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: 20 hours per week (0.5 FTE)

Location: London, UK

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £24,684.33 per annum (£49,368.66 full time equivalent)

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, geographical information systems, medical editing 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

Team: The Malaria/ID Specialist role will be based in the complex and emerging medical diseases team within the Manson Unit, joining a sub-group of two others working on the same portfolio:

• Team Lead of Emerging and Infectious Diseases Team (50% role as Malaria and Infectious Diseases specialist)

• Integrated community case management (ICCM) implementer

Scope: This sub-group covers a large portfolio of general infectious and outbreak-potential diseases including malaria, pneumonia, COVID-19 and (re)-emerging infections. Within MSF OCA, these diseases are addressed through outbreak response teams, community decentralised programmes and more traditional formal healthcare systems with varying technical and programmatic complexity as well as through preventative strategies.

Key objectives: To provide technical, strategic, programmatic and clinical support to MSF OCA field missions and headquarters, and to contribute to the delivery of MSF OCA’s long-term goals in the domain of malaria, pneumonia, and other infectious diseases including:

• implementation support for context-adapted medical and operational strategies for malaria, pneumonia and infectious diseases
• work as a member of the MSF OCA team of malaria/ID specialists to develop and update MSF OCA medical operational policies, implementation/operational research, annual planning and reporting for infectious diseases
• contribute to the wider working of the Manson Unit and the OCA PHD including identifying synergies and supporting the work of other team members and taking initiatives to raise the profile and understanding of these topic areas
• work with malaria/ID team members within MSF OCA in order to represent MSF OCA inter-sectionally and beyond MSF
• contribute to the updating of the MSF inter-sectional policies, strategic frameworks, guidelines, operational research coordination and advocacy for malaria, pneumonia and infectious diseases.

Travel: The Malaria/ID Specialist will be expected to spend up to 30% of their time in the field and 70% in London. Field visits will be planned in collaboration with the field teams and respective health advisors. Prioritisation and timeframes will be discussed within the team and will be strongly influenced by the annual and strategic plan objectives.

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

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Medical doctor with specialisation in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine.
• Experience with planning and implementation of infectious diseases and malaria treatment programmes in humanitarian settings.
• Strong clinical experience in managing infectious diseases patients in tropical/resource limited settings.
• Knowledge of epidemiology and/or public health in humanitarian settings.
• Experience in medical advocacy and health policy.
• Relevant field experience with MSF or an equivalent humanitarian organisation.
• Proven analytical skills, policy development experience, and strategic thinking.
• Proven interest and experience in technical expertise development and operational research.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Computer literate with demonstrable ability and experience in MS Applications.
• Willingness to spend up to 30% of time in the field.
• Solid interpersonal skills with willingness and ability to communicate effectively with senior operational management, national authorities and other international organisations.
• Able to work under time pressure; and prioritise while working on various projects at a time.
• Clear attention to detail and accuracy skills.
• Proven experience of working independently under minimal supervision.
• Demonstrable experience of working and constructively participating as part of a multi-cultural team.
• Fluent in written and spoken English; minimum C2 level.
• Commitment to the aims and values of MSF.

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

Please 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: 27 December 2020, 11.59pm (GMT)
• Interviews: w/c 11 January 2021