Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 80 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.
Regional Medical Officer South America (m/f/x) – Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) – MSF Belgium
CONTEXT
The Operations Department of MSF OCB (Operational Centre Brussels) is made up of 8 managerial and technical teams called Cells or Regional Support Teams (RST), each in charge of a portfolio of countries and 1 Emergency Team (E-Unit) for the management of intense emergency interventions. These teams directly supervise and support the implementation on the projects.
The Regional Support Team (RST5) is a team of 6 people based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and a regional pharmacy advisor working remotely. It is planned to transfer Haiti from the Cell 3 portfolio to the RST5 portfolio from the second quarter of 2025. The countries currently managed by the RST 5 are: Brazil and Venezuela. The countries are indicative, as a re-shuffling of the portfolio within the Operations department occurs on a regular basis.
As a Medical Officer (MO), you will play a key medical role in the operations of RST 5. You support the Medical Coordinators to safeguard the medical quality of the projects. It is a critical position to ensure a strong overview and support in the preparation and implementation of our projects.
In terms of scope, your support will be focused on the Haiti project, with particular emphasis on hospital management and on supporting local teams with international medical orders. You will also provide specific assistance to other projects in the RST5 portfolio, most probably Venezuela, due to the important supply challenge.
You will report to the Regional Medical Team Leader of RST5 and functionally linked to the Medical Operational Manager in the Medical Department of OCB.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
The core function is to enhance and optimize the operational support and guidance of the projects, ensuring achievable and context-adapted quality of care.
Strategy Implementation Planning
- Co-define and co-design the Medical Operations (MedOps) strategy implementation with the medical coordination teams and the Regional Medical Team Leader of RST5
- Provide strategic input, leadership, and guidance to ensure plans are practical, achievable, and aligned with the medical priorities within the countries of interventions, in coordination with the Regional Medical Team Leader
Strategic Oversight and Monitoring
- Ensure comprehensive monitoring and follow-up of the implementation of the medical strategy in all MSF operations through regular and ad hoc support to the medical coordination’s
Project Implementation
- Provide regular support to medical coordinators in the follow-up and implementation of projects in coordination with the Regional Medical Team Leader
- Offer ad-hoc support as needed, ensuring that medical coordinators have the resources and assistance they need in agreement with the Regional Medical Team Leader
Policies and Guidelines Management
- Ensure that medical resources, policies, and guidelines are relevant, appropriate, available, and effectively managed in the countries of interventions
- Regularly interact and coordinate with the medical referents to ensure that policies, guidelines, and guidance adapted/tailored to the medical operations and specific project’s context and objectives
Quality of Care (QoC) implementation
- Ensure and actively monitor the implementation of Quality of Care (QoC) standards and improvement plans across all projects
- Guide the medical teams in the programs to develop and enforce quality monitoring and improvement initiatives
Medical Activity Analysis
- Responsible for monitoring and analyzing medical activities and ensuring data-driven decision-making in collaboration with the Regional Medical Team Leader
- Review and analyze medical reports and data, providing constructive feedback and involving the medical referent as required
Tool improvement and development
- Propose improvements to existing management and tracking tools (dashboards and internal control mechanisms, etc.) that are user-friendly, effective and context adapted to enhance the oversight of medical programs
Medical stock strategy and management
- Oversee the review, planning, and validation of the medical standard list and medical forecasts, including emergency preparedness (EPREP)
- Revise and validate medical orders within the agreed framework (budget, activity scope, medical master, and standard list, etc.)
- Define the medical stock management strategy and monitor its implementation (e.g., GSDP: “Good Storage and Distribution Practices”, SoP’s: “Standard Operating Procedures”, etc.) in collaboration with the supply officer and project teams
Human Resources planning and management
- Oversee the regular follow-up of projects’ human resource needs, including the review and planning of HR requirements, together with the Regional Medical Team Leader
- Ensure effective matching and follow-up with the Human Resources Officer (HRO) and Pool Managers (PMs), including the briefing and debriefing of key medical operations staff in the countries of RST 5, in agreement with the Regional Medical Team Leader
Budget
- Ensure cost-awareness in medical decision-making, balancing quality of care with resources availability, context specificity and sustainability, in collaboration with the Regional Medical Team Leader
- Participate in medical operations (MedOps) budget planning and management to ensure efficient allocation of resources for medical operations
Emergency Response
- Participate in the medical support/guidance to the projects for emergency responses together with the Regional Medical Team Leader and medical department referents
- Ensure rapid and effective deployment of resources and personnel in the event of emergencies in the countries of interventions of RST 5, in collaboration with the Regional Medical Team Leader
EPREP
- Ensure that the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPREP), and scenarios are regularly updated and adapted to the evolving contexts in collaboration with the Regional Medical Team Leader
Technical Files
- Provide first-line follow-up and input on technical files, according to specific expertise and in consultation with the Regional Medical Team Leader
Staff Health
- Review and validate health policies for both International Mobile Staff (IMS) and Locally Hired Staff (LHS), ensuring comprehensive and effective healthcare provisions
- Facilitate the management of staff health files between the countries of interventions and the Staff Health Unit (SHU) (including medical evacuations) in coordination with the Regional Medical Team Leader
Coordination with medical department
- Engage with medical referents bilaterally or lead group discussions/working groups to support projects and enhance collaboration
- Facilitate effective communication and coordination between medical field teams and the medical department
- Participate in medical department meetings, in relevant circles and in MedOps meetings, contributing to department strategies with updates from the programs, and reverting relevant information’s to the country teams
Communication and Information flow
- Promote open communication and information flow within the RST, the medical department, and the countries of interventions of RST 5 on all MedOps-related issues
- Maintain transparency and alignment across teams to foster a collaborative operational environment
Replace the RST5 Regional Medical Team Leader during absences or upon request, ensuring continuity of medical technical and strategic decision-making.
REQUIREMENTS
Education & Experience
- Medical or paramedical degree
- Minimum 3 years of MSF international experience
- Minimum 1 year experience as Medical Coordinator, including projects focusing on secondary health care
- Experience in hospital management is a must
- Degree in Public Health or Epidemiology and/or basic knowledge of Humanitarian law is an asset
- Experience in epidemics, public health, IDPs (Internal Displaced populations) and refugees, emergency responses are an asset
Competencies
- Planning and organizing
- Strategic vision/oversight
- Negotiation and networking
- Coaching & mirroring with the teams
- Teamwork and cooperation
- Comprehensive knowledge of humanitarian interventions
- Results and quality orientation
- Able to set priorities, make choices, and assume decisions
- Strong cross-cultural awareness and adaptability
Languages
- Excellent command of French and English is mandatory (oral and written)
- Knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese isa a strong asset
CONDITIONS
- Expected starting date: March 2025
- Location: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
- Mobility: minimum 30% in the countries of interventions of RST5
- Contract type: Fixed-term contract – Full time
- Contract duration: 12 months (extendable)
- Salary and benefits according to MSF-OCB international grid for non-residents in Brazil and MSF Brazil grid for residents in Brazil
- Family position, conditions according to hosting entity’s policy
- When in Rio de Janeiro, possibility of 2 days homeworking per week, to be defined locally
- Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
- Adhere to the MSF Adherence to the MSF Behavioural Commitments
How to apply
Deadline for applications: 09/02/2025
How to apply?
➢ Submit your application via the ‘Apply here’ button on our website: Regional Medical Officer South America – Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) Doctors Without Borders
➢ You will be directed to the online application form for this position
➢ It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter ready to upload (preferably in pdf format)
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
Position only open to candidates with previous MSF work experience No MSF experience? Check out other job offers
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