Paramedic – ICRC Delegate

Title: Paramedic – ICRC Delegate

Location: Ukraine

Employment Status: Delegate

Salary Band: $51,028 to $54,633/year

Summary of Role:

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. The ICRC also endeavors to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It directs and coordinates the international activities conducted by the Movement in armed conflicts and other situations of violence. On February 24, 2022, a new phase of the armed conflict in Ukraine began, with the intensification and spread of the hostilities affecting many parts of the country. This is a high-intensity conflict between two states (and possibly others) involving heavy kinetic warfare, civilian casualties, millions of refugees, large-scale internal displacement and physical destruction. The hostilities have also triggered a large-scale humanitarian response given the needs, notwithstanding major concerns for the protection of civilians and essential civilian infrastructure as well as security risks for humanitarian workers themselves. Humanitarian crisis in Ukraine | ICRC

The ICRC has been working in Ukraine since 2014. ICRC operations in the country are among the ten largest ICRC operations worldwide with a team of over 600 staff members. Working closely with the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, ICRC is increasing their response to the humanitarian needs in Ukraine. ICRC support to people includes emergency assistance such as food, water, and other essential items. ICRC also support hospitals and primary healthcare facilities with medical equipment and emergency preparedness.

Since April 2022, and in collaboration with several partnering National Societies (PNSs), the ICRC has been offering Emergency Medical Services (EMS) services to the people suffering from the hostilities within Ukraine. From an ICRC perspective, the project is innovative, as having ambulances run directly under the ICRC flag is the first of its kind. The hostilities started on the 20th of February 2022 and are still ongoing. The line of contact extends for thousands of kilometers and directly affects many populated areas, producing civilian and military casualties, and stretching the capacity of the prehospital system of care.

In this context CRC jointly with the ICRC is hiring Paramedics with an availability of 3 months to provide emergency medical services to the people suffering from the hostilities within Ukraine.

What we are looking for:

Education and Experience

• Health professional experienced in the prehospital emergency care setting of at least 1 year; Qualified EMT-B, EMT-I, or EMT-Paramedic level.
• Successful completion of BLS Standards Program and current certification in CPR (Basic Rescuer level). Experience in training or conducting First Aid courses is considered an asset.
• Affiliation with the Red Cross Movement through either working or volunteer relationship is considered a strong asset.
• Professional experience in emergencies/crisis setting, preferably internationally, is a significant asset/strongly preferred.
• Proven capacity to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, with experience in health teams an asset.
• Professional prehospital experience of at least 5 years is considered an asset.
• Ambulance dispatcher experience is considered an asset.

Knowledge, Abilities & Skills

• Fluency in spoken and written English and good command of Ukrainian and/or Russian, is required.
• Basic computer skills.
• Knowledge or the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, is considered an asset.
• Strong motivation to work in support of humanitarian objectives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills used to optimally develop collaborative relationships across a diverse international organization.
• Demonstrated skills in the areas of teamwork, problem solving and leadership sufficient to deal with crisis situations.
• Resilient, energetic, caring and enthusiastic personality who responds constructively to challenging new ideas and input.
• Able to work under pressure in a potentially dangerous environment.

Special Conditions:

• Physical dexterity, coordination, and strength, including fine and gross motor skills and a demonstrated ability to perform patient extrication, positioning, lifting and carrying techniques to rapidly access, treat, convey and manage patient conditions under frequently awkward, difficult and unpredictable environmental conditions.
• Work is performed independently within established work procedures, department procedures and safety procedures, as well as within national or regional policies and procedures.
• Candidates must possess driving license (for manual transmission vehicles) and an international driving licence at the moment of the deployment.
• Must possess and maintain a valid passport.
• Once individuals have been accepted to this role profile, a pathway to becoming a deployable delegate will be tailored to their demonstrated skillsets through supplemental trainings, workshops, online learning, medical clearance and other readiness requirements.

Working Conditions:

This role will require working directly under the International Committee of the Red Cross in a conflict zone. As such, all delegates will be subject to the working requirements of the ICRC, including but not limited to restrictions on the deployment of individuals of certain nationalities. Due to present security concerns, along with the Movement’s strict adherence to the Principle of Neutrality, the ICRC prohibits assigning international personnel to a country of which they are citizens.

This is a field-based position. Working in countries of operation is very demanding, both physically and psychologically. Delegates can be confronted to several psychosocial risks, including concerns about their security, confinement, lack of privacy, cultural adaptation, long working hours, high workload, job security, internal conflicts and mobbing.

• Difficult working conditions are expected, including:

  • Living conditions with intermittent electricity, internet, and other basic services.
  • Issues of access and mobility due to proximity to disaster affected areas.
  • Long hours in demanding emergency situations with limited resources.
  • Underdeveloped legal frameworks and institutions to enforce the rule of law (for overseas contexts)
  • Limited or non-existent access to healthcare in remote areas.

• While the CRC supports a safe working environment and comfortable accommodations, delegates must be aware of and responsible for their own personal safety and that of employees under their supervision.

• In some contexts, legal frameworks and institutions to enforce the rule of law are largely undeveloped.

• In some remote areas access to healthcare could be limited or non-existent

• Ability to be medically cleared for travel in accordance with CRC medical criteria and meet immunizations requirements as per the Canadian Red Cross Travel Health requirements .

• Successful completion of a Canadian criminal record check and vulnerable sector check.

• Full vaccination against COVID-19 is mandatory for this position and operation (the CRC will however adhere to its duty to accommodate those who are unable to be fully vaccinated for a reason related to a human right protected ground).

If you require accommodation measures during any phase of the hiring process, please notify us as soon as possible. All information received in relation to accommodation requests will be kept confidential.