Medical Team Lead/Project Medical Referent, with a Medical Doctor background

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent medical humanitarian organisation that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and to offer medical care to victims of disasters, wars and epidemics. Working together with local staff, we give direct support to the population. MSF also appeals to those in power, including governments and international organisations, and speaks out about the abuses we encounter in the course of our work.

MSF is a civil society initiative that brings together individuals committed to the assistance of other human beings in crisis. As such, MSF is by choice (Chantilly) an association. Each individual working with MSF does it out of conviction and commitment and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.

MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in 25 countries. On a yearly basis MSF-OCA deploys over 1000 international staff and employs approximately 8000 national staff. At headquarters in Amsterdam, approximately 170 employees offer their support to the projects.

The Emergency Support Department (ESD) is part of the Operations department and plays a fundamental role in responding to humanitarian emergencies. The ESD conducts exploratory and assessment missions; initiates and manages large scale emergency interventions; supports emergency interventions managed by regular desks; provides support to the organization and existing missions in promoting and guarding emergency response capacity; and supports the management of operations in in highly insecure environments. The ESD consists of a headquarter-based Emergency Desk (5 permanent staff) and an Emergency Team for deployment in the field (+/- 20 positions).

The OCA ESD is looking for a Medical Team Leader (MTL) with a Medical Doctor background to join the Emergency Team. Emergency Team Members spend about 90% of their work days (so excluding holidays) in field locations, travelling with short notice to any required area and approximately 10% at the headquarters for briefing/debriefing/trainings/working on specific tasks.

Place within the organisation

• Overall: reports to the Head of Emergency Support Department (ESD) in Amsterdam.
• During field assignments reports to relevant Management Team (MT) member at the field or capital level, with a functional line to the Medical Emergency Manager in HQ ESD
• Liaises with relevant specialist advisors in the HQ Public Health Department for technical guidance.

Main objectives

As a member of the Emergency Team:

• You provide emergency response capacity in the field. This most often consists of providing support within existing missions/projects, to either support in key positions or respond to emergencies within those mission countries;
• You may also support in exploratory missions/assessments and the start-up of new interventions. Interventions may be under the management of the Management Team in the country, or under the direct management of the Emergency Desk, depending on the situation;
• We are looking for a person who is enthusiastic and interested to expand their knowledge and skillsets, someone who we can support to grow into a Medical Coordinator position;
• You can be asked to contribute to emergency support activities including: emergency preparation, guideline maintenance, MSF trainings or other non-field based specific tasks. The successful candidate for this position must be willing to jump in where necessary to achieve set goals, eager to learn and grow in positions and have a positive, can-do attitude;
• In all interventions and in collaboration with the other members of the medical team, MTL and/or Medco, you will assess and develop person-centered approaches to medical, health and humanitarian interventions, which takes into consideration the context, culture, and events experienced by the population.

Main characteristics

As Emergency Team, Medical Team Lead (Medical Doctor) profile:

• You take on all accountabilities of the Medical Team Lead according to the MSF standard job description (IRFFG);
• You support the preparation for and implementation of emergency interventions or new projects;
• You prepare and carry out exploratory missions;
• You function as a key medical team member (Medical Doctor, Medical Activity Manager, or Medical Team Lead, depending on the assignment) at field/project level in emergency projects or key existing projects;
• You contribute to evaluations/reviews of emergency or other intervention projects;
• You contribute to the development of medical and intervention strategy in project with regard to the organisation of emergency projects;
• You encourage the development and implementation of training programs for staff in the field;

Candidate profile Essential:

• Qualified Medical Practitioner with current and valid registration to practice medicine;
• Minimum of 24 months field experience with one of the MSF sections in at least two different countries, of which at least one emergency project and one high security setting (according to the standards of MSF-OCA);
• Minimum 6 months experience working as Medical Team Leader or (Dep) Medical Coordinator;
• Knowledge of Emergency Public Health, Rapid Assessment and Health Surveillance;
• Proven organisational skills, diplomatic skills and experience with the representation of MSF;
• Understanding of the principles of person and community centered care and willingness to search for ways to employ these principles in emergency missions;
• Ability to prioritize among competing needs;
• Demonstratable (people) management and coaching skills;
• Fluent English language skills;
• ‘Can do mentality’, creative, and capacity to motivate others and lead a team into action;
• A flexible and solution-oriented mentality, and the ability to be decisive in chaotic circumstances;
• Has an understanding of project level medical supply management and medical supply forecasting;
• Knowledge of standard software and tools within MSF-OCA (word/excel/outlook/TSR/pharmacy consumption tool/DHIS);
• Willingness to travel to any area, frequently at short notice.

Desirable:

• Proficiency in French, Spanish and/or Arabic language(s);
• Experience with one or more of the following emergency responses: outbreak response, mass vaccination, nutritional crisis, conflict/war wounded response, mass displacement;
• Experience in highly insecure contexts;
• Experience working in close collaboration with an epidemiologist and/or anthropologist;

We offer

• A challenging position within a stimulating, professional working environment in a major international organization – plus great colleagues to work alongside!
• A fulltime appointment for 1 year with a potential to renew (based on performance);
• Salary will be determined based on the professional profile and the level of experience/capacity of the successful candidate (according to MSF IRFFG standard scale)
• Candidate’s domicile determines which MSF section will act as employer
• 45 holidays per year
• Completion bonus of 1.5 month of extra salary after completion of every 12 months commitment
• Prioritisation for trainings in MSF (external trainings additionally and considered)