Medical Project Coordinator

Work as a Medical Project Coordinator for MSF

MSF is looking for managers who can make a difference

Who are we?

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international aid organization that offers humanitarian medical aid to survivors of wars, disasters and epidemics, irrespective of race, religion, ideology or politics. The organization comprises a network of 19 sections and their various affiliates with offices in countries around the world.

MSF observes neutrality and is completely independent. Based on universally recognized principles of medical ethics and the right to humanitarian aid, MSF demands complete freedom in the performance of its task.

In 2010, MSF sent more than 2,400 international staff to projects in 60 countries. In our projects we work closely with the local population. They know best the situation in the places we work and through this cooperation we can exchange knowledge and skills. MSF employed close to 25,180 national staff in the countries where we worked in 2010.

The actions of MSF are first and foremost medical, our advocacy follows, based on the situation of our patients and the presence and actions of our field staff. We need medical people to lead strategic decisions to ensure program choices are informed and directly linked to our medical mission. The knowledge of the medical issues and patient perspective from our medical project co-ordinators helps us to achieve quality patient care.

· Are you a Medical Doctor, Registered Nurse or do you have another (para) medical profile?

· Are you committed to the providing impartial emergency medical humanitarian assistance?

· Can you handle last minute changes?

· Are you flexible and deal well with stress?

· Do you like to live in close proximity with people with different backgrounds under basic living conditions?

· Are you an expert at planning and setting priorities?

· Are you the person who keeps people motivated?

· Can you remain calm in emergency situations?

· Do you have a good sense of humour?

If you answered YES to these questions then MSF can offer you the chance to put your ideals into practice and make a difference in people’s lives.

Being a coordinator with MSF means an opportunity to:

• Work in an important position in line management in one of the world’s foremost independent medical humanitarian aid organizations.
• Grow professionally in unique circumstances.
• Put your skills to use where others need your help urgently, to help save lives and inspire others.
• Discover talents you didn’t know you possessed.
• Work together with people from different countries and cultures.
• Attend an intensive 2-week course to enable you to become a manager within the organization.
• Receive follow up support when you are in the field.
• Receive a comprehensive benefits package

You will need to demonstrate:

Essential requirements

· (Para) Medical background with a minimum of 3 years experience post-registration working in clinical care, public health or an academic environment.

· Proven (people) management and communication skills leading a multidisciplinary team.

· Demonstrable experience in supervising, managing, coaching and training others.

· Strong organization skills.

· At least 1 year experience with a humanitarian or emergency organization or within a function with extensive exposure to the field of humanitarian aid.

· Proven affinity with humanitarian and medical issues in complex crisis situations.

· Previous experience in project cycle management preferably in a nongovernmental organization context.

· Proven experience in organizing and prioritizing workload, using initiative when appropriate.

· Excellent negotiation and diplomatic skills.

· Excellent problem solving skills.

· Willingness to work in unstable environments.

· Ability to represent MSF with national and international counterparts.

· Deep understanding of humanitarian principles

· Excellent people and communication skills.

· Solid command of English language, and preferably French as well. Arabic, Spanish and Russian are also assets.

· Leadership skills.

What will be your responsibilities and key tasks?

The responsibilities of a Project Coordinator include operational management, human resources management, financial management, communication and representation of MSF to the local authorities. As an MSF field worker, you will often find yourself in an insecure environment; working in these particular regions can imply an inherent risk or danger. The Project Coordinator has delegated responsibilities with regard to safety and security on project level. The coordinator plays a key role in ensuring the quality and appropriateness of the project activities and the implementation of MSF programs in-country, and bears witness to the fate of people facing humanitarian crisis. This contribution gives meaning to the MSF medical humanitarian policies, principles and values.

Key tasks include:

• Being responsible for implementation of project activities by coordinating the optimal use of medical, logistical financial and human resources.
• Supporting the team in the analyses of medical data, activity indicators and quality of care.
• Ensuring the continuity and coherence of the health structures medical, paramedical and psychosocial activities.
• Acting as a liaison and arbitration point between different parties working in the hospital, health centre and mobile clinics.
• Being responsible for the implementation of the team health policy.
• Representing MSF on project issues to local communities, authorities and their counterparts, UN agencies and other nongovernmental organizations in the project area while taking into account the goals, objectives and strategy for the mission as a whole.
• Promoting MSF identity and principles as an independent humanitarian medical organization.
• Negotiating with different actors and stakeholders.
• Being responsible for human resource management of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team, which includes supervision and coaching of expatriate and national staff.
• Contribution to create, review and update policies and reports such as country policies, annual plans and trimester reports.
• Preparing and monitor project proposals, budgets and evaluations.
• In collaboration with the Project Administrator, ensuring correct implementation of the administration including bookkeeping, national staff salary administration and cash flow planning.
• Planning, monitoring and ensuring logistics continuity in the project sites.
• Provide regular reports (monthly) on programmatic, security and contextual matters.
• Liaising with the medical coordinator as appropriate.

All MSF Project Coordinator positions are unaccompanied posts, meaning family members cannot be posted in project with them.

Terms & Conditions

The position of Project Coordinator is a paid position, with a nett salary starting from €1,184 per month.

Additionally, insurance, indemnity, travel costs, accommodation, vaccinations and anti-malarials are provided by MSF.
The exact details of the provided terms and conditions of employment will depend on your country of residence (as cost of living in your home country are taken into account), and will be addressed during the application procedure.
We ask that you are able to commit to the organization for 2 years. Each mission length will be determined by the nature of the project where you are working and you will be on a fixed-term contract which reflects this. MSF seeks to retain individuals for more than one mission as their experience is invaluable.

To apply

Further information about this position can be obtained from an MSF Human Resources Officer. Please inquire through the MSF office in your country of residence or if one does not exists then through the MSF office closest to you.

Further information about MSF, including a list of offices, can be found at www.msf.org .

If you are interested in this position, please apply online via the MSF website associated with your country of residence or if an office does not exist then the MSF office closest to you.

You will need to be available for training and departure to an MSF mission from the first week of October 2011. Interview and selection will take place no later than September 2011.

Only candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted within one week after MSF’s receipt of their application.

The deadline for applications is Friday July 29, 2011.