Medecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is with immediate effect looking for a

Malaria / Infectious Diseases Specialist

Manson Unit/Public Health Department OCA

London or Amsterdam Based

Annual Salary - £40,163

The Malaria Infectious Diseases Specialist reports to thePublic Health departmentmanager (to be defined depending on base office).

Job purpose:The overall aim of this post is to provide support and impetus to strategic planning, implementation and operational research relating to malaria and infectious diseases in MSF-OCA projects.

Key outputs expected:

Provide malaria/infectious diseases specialist support to MSF-OCA in order to successfully implement the MSF policy. This will include:

  • Review of progress against the current MSF-OCA malaria action plan and policy, and development of new plans for 2014 onwards;
  • Quality and timely support to health advisors and country teams (medical coordinators and field doctors) concerning “specialist” and non-routine malaria and infectious diseases questions;
  • Development of further networks as required to enhance MSF-OCA expertise and support for field implementation (e.g. KIT, LSHTM, LSTM);
  • Representation of MSF-OCA and active participation in the MSF malaria working group +/- relevant working group/contact group (antimicrobial resistance, cholera), contributing to MSF international strategies, plans, monitoring and evaluation, and operational research;
  • Proposing operational/implementation research on malaria and infectious diseases within MSF-OCA and contributing to study completion through a collaborative approach with other specialists / advisers/ field staff;
  • Advocating malaria policy and quality of care issues to MSF-OCA operations and other relevant staff
  • Specific tasks also include:
  • Oversight and analysis of malaria programme outcomes including collation and storage of data, so that implementation can be evaluated effectively; support field teams in the use and analysis of routine program monitoring information for malaria;
  • Development and support for new infectious diseases strategies, e.g., adherence etc.;
  • Supporting the revision of malaria and infectious diseases training modules and guidelines, and training for MSF staff.
  • Provide support to e-desk, advisers and/or field staff on request for support in clinical and preventive activities in outbreak management

Candidate Criteria

Education and experience

  • Medical doctor with specialization in Infectious Diseases or Internal Medicine
  • Experience with planning and implementation of malaria treatment programmes
  • Strong clinical experience in managing infectious diseases patients in tropical/resource limited settings
  • Relevant field experience with MSF or an equivalent humanitarian organisation is an asset
  • Proven analytical skills, policy development experience, and strategic thinking
  • Proven interest and experience in technical expertise development and operational research

Capacities and skills:

  • Good oral and written communication skills
  • Willingness to spend up to 30% of time in the field
  • Strong interpersonal skills: stimulating, innovative,able to mobilise/motivate and coach people
  • Able to work under time pressure on various projects at a time
  • Fluent English essential; French desirable

WE ARE OFFERING

  • A full time appointment (based on a 40-hour work week) for one year, with the option for renewal.
  • Gross salary & benefits will be determined based on the salary grid & benefits of the MSF Office where the employee will be based, the position is at level of a health specialist. MSF salary levels are based on NGO/public sector on similar markets.
  • A challenging position within a stimulating, professional working environment in a major international organisation.

INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

Deadline for applications: 6th March 2014 by 5pm

Would you like additional information on this position, please contact Mr Tammam Aloudat (Head of the Public Health Department) ph+31 (0)20 520 8765 or by e-mail

If you are interested in this position and believe that you fit the profile and meet the requirements, please submit your letter of application and curriculum vitae in English before 6thof March 2014 to: for the attention of Ms Jaline Wijkhuizen indicating “Malaria/ Infectious Diseases Specialist” in the subject line. In your application please indicate your preference for base Amsterdam/London.

Would you be so kind to mention in your e-mail where you came across this vacancy.

Acquisitions regarding this position are not appreciated.

More information on MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is the world's largest independent medical relief organisation, dedicated to providing expert medical relief to vulnerable populations at times of conflict or disaster. In over 60 countries worldwide, MSF provides both life-saving emergency relief and longer-term assistance to make basic healthcare services available to the most vulnerable or excluded communities.

MSF Operational Center Amsterdam (MSF OCA) consists of the MSF sections in the Netherlands, UK/Ireland, and Germany and currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in approx. 25 countries. On a yearly basis MSF OCA deploys over 800 international and approximately 6000 national staff.

MSF's aim is to provide impartial assistance, on the basis of need alone, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, creed or political affiliation. To maintain its independence from political interference, MSF relies on donations from individuals around the world for at least 50% of its income. This private funding gives MSF the freedom to respond to the greatest needs as fast as possible.

As medical professionals, MSF volunteers have a duty to try and protect their patients from violence and abuse. MSF often chooses to speak out about gross violations of humanitarian law against civilians in conflict, refugees, unaccompanied children and other vulnerable groups, in an attempt to bring abuse to world attention.

Public Health Department and Manson Unit (PHD+)

The Public Health Department (PHD) of the MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) supports the overall purpose of MSF, providing medical and public health leadership for the organisation. The department is responsible for providing strategic direction and integrated advice on medical and public health issues to the field and headquarters. The PHD plays a key role in developing and maintaining the medical humanitarian identity and image of MSF-OCA, and in continuing to develop and improve intervention strategies so as to be relevant and effective.

The department is made up of a group of generalist Health Advisors (based in Amsterdam and Berlin) and medical and public health specialists (paediatrics, nutrition, water and sanitation, mental health, HIV/TB, etc.) so as to provide expert support in a range of fields.

The Manson Unit has been in existence for over 9 years, primarily working in cooperation with MSF Operation Centre Amsterdam. It has proved itself as a model for supporting MSF operations, having fulfilled its first task of ensuring that Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) was implemented across MSF-OCA programmes for the treatment of malaria (2003-5). The role of the Manson Unit is to improve the quality of MSF’s medical programmes, which is achieved through field implementation, specialist advisers, operational/implementation research and collaborations. Currently the Manson Unit has 10 staff working in the management of medical issues such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, outbreaks of infectious diseases and environmental contamination.

Publication date: 31st of January 2014