MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES UK



Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides life-saving emergency relief and longer-term medical care to some of the most vulnerable and excluded communities around the world. As an independent medical humanitarian organisation, we deliver care based only on need, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or political affiliation.

MSF relies on donations from private individuals and organisations for the majority of its income. This private funding gives MSF the freedom to respond where needs are greatest and to speak out publicly, free from any political interference.

MSF has around 40,000 local and international staff working in over 70 countries, in some of the most challenging places in the world. Our medical humanitarian projects are supported by teams in 32 countries, including the UK, spread across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

At MSF UK, we support MSF’s operations by building relationships with our supporters, increasing awareness of our work, raising funds, providing specialist medical expertise, catalysing change on medical humanitarian issues, and recruiting field staff. MSF UK personnel are dynamic, hard-working, enthusiastic and committed to MSF’s values and aims.

Hours: 40 hours per week

Location: London

Duration: Permanent contract

Salary: £63,993.96 per annum

The Public Health Department

The Public Health Department (PHD) of Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) supports the overall purpose of MSF, providing medical and public health leadership for the organisation. The department is responsible for providing strategic direction and integrated advice on medical and public health issues to the field and headquarters. The PHD plays a key role in developing and maintaining the medical humanitarian identity and image of MSF-OCA, and in continuing to develop and improve intervention strategies so as to be relevant and effective.

The Manson Unit (MU)

The MU is a multi-disciplinary medical team within MSF UK and is the London based part of the PHD. We aim to improve the quality of MSF’s medical programmes worldwide, so the best possible care is delivered to our patients.

The MU is a team of 30 comprised of medical doctors and specialists in infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, health information systems, epidemiology, social science, geographical information systems, medical innovation and research communication. We also have a clinical trial team working towards improved treatments for patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis. We provide direct support to our field programmes through specialist advice on medical issues, implementing new ways of working, supporting research studies and outbreak response.

JOB PURPOSE

MSF UK is looking for a resilient and inspiring individual to lead the MU as it works to further realise its potential and role as a fully integrated part of the wider OCA Public Health Department whilst also maintaining its commitments and support to the wider MSF movement.

The role of the Head of the Manson Unit/Deputy Medical Director OCA is essentially threefold:

1. To manage and support the team in its current core thematic areas:

• Infectious and chronic diseases including TB/HIV/Viral Hepatitis, Malaria, Covid19 and NCDs
• Epidemiology and Public Health Intelligence
• Strategic leadership and management of Research and Innovation
• Community health and application of social science approaches
• Ehealth and Health Information Systems
• The Global Health and Humanitarian Medicine (DTM&H) course

The unit functions as a hub for academic and professional medical networks to bring expertise/human resources and technical support into the MSF movement. This involves working with all MSF operational centres and other MSF entities including Epicentre, international MSF platforms/working groups, the Access Campaign, MSF India, MSF West Africa and Central Africa (MSF WACA) and the Swedish and Japanese Innovation Units.

2. As one of the senior leaders in the Public Health Department (along with the Medical Director and the Amsterdam based Deputy Medical Director), assume joint responsibility for the development and implementation of OCA’s medical strategy, as well as the effectiveness of the medical support structures that help field teams to deliver on this strategy. This will involve representation on key OCA and MSF international platforms, as delegated by the Medical Director, as well as responsibility for major medical projects.

3. As a member of the MSF UK & Ireland Management Team to play an important part in the functioning of an effective, vibrant and creative MSF section.

SEE BELOW JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSONAL SPECIFICATION ATTACHMENT FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE ROLE.

Essential criteria:

• Demonstrable medical leadership and strategic overview essential.
• MSF experience that includes medical programme management, either at field (Medco / HoM) or headquarters (Health advisor or Operations Manager). Candidates with an equivalent background in other humanitarian organisations will be considered.
• Undergraduate degree in Medicine with extensive experience in clinical practice.
• Good understanding and knowledge of medical issues and challenges in humanitarian settings, and MSF field settings in particular.
• Substantial experience working in humanitarian and /or resource-limited settings.
• Excellent strategic planning skills, and programme implementation skills.
• Proven experience and ability in individual and team management.
• Demonstrated experience in medical research, programme evaluation or medical innovation.
• Proven networking and representation skills.
• Excellent communication skills in English; minimum of good working knowledge of French.
• Willing to travel within Europe and to MSF missions worldwide.
• Ability to focus and take up a challenge.

MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community. 

HOW TO APPLY

Apply on our website by submitting a copy of your CV together with a letter of motivation by the closing date.

Recruitment timetable:

• Closing date for applications: 17th March 2021, 11.59pm (GMT)
• First stage interviews: end of March
• Second stage interviews: to be confirmed