Spain: MSF is looking for a Tropical and Neglected Diseases Referent (Based in Barcelona)
Organization: Médecins Sans Frontières
Country: Spain
Closing date: 18 Oct 2016
GENERAL CONTEXT
Médecins Sans Frontières is an international independent medical-humanitarian organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.
The MSF movement is built around five operational directorates supported by MSF’s 21 sections, 24 associations and other offices together worldwide. MSF OCBA is one of those directorates. The operations are implemented by field teams and the mission coordination teams; together with the organizational units based in Barcelona, Athens and decentralised in Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The field operations are guided and supported by 4 Operational Cells, the Emergency Unit and other departments supporting operations, including the Medical department.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE AND CONTEXT
The MSF Medical Department of the Operational Centre Barcelona-Athens (MSF-OCBA) is composed of two units: the technical advisor unit which is formed by referent advisors of different areas and specialties[1]; the medical-operational unit which is formed of polyvalent Cells-based health advisors and mobile positions. The Medical director is in charge of the overall management of the department with the support of the heads of the three specialists’ teams and the head of the medical-operational unit detached to the Operations, and an Assistant.
[1] In January 2016 the Medical Referent Advisor positions are organized in 3 teams:
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Team A: Hospital management (Head); Nursing care & hygiene / Vaccination/; Gynecology-Obstetrics; Sexual & Reproductive Health; Surgery; Anesthesiology; Internal Medicine & Emergency care (adults); Pediatrics (1);
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Team B: Tropical & Neglected Diseases; Community mobilization & Health Promotion; Nutrition; HIV-AIDS & TB; Mental Health; Pediatrics (2); Emerging diseases referent; Malaria Community / Decentralized packages;
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Team C: Laboratory-Diagnostics (Head); Pharmacy management & Product Selection; Pharmacy quality assurance & Prequalification of Suppliers; Epidemiology & HMIS; Learning / Knowledge Management;
The main objective of the Tropical Diseases Advisor is to support the organisation when developing policies and providing technical and strategic support for all projects to respond to Tropical and Neglected Diseases in the field. This general objective involves the following core areas:
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Malaria Strategies (following MSF Malaria Policy: Preventive, Curative and Emergency Response Strategies)
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NTDs Strategies linked with CAME and DNDi Strategies (Advocacy, Operational Research and Clinical Trials)
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Focal point in Clinical managerial aspects (guidelines/protocols) of Malaria, VL, HAT & Snakebites others based on needs and priority setting.
The successful applicant will be based in Barcelona. The work will be carried out in the framework of the Strategic plan 2014-2017, the operational policy and OCBA annual plans as well as the Medical department plans, working in close collaboration with other technical advisors involved to contribute to a more transversal, integrated and holistic support to the polyvalent medical staff in the cells and the teams in the field and operations department in general at HQ level. S/he will be responding to the needs of OCBA missions.
· To support the organisation when developing policies and strategies for the treatment of tropical diseases included in the operational portfolio of MSF-OCBA.
· To increase the internal capacity of the organisation for implementing programmes / projects / components ensuing quality treatment of tropical diseases.
· To support the medical field teams, mainly through the Operational Cell -based technicians (TESACOS), when dealing with strategies and implementing programmes related with tropical diseases.
· To support and provide technical support ot operational research Linked to tropical DISEASES, and under the Medical Diector.
· To maintain an updated knowledge on the above-mentioned diseases and a coordinated relation with homologues in the other MSF sections (ex. via the MSF working groups).
· To produce periodical information on the number of patients treated per tropical disease in the MSF-OCBA projects as per indicated in the projects documents and statistics.
PLACEMENT WITHIN THE ORGANISATION
The Referent will be hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Head of Referents – Team B (Tropical & Neglected Diseases; Community mobilization & Health Promotion; Nutrition; HIV-AIDS & TB; Mental Health; Pediatrics (2); Emerging diseases referent; Malaria Community / Decentralized packages;). Functionally linked and supporting Medical polyvalent (TESACO/ Desk HQ), Medical Coordinators (missions) and Project Medical Referents (projects), as the rest of the referent advisors of the Medical department.
While in the field, he/she works under the regular hierarchical and functional structures of the missions, while keeping communication with the Medical Department.
Currently the portfolio has a important load in relation to malaria, visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar), Human African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness), and other Neglected Tropical Diseases like Snakebites and other emerging diseases, but open to potential modifications/additions in the near future.
MAIN RESPONSABILITIES, FUNTIONS AND TASKS
· S/he introduces and stirs debate within MSF on the MSF portfolio related to tropical diseases-focused programmes (together with other health/medical technicians advisors) and proposes intervention strategies adapted to the contexts.
· S/he is the person the rest of the sections and the Access Campaign should refer to when dealing with issues relating tropical diseases in MSF-OCBA.
· S/he provides technical support to TESACOS and Medical Coordinators when dealing with operational research projects and technical advice relating to tropical diseases.
· S/he contributes to developing MSF International guidelines and policies for tropical diseases together with the International Working Groups.
· S/he is responsible for developing the necessary tools in MSF-OCBA to achieve the objectives set in the action plan relating to tropical diseases within the MSF-OCBA portfolio.
· S/he gathers information and bibliography for the health professionals in MSF-OCBA about tropical diseases according to the needs of the organisation.
· S/he conveys information about new developments in the field of tropical diseases to headquarters and the field and trains MSF expatriates.
· S/he represents the Medical Department, at the request of the Medical Director when dealing with issues related to tropical diseases (i.e. interviews, paper writing; participation in conferences etc.)
· S/he formalises and further develops if needed the networks of acknowledged external experts and scientific institutions and organisations working in the field of tropical diseases.
· S/he creates and maintains a documentation system including all relevant issues developed in the past so as to preserve the institutional background history about these issues.
· S/he supports and advises when recruiting, preparing and retaining, including briefing and debriefing, the staff in the projects in which tropical pathologies are especially relevant.
· S/he will also have to represent the MSF OCBA section in some international working groups.
Medical department development:
· Effective and smooth coordination and collaboration in activities with other Referents of the Medical Department
· Participating in all activities organized by the Medical department.
· Providing proposals concerning the enhancement of the quality and relevance of adults services;
· S/he will promote the development of malaria and NTDs programs within MSF OCBA, identifying key priorities issues which need to be invested in (operational research, key questions);
· S/he liaises regularly with key actors related to Malaria and NTDs (academics, researchers, institution developing programs or policies) to inform or get informed on recent / ongoing developments in and outside of MSF (programs, research, initiatives, introduction of new tools) and use those info to feed internal discussion to promote innovation;
· S/he remains in contact with other MSF bodies (e.g. Access Campaign: like Snakebites) to follow up and support if needed, initiatives of interests for MSF OCBA and Research Groups for NTDs like DNDi and Scientists / WHO for strategic and operational research exchanges
· Participate in the roster of Medical Guardia
· Collaborate when requested and green lighted by her/is line manager with specific dossiers with other departments and services (HHRR, Communication, Fundraising, Logistics, etc.).
SELECTION CRITERIA
Education, Experience and desired attributes
· Medical doctor, specialized in Tropical Medicine.
· Specific training in Public Health will be an asset. A minimum of 2-years’ experience in different MSF projects (different contexts) or with relevant medical organization working in low income countries and/or humanitarian settings
· Work experience in programmes or projects including important malaria, sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas, or any other tropical diseases components.
· Experience in medical programmes in developing countries of 18 months minimum.
· Experience in programmes including an important medical staff-training component will be a plus.
· Knowledge of and/or proven interest in research.
· Fluent in English. Good knowledge of French is a plus (and eager to learn up to B2 level).
· Knowledge of another language (Spanish, Arabic, and Portuguese) is an asset.
· Knowledge in computer: Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
Competences:
· Commitment to MSF’s Principles
· Cross-cultural Awareness
· Behavioural Flexibility
· Analytical Thinking
· Strategic Vision
· Results and Quality Orientation
· Service Orientation
· Initiative and Innovation
· Teamwork and Cooperation
CONDITIONS
- Position based in Barcelona at the MSF headquarters office
· Regular field visits (estimated to up to 30% of time)
· Fulltime job,
· Permanent position: Minimum commitment of 3 years
· Annual gross salary: 35,608.10 € (divided in 12 months payments) + secondary benefits, based on MSF OCBA reward policy
· Starting date: Immediately
How to apply:
To apply, all applicants should please send their CV and cover motivation letter under the reference “**Tropical and Neglected Diseases Referent**” to recruitment-bcn@barcelona.msf.org.**
Please submit your CV and cover letter in ONE file and name the file with your LAST NAME
Closing date: October 18th, 2016
Replies will only be sent to short-listed candidates.
Médecins Sans Frontieres, as a responsible employer, under article 38 of “Ley de Integración Social del Minusválido de 1982 (LISMI)” invite those persons with a recognized disability and with an interest in the humanitarian area to apply for the above mentioned position.