Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization created in 1971 that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural disasters. MSF is one of the largest independent medical humanitarian organizations in the world, with projects located in 65 countries worldwide. Its work is based on the humanitarian principles of medical ethics; the goal of MSF is to provide emergency care and to offer assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. The French section is present in around thirty countries.
In the context of a temporary replacement, we are looking for a Tropical Infectious Diseases Advisor.
Missions:
The MSF-Operational Centre Paris (MSF-OCP) Medical Department is seeking an ‘Tropical Infectious Diseases Advisor’ to enhance MSF’s ability to effectively diagnose and treat tropical diseases as part of our continuous efforts to improve and broaden diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive capacities, as part of our continuous efforts to improve and broaden the quality and effectiveness of medical care.
The Tropical Infectious Diseases Advisor is the reference person for tropical medicine which includes a wide range of endemic infections. The main portfolio will be malaria, support the cells, coordination and projects for SMC implementation and the introduction and implementation of malaria vaccines (R21, RTS, S). In collaboration with pediatricians participate to the management of severe malaria cases.
With Nutrition, vaccination, and Epidemic response team, participate to de development of Decentralized Model of Care. Secondary based on the needs, provide technical support for neglected tropical diseases (including snakebites, leishmaniases, schistosomiasis etc.) and may be required to provide support on other specific epidemic/emerging diseases as a working member of OCP’s Nutrition, Vaccination & Response to Epidemics team.
They will be working under the hierarchical responsibility of the MSF-OCP Medical Director and under the functional responsibility of the Response to Epidemics team’s clinical leader. The Tropical Infectious Diseases Advisor is also a member of the “Response to Epidemics” team in the Medical Department which as additional members has the Vaccination, Nutrition, Infectious diseases, and HPCE (Health Promotion & Community Engagement) Advisors.
Main responsibilities:
Provide advice and support to cells and missions:
- In conjunction with cell teams, actively participate in the development and monitoring of malaria activities (SMC, malaria vaccines) and others tropical infectious diseases.
- Support the field and headquarters’ managers in decision-making related to malaria and ensure good practice, taking into account specific context constraints.
- Ensure that guidelines, protocols and tools to guarantee quality of care are available to
- Be responsible for alerting the operational managers and the medical directorate in case of non-application of procedures, strategies or protocols.
- Provide (de-) briefings to headquarters and field personnel related to their
- Visit field projects to support teams and evaluate the
- Participate in the Telemedicine Platform for (urgent) Tropical diseases clinical management questions
Participate in the Medical Department activities:
- Participate in the definition of medico-operational policies, aligned with the OCP strategic plan, by contributing their specialist expertise and supporting their implementation.
- Participate in the development of training content and participate in the trainings as facilitator (may participate in decentralized or virtual trainings: e.g., MEMA (Management of External and Mass Activities), Response to Epidemics, intersectional malaria training, etc.
- Participate in defining the indicators needed for monitoring & reporting on malaria, analysis of the data for all missions and regularly share the results of this analysis with the coordination teams and medical managers.
- Write and/or update protocols and guidelines in areas of malaria and NTDs as needed.
- Collaborate closely other members of the Medical Department. May be required to collaborate with Staff Health Advisors to input on staff health guidance relevant to their specialty (especially on malaria).
- Contribute to the development of the “Response to Epidemics” clinical team in the Medical Department.
Maintaining an overview of their specialty:
- Monitor R & D and technical developments in malaria and other tropical infectious diseases in order to develop and propose innovative practices and standards adapted to MSF contexts.
- Develop and propose new tools according to developing medical standards: medicines, materials, strategies, techniques, procedures, protocols, guidelines (including budget data).
- Propose, develop and monitor operational research projects in their domain, at the field level, in collaboration with the cells, Epicentre and other research partners.
- Develop a network of medical and research actors, humanitarian actors and others in their specialty.
Be the contact person in their field of activity within and outside of the MSF movement:
- Share technical advances, methods and background material with other MSF operational section counterparts.
- Represent OCP in working groups related to their specialty (the MSF intersection malaria contact group, the MSF intersection Neglected Tropical Disease working group) and, where relevant to their specialty to join various project steering committees & other collaborative groups on specific malaria/NTD topics
- Represent MSF-OCP in their specialty outside the movement at the request of the medical direction.
Profile:
Education and experience:
Essential criteria:
- Medical doctor with at least three years of post-graduate clinical experience in Tropical Medicine or Infectious Diseases and/or formal Infectious Diseases specialty.
- Medical field experience in developing countries with MSF.
- Field experience in malaria case management
Desirable criteria:
- A Master in Tropical Medicine, Public Health or Epidemiology or International Health is an asset.
- Experience working in a field coordination position is an asset.
- Knowledge of recent developments in the field of tropical medicine, humanitarian relief, global public health
- Field experience working in emergency and/or epidemic context is an asset
- Field experience in response to malaria emergencies and/or management of community malaria interventions/mass malaria activities (such as Seasonal Malaria Chemoprophylaxis), especially in African contexts, is a strong asset
- Past experience in diagnosis/treatment of neglected tropical diseases (e.g. cutaneous or visceral leishmaniases, helminths, schistosomiasis, snakebites, or other NTDs) or NTD public health prevention programs (such as mass drug administration’s [MDA]) is a strong asset
- Recent clinical experience in tropical endemic and epidemic diseases such as malaria, NTDs, or epidemic/emerging infectious diseases is an asset
Languages: excellent communication skills in English and French (written and oral), B2 minimum level. Other languages are an asset.
Qualities:
- Strong interpersonal skills, team spirit, networking, and communication skills
- Ability to work not only with other specialists but also as a team with field and HQ staff.
- Organizational skills, initiative, and good communication skills.
- Ability to convince, and to anticipate and plan.
- Skills in scientific analysis and reporting.
- Competencies in Microsoft Office. Availability for frequent travel and field visits.
- Residence in or willingness to relocate to Paris, France.
Position’s specificities
Status: CDD (Temporary, Fixed-term contract- 12 months) – Full Time – based in Paris (1st choice), or in MSF Hubs (Dakar or Nairobi) or elsewhere – Some travel to the field is expected.
Salary conditions: 59.182K€ gross per year based on 13 months.
The benefits you will be entitled to depend on your contract
If you are based in Paris : 22 days RTT per year. Health insurance covered 100% by Médecins Sans Frontières. Restaurant vouchers of 11€ (covered 60% by Médecins Sans Frontières). Reimbursement of 50% of the public transport ticket.
In case the job is done from MSF Dakar or MSF Nairobi, the contractual and salary conditions in force in these offices apply.
Expected starting date: Ideally on 17th of April 2023 to facilitate the formal transfer of the function.
How to apply
Please submit your application (CV and cover letter) online at: https://www.msf.fr/en/get-involved/work-with-us/all-employment-opportunities/tropical-infectious-diseases-advisor-mf
Deadline for application is 18/04/2023
Please note that only selected candidates will be contacted
Our wish is to promote inclusion and diversity. We also wish to improve the representation of people with disabilities in our workforce.
