Program Operations Officer Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

An exciting opportunity exists for an appropriately qualified, motivated and highly organised Program Operations Officer. The position will be based at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Program Support Office in Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares (Dili National Hospital) Dili, Timor Leste. The duration of the role is from January/February to June 2012, with extension for further 12 – 24 months (subject to confirmation Program funding beyond 30 June 2012). This position is best suited to an individual with demonstrated organisational and office management skills. The successful applicant will also possess strong communication skills to liaise and develop relationships within communities in Timor Leste for the effective delivery of Program services. The main purpose of the role is to ensure the effective functioning of the Program in Dili and support the in-country Team Leader with key Program activities. The key areas of responsibility are: • Develop the community relationships necessary for the effective delivery of a program which increasingly reaches out to more remote communities • Work with national staff, in-country advisors and Melbourne based staff, to ensure the smooth deployment of visiting teams, consultants, local medical personnel and other Program participants • Review and improve the process of visit notification, project promotion, and coordination with other relevant organisations in country to identify, select and support potential patients • Mentor and support National staff in all aspects of Program administration and implementation • Continue the development and implementation of the Program’s quality control, monitoring and evaluation systems • Develop the Program’s in-country promotional strategy with local communities in collaboration with the relevant departments of the Ministries of Health and Education • Assist in other administrative and program management tasks as delegated by the Team Leader The ideal candidate will possess the following essential experience and skills: • Diploma or Degree in Development Studies, Business Administration or related field • Demonstrated organisational, office and financial management skills • Ability to work on own initiative • Demonstrated experience of community work in a developing country context • Demonstrated experience in mentoring and coaching staff • Excellent verbal and written communication skills • Experienced in organising formal events requiring attention to official protocols • Experience working with communities from different cultures • Well-developed computer and keyboard skills including Word, Excel, Outlook and scheduling tools including data entry and/or basic statistics • Strong time management and problem-solving skills Organisation Overview The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is a member based not for profit organisation that strives to achieve excellence in the education, training and professional development of surgeons. The RACS Program in Timor Leste commenced in 2001 and focuses on improving the health status of Timorese people through the provision of essential specialist and general surgical services, support and care. For further information on the position description and person specification, please contact Karen Moss, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons ph: +61 3 9276 7436, email: karen.moss@surgeons.org Applications must be accompanied with a covering letter addressing how the candidate’s knowledge and experience meets the position requirements.