Job Detail

Context

Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent humanitarian organization providing medical aid to victims of man-made or natural disasters, epidemics and endemics. In its Operational Centre of Geneva (OCG), the steering and implementation of field programmes is under the responsibility of an Operations’ Department, which includes direct medical support capacities to ensure fundamentals are reached in all projects. The development of technical and/or strategic solutions adapted to complex medical challenges met in the field, or to fulfill chosen medical ambitions, is under the responsibility of a Medical Department. Collaborative work between the two departments is considered a cornerstone for the organisation to improve the general quality of its projects and level of care for patients.

Mission

The Deputy Medical Director provides a support to the Medical Director to fulfil the mission of the Department which is: 

• Being in the vanguard of evolving trends, new challenges, technologies in the field of medical practice and science, in link with external clinical, academic and research institutions;


• Providing technical capacities to fulfil the medical ambitions of the OCG Strategic Plan and those in relation with the Medico-Operational Policy, innovation and research;


• Addressing the field support needs in their response to medical and public health challenges, with the required flexibility and adaptation of priorities when facing emergencies or difficult conflict situations;


• Creating a better integrated work between the different specialities in the house, through collaborative work platforms focusing on precise medical operational challenges, selection of standards, and improvement of practices.

The Mission of the Medical Department also includes, in relation with other involved Departments, a critical role on knowledge transmission to field medical staff through adapted trainings and fast access to key reference documents/tools, as well as recruitment strategies.

Responsibilities

The MSF OCG Deputy Medical Director (DMD) is responsible for coordinating the Department’s work towards operations and ensuring the coherence and pertinence of the technical support of the Department towards the field. She/he is expected to supervise the work of Medical Leaders, work closely with the RMPs (polyvalent medical referents) and Medical Officers and follow the needs of the medico-operation projects. Moreover, the DMD will have the responsibility of overviewing specific transversal projects that will impact the care we provide to patients and communities. 

Medical Department Supervision & Support

She/he manages-supervises 5 teams organized by areas of ambition, each of them managed by a team leader: 

Women and Children’s Health 

Tropical medicine NTDs & epidemics

Surgery and Emergency Care 

Chronic Conditions 

Health Services 

• The Deputy Medical Director is involved in the development & support to Project Managers in charge of transversal health-medical projects (e.g. Travel Medicine). She/he participates in Steering Committees of other departments projects in direct effect on missions.


• In terms of medical capitalization, publications and reports, she/he coordinates the capitalization of health & medical operational strategies implemented by OCG, contributing to high level advocacy initiatives. 


• The Medical Director and Deputy are to coordinate the annual medical report and contributing to the general annual report and international typology.               

Medico-Operational Support

• The DMD coordinates the Department’s work towards operations ensuring the coherence and pertinence of the strategic & technical support of the Department towards the field. To obtain the latter, a strong technical supervision of RMP and a fluid interaction and coordination with the cells is mandatory. 


• The medical strategic & technical support (Advisers, Officers, Medical Advocacy and Training) are guided by her/him towards the field challenges and needs in a coherent and timely fashion.


• She/he follows the implementation of medico-operational policies and associated strategic and technical packages helping in its capitalization and knowledge distribution.


• She/he engages fruitful discussion/debate in key medico operational and coordination meetings, trainings as well as co-leading CoPros and Strategic discussions with Operations. She/he contributes actively to the Head of Mission and MedCo week. 


• She/he engages with the advocacy and positioning work in collaboration with the deputy Ops director and with the NOAP team.


• As middle manager the DMD interacts with other middle managers in HQ OCG (ForOp) and intersection (Deputies of Medical Departments) with regards to shared institutional objectives.

Human Resources Support

• The DMD (in support to the Health Professional Career Coordinator) is involved in the career development of medical field staff. She/he validates training requests, diplomas, masters and PhD studies. 


• Briefings & debriefing of managers in the field (MedCos and Medical Team Leaders) are a crucial activity of this position. She/he makes sure that this interaction with field staff is considered when shaping future medico operational activities. 


• By delegation from the Medical Director, the deputy medical director can be responsible for any arising transversal issue and any other dossier.

Education

• Medical or Nursing diploma and Public Health training is mandatory. 

Experience

• Field and/or HQ experience with MSF or medical organisation. 


• Proven affinity with advocacy, and experience with field research in resource poor settings.

Technical Competencies

• Understanding the political dimension of the medical humanitarian work. 


• Organize productive discussion sessions. 


• Ability to analyse medical and structural issues. 


• Excellent writing skills. Track record of peer 


• review publications are assets.

Soft skills

• Good analytical and communication skills.


• Strong interpersonal skills, team spirit.


• Flexibility and open-mindedness. 


• Mobility (up to 20% in the field)

Languages

• Fluent in English & French (oral and written)


• Spanish and/or Arabic an asset

Terms of Employment

• Permanent contract, full-time position (100%)


• Based in Geneva, with mobility required for field visits (up to 20%)


• Ideal starting date: June 2020


• Gross annual salary : from CHF 126’120.- to 141’000.- (salary commensurate with experience and internal salary grid)

How to apply

Candidates submit their application following the requirements:  CV 2 p. max. – letter of motivation 1p. max. – in English or French. 

Closing date for application is 18th March 2020.

The applications will be treated confidentially.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

For more details on the job offer or MSF, please visit our website:   www.msf.ch/travailler-avec-nous/