For this function, MSF experience is mandatory.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 60 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.
CONTEXT
The OCB Medical Department
The medical department’s strategy aims that projects can combine serving the most vulnerable populations, meeting the health needs of the targeted population whilst delivering high impact medical and humanitarian interventions.
The medical department plays a strategic role by defining the modalities of implementation of MSF’s medical strategy so that both coherence and quality can be safeguarded. The medical department also has a support function with regards to follow-up, evaluation and internal control of the projects as well as evolution through research and development.
The medical department also has a strategic function regarding the medico-operational choices by challenging current medical practices and scanning of innovative medical strategies. Its role is not merely reactive to requests for support but also proactive in shaping medical/operational strategies.
The medical department is a network of units, in Brussels - the Brussels Medical Unit (BRUMED), in Cape Town - the Southern African Medical Unit (SAMU), in Luxembourg - the Luxembourg Operational Research unit (LuxOR), in Beirut - the Middle East Medical Unit (MEMU) and positions based around the world (London, Nairobi, Rio, Rome and Toronto). The department is composed of medical staff working in operational cells in a matrix set-up and medical referents of different medical disciplines: infectious diseases; HIV/Aids and HepC; Sexual and Reproductive Health; Emergency and Intensive Care, Anaesthesia, Surgery, Paediatric, Nutrition; Emergency preparedness; Pharmacy and Biomedical expertise; Mental Health; Nursing care and IPC; Health Promotion; Environmental health; Operational Research; Health information; MSF Academy for Healthcare. The department is organized in resources deployed in thematic circles.
Most of the medical referents participate in International Medical Working Groups on MSF movement level.
RESPONSIBILITIES
In general the Medical Director:
- Ensures that the medical department can and does play its strategic and supportive role.
- Is part of the management team and as such participates in the strategic decision-making platforms. He/she reports directly to the OCB General Director. He/she also takes an active role in building the associative dimension of MSF.
- Is a member of the MSF International Medical Directors Platform as well as the MSF International Med-Ops platform.
- Is the reference for medical (& medical ethical) affairs.
Regarding policies and strategic issues
The Medical Director is responsible for designing and adapting the medical policies, medical strategies, medical guidelines, medical standards and tools within the OCB. Medical support only makes sense if it is in line with the overall Operational prospects. In addition, while implementation of policies is essentially a matter of project management, feedback from the field must be obtained to adjust policies and to facilitate their use.
Regarding the medical department the Medical Director is responsible for:
- Defining the vision and overall priorities for the department.
- Appointing, managing, coaching and evaluating the department’s staff members
- The department’s output (quality, scope)
- The department’s budget and the follow up of the expenses
- Defining and implementing formal and informal training, to ensure that adapted medical know-how within the organisation is up to date
- The medical director manages together with the deputy medical director the department
Regarding the other departments and the OCB Partner Sections
- Is the final responsible for the quality of medical supplies for the MSF OCB projects.
- Ensures, with the Operations Department, that medical data are gathered, checked, analysed and interpreted.
- Provides adequate evaluations, capitalisation and Operational Research in articulation with the Operations Department; and centralizes deployment of medical consultants.
- Secures an adequate offer of medical trainings with the MSF Academy for Healthcare and the Learning Unit of the Human Resources Department.
- Ensures an appropriate pool and career management of medical human resources with the Human Resources department and through the recruiters, pool managers and development advisors
- Is available as spokesperson for the Communications Department on medical issues.
- Promotes the liaison with the other departments.
- Articulates with the Analysis department for advocacy on medical issues.
- Is responsible for sharing vision, objectives and strategies with the Partner Sections and field offices, with attention for the Medical Units based in MSF Luxemburg, South-Africa, Lebanon and Brazil.
- Liaises with Partner Sections on relevant medical (internal or external) potential
Regarding other Operational Centres, international medical platforms and external networks
- Plays a key role in medical leadership in the MSF movement by participating in the international medical directors’ meetings.
- As a representative of the medical directors’ platform, she/he will be asked to chair international working groups or liaise with international medical initiatives or taskforces.
- Ensures adequate interaction with the MSF Access Campaign
- Is responsible together with the different experts for developing and maintaining a network of external experts, medical societies, research institutes/universities, scientific institutes and formalizes relations where relevant.
Availability
- Flexibility in working hours
- Availability for regular travels (field and other sections)
CONDITIONS
- Contract type: open-ended (CDI) - full time
- Location: Based in Brussels
- Salary Package: Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid - Hospital Insurance (DKV) - Pension plan - 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
- Start of contract: 07/06/2021
Deadline for applications: 05/04/2021
How to apply?
Please, send your CV and cover letter recruit-hq-dg@brussels.msf.org before 05/04/2021 and mention “Medical Director” in the subject of your email.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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