Medical Officer Cell 2 (m/f/x) – Brussels – MSF Belgium At Médecins Sans Frontières

CONTEXT

The Operations Department of MSF OCB (Operational Centre Brussels) consists of 8 managerial and technical teams called Cells or Regional Support Teams (RST), each in charge of a portfolio of countries and 1 Emergency Team (E-Pool) for the management of intense emergency interventions. These teams directly supervise and support the field implementation.

The countries currently managed by the Cell 2 are: Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Mali, Guinea, Benin. Countries are indicative, as a re-shuffling of the portfolio within the Operations department occurs on a regular basis.

As a Medical Officer (MO), you play a key medical role in the operational cell. You support the Medical Coordinators to safeguard the medical quality of the projects. It is a critical position to ensure a strong overview and support in the preparation and implementation of our projects.

You are hierarchically managed by the Deputy Medical Coordinator of Operations (DepCO) of cell 2 and functionally linked to the Medical Operational Manager in the Medical Department.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Core function is to enhance and optimize operational support and guidance for the missions, ensuring achievable and context-adapted quality of care.

Strategy Implementation Planning

• Co-define and co-design the Medical Operations (MedOps) strategy implementation with the medical coordination teams and the Deputy Coordinator of Operations (DepCo)
• Provide strategic input, leadership, and guidance to ensure plans are practical, achievable, and aligned with the medical priorities within the countries of interventions, in coordination with the DepCo

Strategic Oversight and Monitoring

• Ensure comprehensive monitoring and follow-up of the medical strategy implementation across all MSF operations through regular and ad hoc support to the medical coordination

Project Implementation

• Provide regular support to medical coordinators in the follow-up and implementation of projects in coordination with the DepCo
• Offer ad-hoc support as needed, ensuring that medical coordinators have the resources and assistance they need in agreement with the DepCo

Policies and Guidelines Management

• Ensure that medical resources, policies, and guidelines are relevant, appropriate, available, and effectively managed within the countries of interventions
• Regularly interact and coordinate with the medical referents to ensure that policies, guidelines, and guidance adapted/tailored to the medical operations and specific project’s context and objectives

Quality of Care (QoC) Implementation

• Ensure and actively monitor the implementation of Quality of Care (QoC) standards and improvement plans across all projects
• Guide the medical teams in the programs to develop and enforce quality monitoring and improvement initiatives

Medical Activity Analysis

• Be responsible of monitoring and analyzing medical activities and ensure data-driven decision-making in collaboration with the DepCo
• Review and analyze medical reports and data, providing constructive feedback and involving the medical referent as necessary

Tool Improvement and Development:

• Propose improvements to existing management and follow up tools (dashboards and internal control mechanisms, etc.) that are user-friendly, effective and context adapted to enhance the oversight of medical programs

Medical stock strategy and Management

• Oversee the review, planning, and validation of the medical standard list and medical forecasts, including emergency preparedness (EPREP)
• Revise and validate medical orders within the agreed framework (budget, activity scope, medical master, and standard list…)
• Define medical stock management strategy and monitor its implementation (e.g., GSDP, SoPs etc) in collaboration with the supply officer and project teams

Human Resources Planning and Management

• Oversee the regular follow-up of HR needs of the missions, including the revision and planning of HR requirements, together with the DepCo
• Ensure effective matching and follow-up with the Human Resources Officer (HRO) and Pool Managers (PMs), including the briefing and debriefing of key medical operations staff in the countries of intervention, in agreement with the DepCo

Budget

• Collaborate with the DepCo to ensure cost-awareness in medical decision-making, balancing quality of care with resources availability, context specificities and sustainability
• Participate in medical operations (MedOps) budget planning and management to ensure efficient allocation of resources for medical operations

Emergency Response

• Engage in medical support/guidance to the missions for emergency responses together with the DepCo and medical department referents
• Work with the DepCo to ensure rapid and effective deployment of resources and personnel in case of emergencies in the countries of operations

EPREP

• Ensure that the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPREP) strategy and scenarios are regularly updated and adapted to the evolving contexts in collaboration with the DepCo

Technical Files

• Provide first-line follow up and inputs on technical files, according to specific expertise and in agreement with the DepCo

Staff Health

• Review and validate health policies for both International Mobile Staff (IMS) and Locally Hired Staff (LHS), ensuring comprehensive and effective healthcare provisions
• Facilitate the management of staff health files between the countries of interventions and the Staff Health Unit (SHU) (including medical evacuations) in agreement with the DepCo

Coordination with medical department:

• Engage with medical referents bilaterally or lead group discussions/working groups to support projects and enhance collaborative efforts
• Facilitate effective communication and coordination between medical field teams and the medical department
• Participate in medical department meetings, in relevant circles and in MedOps meetings, contributing to departmental strategies with updates from the programs, and reverting relevant information’s to the country teams

Communication and Information Flow:

• Promote open communication and information flow within the cell, the medical department, and the countries of interventions on all MedOps-related issues
• Maintain transparency and alignment across teams to foster a collaborative operational environment

Replace the Medical Deputy Coordinator during absences or upon request, ensuring continuity of medical technical and strategic decision-making.

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Medical or paramedical degree
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in the MSF countries of interventions
• Minimum 1 year experience as Medical Coordinator
• Degree in Public Health or Epidemiology and/or basic knowledge of Humanitarian law is an asset
• Experience in epidemics, public health, IDPs (Internal Displaced populations) and refugees, emergency responses are an asset

Competencies

• Planning and organizing
• Strategic vision/oversight
• Negotiation and networking
• Coaching & mirroring with the teams
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Comprehensive knowledge of humanitarian interventions
• Results and quality orientation
• Able to set priorities, make choices, and assume decisions
• Strong cross-cultural awareness and adaptability

Languages

• Excellent command of French and English is mandatory (oral and written)

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: 1st October 2024
• Location: Brussels (Belgium)
• Contract type: Open-ended contract – Full-time
• Mobility: up to 30% in the countries of interventions of Cell 2
• Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid
• Meal Vouchers – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs – maximum 2 days homeworking/week
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: 15/08/2024