management information systems (HMIS) and design a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, securing necessary approvals for pilot rollout and ensuring alignment with national health priorities.
Capacity Building for PHC Facilities
•Identify and address critical gaps in human resources, equipment, supplies, and infrastructure through actionable, cost-sensitive plans tailored to local constraints.
•Co-design and review training curricula for PHC managers, nurses, and community pharmacists, with a focus on enabling task-shifting and optimizing workforce roles.
•Facilitate targeted training programs to strengthen clinical and managerial competencies of frontline health workers and community health personnel.
•Co-establish systems for ongoing supervision, mentoring, and performance support for newly trained PHC staff, ensuring sustainability and accountability.
•Support the contextual adaptation and phased implementation of recognized quality standards (e.g., SafeCare) to elevate service delivery and patient safety.
•Co-develop and deploy digital health solutions—such as mHealth, telemedicine, and health IT platforms—that enhance access, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. All interventions will be tailored to HMIS requirements, human resource realities, and infrastructure limitations.
Network Strengthening and Community Mobilization
•Co-create with MoH and health directorates a community-based Health Service Network that integrates PHC facilities with local providers and referral hubs.
•Strengthen referral pathways and continuity of care by engaging local healthcare actors and aligning service delivery across levels.
•Working to achieve greater community participation in health affairs, including encouraging healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, and monitoring healthcare programs for different age groups.
•Mobilize and train Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), and support the formation of community governance structures—including mutual fund mechanisms—leveraging short-term health economics expertise where needed.
Health System Strengthening:
•Manage the scaling up of pilot activities from financing aspects focused on expanding the scope of community pharmacy practice to enhance access to primary care services.
•Assess the digital health landscape and collaborate with partners to design and implement user-friendly, scalable digital health solutions.
•Lead Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) related to PHC.
Research and Knowledge Sharing:
•Contribute to operational research activities to generate evidence and inform program design, implementation, and scale-up.
o Map the distribution of health facilities and different categories of health workers to identify underserved areas and where task-shifting initiatives, especially for community pharmacists and nurses, can play a key role in improving UHC.
o Lead operational studies, such as health-seeking behavior and related expenditures, which can be part of the proposed research in the SAMA project.
•Disseminate research findings and best practices to advocate for policy and practice improvements in the Syrian healthcare system.
General Responsibilities:
•Demonstrate strong teamwork and collaboration skills, actively participating in team meetings and supporting colleagues.
•Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, maintaining clear and professional communication.
•Adhere to ethical principles, professional standards of conduct, and organizational policies.
•Proactively identify and address challenges, demonstrating critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
•Effectively manage time and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and achieve objectives.
•Stay updated on current trends and best practices in primary health care, health financing and related fields through continuous learning.
•Take responsibility for actions and decisions, demonstrating accountability for achieving assigned tasks and goals.
•Lead organizing, filing, archiving, reporting, budgeting, etc., of the primary health care and health financing initiatives.
Qualifications
•Master's degree in Public Health, Health Economics, or any equivalent degree, is required
•More than 5 years working in the management of Primary Health Care programmes and other aspects of health system strengthening field with the following
•Well understanding the Syrian health system context and challenges, including the PHC system, health insurance and other community-based health financial protection (formal and informal)
•Having a good understanding of recent developments in primary healthcare systems, key global experiences in this field, and lessons learned, especially in developing countries and those that have experienced prolonged crises.
•Strong understanding of health financing principles and community-based models.
•Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
•Ability to work effectively in a complex and challenging environment.
•Flaunt English, in all skills.
•More than 5 years working in the management of Primary Health Care programmes and other aspects of health system strengthening field with the following
•Well understanding the Syrian health system context and challenges, including the PHC system, health insurance and other community-based health financial protection (formal and informal)
•Having a good understanding of recent developments in primary healthcare systems, key global experiences in this field, and lessons learned, especially in developing countries and those that have experienced prolonged crises.
•Strong understanding of health financing principles and community-based models.
•Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
•Ability to work effectively in a complex and challenging environment.
•Flaunt English, in all skills.
Specific Vacancy Requirements
•Not a government employee.
•The applicant must be able to travel between governorates.
•The applicant must be able to travel between governorates.
Salary and Benefits
AKHS-S Salary Scale.
About us
Aga Khan Health Services, Syria (AKHS,S) is an agency of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) which is a group of development agencies with mandates that include the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, and the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. AKDN agencies conduct their programmers without regard to faith, origin or gender.
The Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) that works to improve the health of the population in the countries in which it operates. In Syria, AKHS works in particular to strengthen and develop the existing health systems, and seeks to achieve the full health coverage of population through supporting the essential health services of the public health facilities and improving their quality, and delivering several complementary health services which cover some of the unmet health needs, in addition to work constantly on enabling community and individuals to play an effective role towards their health by access and adopt healthy lifestyles and participating effectively in health care programmers, especially health promotion and disease prevention.
The Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) that works to improve the health of the population in the countries in which it operates. In Syria, AKHS works in particular to strengthen and develop the existing health systems, and seeks to achieve the full health coverage of population through supporting the essential health services of the public health facilities and improving their quality, and delivering several complementary health services which cover some of the unmet health needs, in addition to work constantly on enabling community and individuals to play an effective role towards their health by access and adopt healthy lifestyles and participating effectively in health care programmers, especially health promotion and disease prevention.
Required employees number
1
Posted On
Nov 07, 2025
Expiry Date
Dec 07, 2025
