Merlin International Medical Officer

Position:   Medical Officer KL5
Responsible To:  Senior Project Officer HIV/AIDS   
Location:  Kisii Level 5 hospital (KL5) Kisii County
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 12 months
Salary: Kshs 150,000 per month

Benefits:     Insurance cover, 15% of Basic Salary as House Allowance, and annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.

Please note: this is a local recruitment position

Merlin International Profile

Merlin is the only specialist UK charity which responds worldwide with vital health care and medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in natural disasters, conflict, and disease and health system collapse. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.

Context and Background

Merlin has been working in Kenya since 1998 and is currently operational in two geographic regions: Kisii and Nyamira Counties of Nyanza Province and Turkana County of Rift Valley province. 

In addition to the country office in Nairobi, Merlin maintains offices in Kisii in Nyanza Province and Lodwar in Turkana.  

Merlin is currently implementing three projects based in Kisii: two addressing HIV/AIDS and TB, and one aimed at reducing malaria incidence.

The overall objective of Merlin’s work in Kenya is to contribute to a reduction of health inequalities and to a reversal in the current downward trend in health related indicators. 

Merlin does this by responding to emergency needs as well as continuing to build on lasting working relationships with communities and local partners; supporting the strengthening of the Kenyan health system; approaching health problems with innovative interventions; developing answers to key practical questions through operational research; and using the lessons learned at local levels to feed into national-level programming and planning.

Overall Objective of the Position

• Coordinate Merlin/CARE consortium HIV/AIDS treatment and care services at Kisii L 5
• Planning and implementation of HIV/AIDS/TB treatment and care KL5 activities in close partnership with the medical superintendent and in conjunction with other clinical officers and nurses
• Undertake the mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS treatment and care in the hospital including training, inpatient care of HIV/AIDS services.
• Organize and drive HIV/AIDS continuing medical education (CME) at all level in the hospital in conjunction with the hospital committee for continuing medical examination.
• Conduct onsite mentorship for the KL5 staff and ensure adequacy of knowledge and technical skill in HIV/AIDS treatment and care.
• Put in place mechanisms for promotion of adherence and reduce defaulting and work closely with the technical lead (TL) community support services
• Put in place assurance /quality improvement mechanism of the comprehensive HIV/AIDS/TB services to continuously improve the quality of services at the hospital
• Provide on-going supervision of HIV/AIDS/TB treatment and care services
• To supervise and offer technical guidance to program clinical team, (FOs &COs) at the facility
• Assist in the preparations of project budgets,
• Prepare project monthly, quarterly, mid-term and final reports for submission to Merlin head office as well as donors in a timely manner.

Qualification and experience

• Minimum qualification: - Medical Doctor, (MBch.B)
• Must have over 2 years’ experience in HIV/AIDS comprehensive care services
• Management, training or clinical background in the area of reproductive health, Maternal and child health, malaria and HIV/AIDS
• Excellent knowledge of and experience in health systems strengthening and in quality of care and quality improvement principles and practices in health care programs
• Demonstrated excellent knowledge and experience in HIV/AIDS, family planning and maternal health
• Excellent leadership and management skills
• Good organizational skills ( i.e. multitasking, dealing with pressure, adaptability)
• Ability to communicate effectively (oral &written),instilling trust and confidence

Team player with demonstrated ability to produce quality results

Personality Competencies:

• Flexibility and relationship building skills
• Ability to successfully work in a multi-cultural and diverse team
• Excellent communication skills, with good spoken and written English
• Proven problem solving organisational skills
• Excellent people management and capacity building skills to enable the motivation, encouragement, participation and development of team members
• Ability to reflect on from personal and programme performance and act upon lessons learnt.

To apply for this position
All applications including cover letter and cv should be sent to:

HR Department,
Merlin, Nairobi Office,
P.O Box 3350 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya

OR

Email to: recruitment@merlin-kenya.org

Application deadline is 5:00pm on Monday, 31st December 2012. Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Data Protection

Please note that in accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act, Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purpose of recruitment and employment. 

This information can be stored in manual and/or electronic form. 

This information may also be disclosed to third parties in accordance with the Data Protection Act.  

In cases where a job offer is conditional on ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States due to donor funding requirements, Merlin will use the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.