Projects Officer at World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists

5 billion people do not have access to safe, affordable surgical and anaesthesia care when needed. Can you help our growing organisation address a neglected area of global health care?

OVERVIEW

Surgery and anaesthesia have a fundamental and growing impact on global health outcomes. Surgical intervention could address over 30% of the global burden of disease, and yet the poorest 33% of people receive just 3.5% of all surgery. Post-operative mortality rates 1,000 times higher than in some high-income countries can be found in parts of the world where surgery and anaesthesia have been neglected, and in some countries as many as 90% of anaesthetic departments do not have the equipment to provide a safe anaesthetic for a child.

With 132 member societies made up of anaesthesiologists in over 140 countries, the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) is uniquely placed to influence these inequalities and to help ensure universal access to safe surgery and safe anaesthesia.

The role sits within our Programme Team and reports to a Project Manager. You will work closely with all members of our staff team (the Secretariat), as well as many of our committees and key stakeholders involved in project outcomes. Relationships with member societies and our WFSA Board and Council will also be important; an ability to interact across a range of stakeholders is essential. This is an entry level role which offers huge scope for development and learning across a broad remit.

This role will contribute to our vision and mission, and build the overall capacity of our programme team to deliver impactful project work across low-resource countries. As Projects Officer you will support delivery of project objectives and make sure critical milestones are delivered on target and within budget. You will also contribute to external and internal reports for specific projects.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To support the running and management of our programmes. Working closely with the Project Manager and the wider Secretariat team, the post holder will provide operational and administrative support for the effective functioning of our programmatic work. You will also be the lead for specified components of our educational and training programmes.

This is an entry-level position and will provide the post holder with an excellent platform to develop their knowledge and skills and gain experience of delivering global health programmes within a small but committed team serving a much larger and global base of skilled volunteers. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop their own ideas and be given the opportunity to take on more responsibility as our programmes continue to expand. The role will also provide an opportunity to travel.

SALARY & BENEFITS

• Starting salary of £28,000 per annum;
• 25 days annual leave + public holidays;
• 5% employer pension contribution;
• Employee assistance programme through Benenden Health;
• Hybrid working with up to three days per week able to be worked remotely;
• Regular international travel.

KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Administration and Operational Support

• Implement, maintain, and continually improve upon systems and procedures for filing, reporting and sharing information to maximise the efficiency of the programme team with a particular focus on our Fellowships and the short training Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses;
• Organise project-related logistics and lead on project administration including bookings, purchasing equipment for training and processing expenses and invoices;
• Track project related expenditure and process expense claims and invoices;
• Arrange internal and external meetings, produce agendas and minutes and participate in briefing and debriefing sessions.

Support to the Project Manager and Programme Team

Within a portfolio of projects, you will:

• With guidance from the Project Manager and other members of the Programme Team, support the delivery of key projects including our Fellowships, our multi-year partnerships with Johnson & Johnson and the Laerdal Foundation, and our Safer Anaesthesia From Education courses;
• Lead on all aspects of our Liberia Anaesthesia Capacity Development Project;
• Compose internal and external reports for your portfolio of projects;
• Maintain databases, organise documents, and perform other administrative related duties.

Other

• Handle confidential information on our operations, performance, and strategies;
• Provide regular information and updates to colleagues for the purpose of updating donors;
• Deal with correspondence and emails efficiently and to a high standard;
• Proactively promote and foster a culture in which our principles, values and approaches are consistently respected, applied and complied with in the delivery of the team’s objectives;
• Comply with all WFSA’s policies and procedures in undertaking the required roles and responsibilities;
• Perform any other duties incidental to the work described herein.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will need to demonstrate a good understanding and empathy with our values as well as commitment to our vision and mission. The post holder will be expected to fully comply with all WFSA policies and procedures, including our Safeguarding Policy.

Knowledge, skills & experience

Essential criteria:

• A strong interest in global health and contributing to a neglected area within global health;
• Previous experience in working or volunteering with an NGO or charity (ideally in a project administration role);
• Strong organisation skills and the ability to manage a diverse workload with conflicting priorities;
• Ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a small, committed team;
• Numerical ability to analyse and assess financial information and quantitative impact data;
• Culturally sensitive and experience of working with an array of stakeholders from varied cultural and professional backgrounds;
• Good computer skills especially with Microsoft applications;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• A flexible and adaptive approach and the willingness to adapt to the changing needs of the organisation;
• Ability to travel overseas and willingness to work out of hours on occasion;
• Right to work in the UK.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of living, working, or volunteering overseas is a plus;
• Knowledge of a second language (particularly Spanish and/or French);
• Professional or academic qualification in global development or global health;
• Knowledge of developing project proposals and reports;
• Knowledge of working with Salesforce is an asset.

Personal Qualities

• Resilience and the ability to work calmly under pressure;
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to develop good relationships with your colleagues and a large global volunteer base;
• Creative and solution oriented.