**MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES is a non-governmental organization for humanitarian aid. Today we work in more than 60 countries where our volunteers bring their aid to populations in distress, to victims of aggression and war, regardless of religion, beliefs or politics.
Country Context
South Africa's health, humanitarian, and socio-economic problems are characterized by extreme inequalities and misdistribution of resources. Thirteen per cent of the population lives in "first world" conditions, while nearly 50% live in poverty, characterised by poor housing and limited access to basic services, such as water, sanitation, electricity and primary education. Worldwide, South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV - at 6.8 million - and the largest antiretroviral therapy programme, the highest incidence of tuberculosis - with an increasing drug resistant TB epidemic –, and the highest recorded rate of rape. Migrants are at increased risk of violence and have limited access to health care.
MSF currently runs 4 projects in South Africa: 1. Piloting innovative models of care towards increased testing, linking, successfully treating (undetectable) and retaining people with HIV/TB, including DR-TB, in Khayelitsha; 2. Reducing HIV and TB incidence, morbidity and mortality via combination prevention in Eshowe & Mbongolwane; 3. Responding to Sexual & Gender Based Violence within a Large Migrant Population in Rustenburg; and 4. the Stop Stock Out Project monitoring stock outs of essential medicines in South Africa (as a member of a civil society consortium). In addition to medical service delivery, MSF conducts operational research, training and mentoring, and advocacy towards policy change in the areas of HIV, TB, sexual violence, vulnerable migrants, and patent law reform in South Africa.
Purpose of the post
The scope of responsibilities of the Deputy Medical Coordinator is the same as for the Medical Coordinator, but she/he will work under the former’s supervision. They share the work ad hoc according to objective criteria (known by all staff in the mission) taking sustainability in the treatment of the different dossiers into consideration. The Deputy Med Co is able to replace the Med Co and in that case take over the overall responsibility of this position. As a member of the coordination team, the Deputy Med Co is 2/3 responsible for medical aspects of MSF’s projects in South Africa. Besides the shared responsibilities with the MedCo (which constitute the main part of the workload) she/he will carry the primary responsibility for the areas of emergency preparedness, staff health and supervision of pharmacy management.
Overall responsibilities of Medical Coordinator and Deputy Medical Coordinator:
· Vision and guidance on medical aspects of projects in South Africa.
· Medical support to coordination, design and planning of all MSF programmes.
· Participates in the definition of the MSF operational strategies.
· Provide coaching, supervision, technical support for the field team as well as monitoring & evaluation of programme implementation.
· Define an appropriate and regularly updated operational research agenda and regular publications in peer reviewed journals.
· Regular monitoring and evaluation of all programmes.
· Regular follow-up of epidemic outbreaks in the Region and evaluate if MSF intervention is appropriate.
· Participates occasionally in MSF formal trainings on TB/HIV.
· Represents the MSF mission in appropriate medical technical forums at National level in SA and Lesotho when appropriate.
· Participate and be fully aware of debates about relevant National policies and guidelines on subjects linked to MSF activities in both countries.
· Support in linking with relevant network of NGO’s in South Africa.
· Emergency preparedness plans and coordination with medical coordinators of MSF sections in surrounding countries when relevant cross border issues (migrants, cholera epidemic…).
· Provides responsibility for the health of all MSF expatriate and national staff in South Africa and provide expertise for transfer and admission of Regional staff from all MSF sections in South African hospitals.
2. Tasks & Responsibilities of the Deputy Medical Coordinator:
· Programme planning, designing and coaching (shared between MedCo and Dep MedCo).
· Training, coaching and programmatic support (shared between MedCo and Dep MedCo)
· Emergency preparedness (Dep MedCo focus area)
· Monitoring and evaluation (shared between MedCo and Deputy MedCo)
· Staff health (Dep MedCo focus area)
· Pharmacy management (Dep MedCo focus area)
· Communication (shared between Dep MedCo and MedCo)
· Advocacy: contributes with HoM & MedCo to advocacy strategy and the relevant indicators linked to it.
· Participate in meetings with Ministry of Health, academic, civil society and other partners.
· Provides feedback to project teams on quarterly and annual reports, as well as research outputs.
· Provides feedback to the teams on sitreps
· Revises annual medical activity report for the programme.
· Assist with writing of narratives for donors as together with the HoM
Requirements
Education
· Medical doctor with master in public health or extensive experience.
Experience
- At least 3 years field experience in HIV/TB programme.
- Essential working experience in developing countries.
- Experience in information analysis and report writing.
- Management experience preferable; experience in operational research desirable.
Competencies
- Good knowledge of Word, Excel, Access, Outlook and all other basic office software (essential), knowledge of statistical package (STATA, SPSS) a plus
- Fluent in spoken and written English
- Willing to travel to support MSF projects.
- Genuine commitment to MSF's humanitarian principles and the fight against HIV/AIDS and TB
- Demonstrated ability to work as a part of a multi-cultural and multi-national team.
- Good people’s skills , willing to work with and mentor staff
- Strong communication skills, being ready to convey your messages to other people clearly
- Good time management, capable to set priorities_ Excellent strategic planning
- Ability to handle the pressures and stresses related to the job responsibilities
Languages
- English (fluent spoken / written)
Conditions
· One year fixed-term field contract (extendable)
· Salary according to MSF-OCB Field salary scale. Transport, accommodation, vaccination are taken in charge by MSF. Per diem + medical insurance
· Expected starting date: March 2016
HOW TO APPLY:
Application (CV + cover letter) to be sent to ocb-poolmanager-HoM@brussels.msf.org before the 7th of February 2016.
**Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.**
