Med Cell Support - Based in Nairobi (W/M) at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

This position is for the Cell 6 portfolio and is based in Nairobi.

S/he will take the lead on the day-to-day follow-up, technical and strategic support to the mission teams on topics including, but not limited to, pharmacy management and medical international order follow-up, health information systems/data analysis, staff health, Nursing and IPC (Infection Prevention and Control), Hospital management, patient safety and operational research in collaboration with the Epicentre focal point.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

• Provide lead strategic and technical support, independently, to field teams on specific delegated dossiers, including Pharmacy management, medical international order follow-up, Nursing care, IPC, Patient Safety, Staff health, health information systems and hospital management; maintain overview of project implementation to ensure alignment with operational and medical department objectives.
• Support the implementation of medical strategies and policies within Cell 6, in line with the broad guidelines set out in MSF OCP's medical and operational strategic plan and contribute to the consistency of the medical aspects of projects, considering contextual constraints and realities. Actively participate and contribute in the preparation and discussions of key operational milestones such as the mid-year activity review, mise à plat, annual budget commissions.
• Support the missions with guidance and recommendations in defining annual medical supplies plans, estimating medical supplies budgets and related human resource needs, in close collaboration with supply and finance teams, and contribute to validating the annual medical supplies budget.
• Validate international medical orders and local purchases in line with organisational protocol, and ensure appropriate procurement, monitoring and management of medical supplies in the supported missions, in close collaboration with the relevant departments.
• Guarantee that emergency buffer stocks, HR in the missions are consistent with the Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPreP), in liaison with the Emergency cell focal point and other cell members.
• Follow up on health information system/data analysis, ensuring the quality of medical data for project interventions is regularly collected according to MSF standards, and that medical and pharmacy reporting from missions is timely and accurate.
• Analyse the fulfilment of medical objectives, indicators and hypotheses for the mission, and feed into medical-operational monitoring and analysis for the cell, preparation of quarterly and annual medical reports for the portfolio, including presentation of findings at cell level and other relevant platforms such as operations meetings as required.
• Supervise and support implementation of Staff Health Policies, medical evacuation guidelines and referral policies in the supported missions, ensuring the organisation's medical principles, guidelines and policies are respected.
• Act as a liaison between the field, the cell and the medical department, ensuring the organisation of work and dissemination of information in line with the specific issues and questions arising from the projects, and ensuring that agreed solutions are properly implemented in the field.
• Consult, collaborate and actively spar with other cell members on priority dossiers under your lead and other crosscutting medico-operational topics as needed.
• Provide functional support and guidance to Medical Coordinators in the supported missions, in close collaboration with the Deputy Cell Manager – Medical.
• Propose/develop and monitor the cell's operational research opportunities, and formulate epidemiological questions in conjunction with the EPICENTRE focal point
• Participate in technical briefings and debriefings within the cell, involving Technical Referents from the Medical and Supply departments when needed, and help identify individual training needs.
• Guarantee that medical teams and support department staff receive technical and methodological information through briefings and dedicated sessions; contribute to the design and delivery of relevant training and tools.
• Conduct periodic field visits and cover for MedCos as delegated and contribute to Cell 6's medical mission by remaining globally acquainted with the activities of all projects.

OTHERS:

• Consult support services for sparring and as technical content providers when needed.
• Participate, and chair as requested, in meetings and activities organised by the cell and the medical department, contributing to regular and meaningful dialogue between departments in order to improve the support given to the field.
• Participate in relevant internal and external meetings.
• Perform any other related task as required.

Profile desired:

Education and Training: Qualified Medical Doctor, Clinical officer or Nurse.

Experience:

• 2 years of field experience with a medical NGO as a medical coordinator level is required. Previous experience in emergency interventions is an asset. MSF experience is an asset.
• Knowledge of pharmacy tools, International Medical Order procedures and medical data software (e.g. HMIS/DHIS2) is required.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with good command of team management techniques and a good knowledge of MSF management and monitoring tools.
• Required qualities: ability to define medical and operational strategies suited to a variety of contexts; availability, adaptability and responsiveness in line with the constraints of humanitarian operations; strong teamwork and negotiation skills; and good analytical and summarising skills.