Operational Cell-Based Health Advisor Cell 2 – Tesaco (Portfolio Sahel & West Africa) (Position Based In Dakar) At Médecins Sans Frontières

GENERAL OBJECTIVE
The Operational Cell-based Health Advisor (TeSaCO in Spanish) will disseminate and implement the policies and standards defined by the Medical Department. He/She will be responsible for medical and technical supervision of specific project interventions to maximize the quality and adjustment of the projects managed by the Operational Centre.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES, FUNCTIONS AND TASKS
Provide strategic and technical support to field teams

• Together with the RECO, contribute to analyse the humanitarian needs and develop a medical strategic vision for the Cell’s portfolio, insuring the alignment to others strategic orientations and medical policies.
• Collaborate with and give technical support to the teams in the field in all phases of the project cycle (design of project proposal, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project re-orientation, expansion or closure), for regular, exploratory, and emergency missions.
• Leads and advises the definition of the medical strategy of the projects within portfolio,
• Support missions with medical advice when drafting the annual planning of the projects, in close collaboration with the rest of the members of his/her cell and the support of the Medical department.
• Provide medical technical support and sparring on medical operational strategies to the assigned portfolio, taking into account operational orientations and the input from support services.
• Support the Medical Coordinators in the definition of the Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) and ensure that in every Mission the EPP is available and updated.
• Support emergencies when needed, to ensure effectiveness of our response.
• Propose and discuss with the Missions those initiatives related to Medical Innovation and Research that can contribute to improve Operations.
• Contributes to periodic reviews of the operational objectives, redefinition, and follow up of implementation of new medical orientations and objectives.

Supervise and support implementation of policies and plans

• Ensure that the Organisation’s medical principles, guidelines, and policies are implemented, as well as the recommendations mentioned in the different medical evaluations. Identify, report on, and defend situations in which their implementation is not viable or may hinder the achievement of operational objectives.
• With REHUCO, support the Mission to ensure that the National and Expat Health Policy are available and updated in every Mission.
• Contribute to implementation of the annual operational plan in the projects within portfolio, according to medical policies.
• Ensure that the Medical Evacuation Plans are available and updated in every Mission.

Ensure appropriate procurement, monitoring and management of medical supplies

• Ensure the correct monitoring of medical supplies and pharmacy management by the medical teams in the field, together with the Medical Coordinator. Ensure that all procedures followed for local purchases, and donations, of medical commodities.
• Validate medical orders that fall under the “exceptions” category of the procurement protocol.
• Ensure that emergency buffer stocks in the missions are consistent with the EPP (Emergency Preparedness Plan) jointly with Technical Referents.
• Ensure the quality of medical interventions comply with MSF standards; through proper monitoring of medical reporting from the Field.

Follow up projects and support reporting

• Ensure timely and accurate medical and pharmacy reporting is submitted by missions; to analyse the fulfilment of operational and medical objectives, and feed medical-operational monitoring and analysis.
• Follow up the technical medical part of the projects through field visits and technical reports.
• Support the medical teams in the field when drafting the technical parts of reports for donors, ratifying them with his/her Deputy RECO before submitting them to the corresponding donors.

Participate in Human Resources processes and training

• Collaborate with the REHUCO (Human Resources Op-cell Technician) in reviewing and approving descriptions of medical field positions, based on job profiles and needs
• Collaborate with Human Resources Department in the assignment of field positions.
• Participate in the support and development of Medical Coordinators and Medical Coordinators Deputy
• Carry out technical briefings and debriefings of medical professionals in his/her cell, involving the Technical Referents of the Medical Department when needed, and identify individual training needs.
• Ensure that medical teams receive technical and methodological information through briefings, specific sessions, coordinators’ weeks, technical publications, etc.
• Participate in internal and external courses/information sessions imparted by MSF/OCBA.

Contribute to his/her Operational Cell

• Be globally acquainted with all the projects as well as the current situation in each one of them.
• Represent the Cell during field visits and international medical events and meetings.
• Actively participate in decision making processes within his/her Operational Cell.

Others

• Manage the communication channels with the teams in the field and /or the Medical Department, for issues that affect assigned portfolio.
• Consult support services for sparring and as technical content providers when needed.
• Participate actively in the meetings and activities organised by the medical department in order to contribute to a regular and meaningful dialogue between departments in order to improve the support given to the field.
• Participate in the operational back ups and on-call medical system for Medical Repatriations and Evacuations.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Health/ medical professional (physician or registered nurse) having knowledge of health management of humanitarian projects, knowledge of public health and epidemiology.
• Experience of minimum 3 years in field medical-humanitarian projects.
• MSF experience mandatory. Medical Coordination experience on the field is a strong asset.
• Previously experience as Medical Coordinator and/or Head of Mission in MSF or a similar humanitarian organisation is essential.
• English and French – written and spoken
• Basic software competencies (Knowledge and skills : word, excel)
• Knowledge of epidemiological software programme is an asset.

CONDITIONS

• Position based in Dakar.
• Full time job.
• Duration:minimum commitment of 3 years.
• Annual Gross Salary: Level 16 Dakar HQ Salary grid + secondary benefits based on MSF Dakar
  Reward Policy. Subjected to local conditions in Dakar.
• Starting date: Immediately.