Biomedical engineer M/W At La Chaîne de l’Espoir

ABOUT LA CHAINE DE L’ESPOIR

La Chaîne de l’Espoir is an international NGO founded in 1994. Its mission is to strengthen health systems to give everyone, and in particular children, the same chances of survival and development. We operate in 28 countries with a global approach, centered on the child but also on mothers and vulnerable communities:

• Prevention and sickness detection from an early age, particularly in the context of school health programmes.
• Care and surgery, to meet the most urgent needs of children and their mothers.
• Training and transfer of skills to local teams thanks to our international network of experts in all fields of surgery.
• Construction and equipment of hospital structures adapted to local needs.

CONTEXT

In Iraq, La Chaîne de l’Espoir started working in 2005 implementing cardiac paediatric surgery through surgical mission, treatment of children in France, capacity building and equipment donations. Since 2014 La Chaîne de l’Espoir has been working in Iraq with a permanent team and a specific focus on secondary healthcare for Iraqi displaced population.

From 2020, La Chaîne de l’Espoir current flagship project in Iraq is the construction of the Sinjar French Medical Centre (SFMC) funded by the CDCS – French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and La Chaîne de l’Espoir own co-financing. This new hospital will be providing primary, emergency, and intensive care for adults, obstetric care for women and specialized care for mothers and children. The construction project started in January 2022 and will last up to the end of 2023.

La Chaîne de l’Espoir is also currently working with Expertise France to design a multi-year technical support project covering infrastructure, waste management and biomedical support for the newly reopened Mosul University Research Care Centre (MRCC).

POSITION AND MISSION

Under the direct management of La Chaîne de l’Espoir Project Manager , the employee is the lead expert for La Chaîne de l’Espoir to ensure the correct implementation of La Chaîne de l’Espoir technical support projects related to the biomedical activities.

As a La Chaîne de l’Espoir Biomedical Engineer, you are the focal point involved in technical-commercial biomedical support for the La Chaîne de l’Espoir biomedical activities for ongoing projects .

The Biomedical Engineer handles the following activities in collaboration with the MRCC staff, EF and La Chaîne de l’Espoir (HQ based) biomedical team:

1. Participate in the medical equipment planning and the procurement of medical equipment at the SFMC in Sinjar and MRCC project in Mosul
2. Participate in the maintenance process until the complete repairs of the medical equipment at MRCC project
3. Collaborate and provide support the Biomedical activities at the SFMC project
4. Participate in the biomedical service quality approach

MAIN ACTIVITIES

1. Participate in the medical equipment planning and the procurement of medical equipment at the SFMC in Sinjar and MRCC project in Mosul.

• Expand the current needs assessment conducted for the entire MRCC hospital (equipment, technical, training, maintenance, consumables, etc.).
• Participate in the definition of a purchasing strategy with the MRCC staff, EF and HQ based biomedical team for procurement of required new equipment
• Participate in the elaboration of the technical specifications of each equipment in collaboration with the HQ based biomedical team
• Evaluate the costs for the bio-medical equipment and furniture
• Plan medical devices purchase in agreement with the MRCC staff, EF and HQ based biomedical team.
• Anticipate the implementation of heavy equipment investments
• Participate in the pre-project approach: activity study, technical prerequisites for installing equipment, fluid networks, water network, etc.
• In collaboration with the HQ based biomedical team, analyze the biomedical local market in Iraq
• Participate in the handover process to the MoH/ DoH (inventory, tagging, transfer of ownership form, transfer of guaranty, checklists, maintenance procedures and forms etc.).
• Support suppliers in the preparation and installation of new equipment until post-installation monitoring.

1. Participate in the maintenance process until the complete repairs of the medical equipment at MRCC project:

• Provide direct support and coordinate with the MRCC staff and manufacturers technical support in the maintenance of biomedical equipment (laboratory, Radiology, Cardiology, Endoscopy, Urology & Nephrology, Radiotherapy, gamma Camera, Chemotherapy, Neurology, Infertility and Genetics) and medical furniture. This requires supporting the procurement process from contracting to delivery.
• Ensure the compliance of the delivery with the agreed-upon contract with the suppliers.
• Interact with suppliers in the context of equipment commissioning.
• Control the safety and compliance of equipment installations and perform required tests.
• Provide demonstrations and train future users with the support of the selected suppliers.
• Organize and formalize the required maintenance procedures and training after the repair of medical equipment is completed in relation to existing suppliers and equipment
• Inform La Chaîne de l’Espoir in the event of non-compliance with delivery timeline or with the contract, and propose penalties.
• Participate in the handover process to the MoH/DoH (inventory, tagging, transfer of ownership form, transfer of guaranty, etc.).

1. Collaborate and provide support the Biomedical activities at the SFMC project:

• Follow up the medical device purchases, in agreement with the Biomedical Engineer in La Chaîne de l’Espoir HQ and the logistic department.
• Ensure the technical prerequisites of the medical equipment for the current supplier are implemented includes installing requirements, electrical connection, fluid networks and water network, etc.
• Coordinate and execute the post-installation activities according to the manufacturer’s procedures.

1. Participate in the biomedical service quality approach

• Write regular technical reports for La Chaîne de l’Espoir head office team and draft donor reports.
• Fill-in the GMAO/ CMMS with all equipment.
• Secure the exploitation and use of equipment.
• Contribute in the conception of the biomedical maintenance policy and its implementation in MRCC hospital.
• Contribute in the optimization of the biomedical technical platform, the definition of the strategy in medical technologies and planning of internal and external preventive maintenance of medical equipment and furniture.
• Support the MRCC in managing and resolving emergency situations related to biomedical equipment.
• Assist with the structuring of a new medical equipment maintenance department at the SFMC.
• Anticipate in the SFMC, medical equipment planning includes planning and related fitting drawings (Room layouts), medical equipment and medical furniture’s lists (room by room, Master list, Room data sheets).
• Monitor the supplier’s achievement of the project’s milestones. Ensure the quality of performance on site.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Qualifications:

You have at least 5 years of successful work experience in Biomedical engineering (new construction and renovation), in dealing with all trades.

A solid experience of at least 3 years in hospitals technical support for specialized medical equipment (i.e., Laboratory, medical imaging, diagnostic equipment) and Radiotherapy equipment (preferred).

Training and diploma:

Graduation in biomedical engineer, biomedical electronics engineer, public health engineer, clinical engineer.

A master degree would be an asset.

A certificate in the maintenance of different types of medical equipment is an added value.

SKILLS AND QUALITIES REQUIRED

Required skills:

• Knowledge in maintenance of medical equipment and technical knowledge on medical devices (automated biological analyzer, operating theatre, resuscitation, …), medical fluid networks, electrical networks, air management, knowledge in electronics
• Skills in purchasing techniques, negotiation skills
• Rigour, analysis and synthesis capability
• Excellent organisational skills
• Demonstrated capacities to work with colleagues
• Knowledge of the functioning of international NGOs
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Package
• Patience, flexibility and capacity of adaptation
• Good interpersonal skills
• Stress management, ability to manage fatigue and set limits
• Adherence to humanitarian principle and La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s code of ethics

Languages:

Good verbal and written communication skills in English and Arabic.

Kurdish would be appreciated.

CONTRACT CONDITIONS

Iraqi national contract, 12 months full time contract with possibility of renewal.

Salary range: according La Chaîne de l’Espoir salary scale.

Health insurance : coverage paid for the employee and his family.

NB : This position is based in Erbil with at least 2/3 days working/traveling to Mosul/Sinjar per week (around 50% of the time).