General context:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian and development organizations. For 80 years, the IRC has been at the forefront of all major humanitarian initiatives aimed at helping people uprooted by war, persecution or civil conflict. The IRC provides vital assistance to help people survive and rebuild their lives. The IRC Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU) leads the IRC’s global emergency preparedness and response activities. The mission of the EPRU is to respond to the immediate survival needs and reduce the suffering of populations affected by conflicts or disasters during the acute phase of an emergency.
Context:
The DRC Ministry of Health officially declared the country’s 17th Ebola virus disease outbreak on May 15, 2026, following confirmation of cases caused by the Bundibugyo virus species (BDBV) in Ituri province, northeast of the DRC. The outbreak was initially detected in the Mongbwalu, Rwampara and Bunia health zones.
On May 17, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) assessed the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to the risk of regional spread and the difficult operating environment. The IRC is currently preparing to support the control of the EVD epidemic in the Ituri and North Kivu regions of the DRC. The IRC will mainly focus on supporting existing primary health care (PHC) structures to ensure secure continuity of services. IRC support will include the implementation of EVD screening and isolation in PHC, as well as strengthening infection prevention and control (ICP) practices in facilities.
Scope of the position
Reporting to the Sr. IPC Manager, the IPC doctor /mobile unit team leaderwill lead the IRC mobile team to support targeted healthcare facilities. He/She will work closely with Ministry of Health (MoH) staff to strengthen Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) systems and practices within supported government health facilities, while providing training, mentoring and technical guidance to health workers. He/She may be required to work within an Ebola isolation unit established in the supported establishments, assuming responsibility for the clinical care of patients. Staff safety is a top priority and strict adherence to infection control procedures is required to prevent disease transmission.Personal protective equipment must be worn at all times in isolation units, with strict compliance with infection control protocols.
Roles and responsibilities
- Support the implementation of infection prevention and control (ICP) activities in IRC-supported healthcare facilities and mobile units, ensuring compliance with national and international IPC standards.
- Ensure clinical and ICH supervision within supported establishments, ensuring appropriate patient care practices and strict compliance with ICH protocols.
- Conduct regular supervisory visits to health facilities and mobile units to monitor the quality of IPC implementation and identify areas for improvement.
- Ensure that clinical management and infection prevention measures are systematically applied by staff of establishments and mobile units in accordance with approved guidelines and protocols.
- Facilitate and deliver ICH training sessions for healthcare facility and mobile unit staff, including ongoing mentoring and support in the field.
- Support the safe referral and transfer of patients with suspected or confirmed infectious diseases to designated treatment centers in accordance with established protocols.
- Supervise mobile unit staff on a daily basis, monitor staff performance and well-being, and provide guidance to ensure quality service delivery.
- Support capacity building of health facility and mobile unit staff through coaching, mentoring and practical skills development.
- Ensure that patient consultations, monitoring records, reference documentation and other relevant records are accurately completed and submitted in a timely manner.
- Monitor the availability and use of PCI supplies in supported establishments and collaborate with establishment management and IRC teams to strengthen systems for forecasting, demand, distribution and monitoring of supply consumption.
- Identify operational challenges affecting IPC implementation and escalate issues to the PCI Manager while supporting the development and implementation of corrective actions.
- Collect, compile and submit regular activity reports, evaluation results and monitoring data to support program planning and decision-making.
- Maintain effective working relationships with healthcare facility management, community stakeholders and IRC departments to support coordinated implementation of ICH activities.
- Promote a positive and professional work environment, fostering teamwork, responsibility and respect for IRC values and policies.
- Consistently monitor and assess the safety and security of field activities and personnel, promptly reporting concerns, incidents, or emerging risks to the PCI Manager and relevant IRC management.
- Support outbreak preparedness and response activities, including high-demand deployments and emergency responses as needed.
- Comply with all IRC safety, protection, health and safety policies when operating in high-risk environments.
- Perform any other duties assigned by the PCI Manager to support the successful implementation and development of IRC health programs.
Work environment
- The position requires regular travel to supported health facilities, communities and field sites.
- The position may require access to high-risk clinical environments, including isolation units and outbreak response areas, while adhering to approved PCI and security protocols.
Requirements
- Medical Doctor with current registration
- At least 3 years of experience as a Physician, including prior experience working on Ebola virus disease and in resource-limited environments.
- Proven experience implementing PCI practices and improving systems, ideally in a low-resource setting.
- Previous experience working with IRC desired.
- Proven experience supervising a team in strict compliance with infection control.
- Previous training or teaching experience.
- Strong leadership, management, planning, analysis, interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to live in challenging conditions and ability to work under difficulty, high-pressure situations.
- Must be a team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work under pressure in a stressful environment, demonstrating patience, compassion and diplomacy.
- Fluency in French and a functional knowledge of English are an asset.
Employer guaranteeing equal opportunities : The IRC is an equal opportunity employer. The IRC evaluates all applicants on the basis of merit, without distinction of race, sex, skin color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, status of veteran, disability or any other characteristic protected by current legislation.
Professional standards: All employees of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) must adhere to the fundamental values and principles set out in the document “IRC Way – Standards of Professional Conduct”. Our standards are integrity, service, equality and accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC implements and enforces policies relating to the protection of individuals, conflicts of interest, financial integrity, reporting of irregularities and protection against retaliation. The IRC is committed to taking all necessary preventive measures and creating an environment where everyone feels safe, as well as taking all necessary and corrective measures in the event of harm. The IRC forms teams of professionals who promote critical thinking and sharing of responsibilitiesdebate and objectivity in order to offer the best possible services to our beneficiaries.
