NGO JOBS

Organization: Médecins Sans Frontières
Country: Belgium, Luxembourg
Closing date: 07 Sep 2013

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organisation that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed, or political affiliation.

The Medical Department is composed of polyvalent medical staff working in operational cells and experts working outside these cells. The experts cover the following domains (in alphabetical order): emergency medical support unit, epidemiology, health promotion/anthropology, HIV/AIDS, Infection control, laboratory, malaria, medical data, medical devises/logistics, mental health, nutrition, pharmacy, sexual/reproductive health, surgery/anesthesia, tuberculosis, vaccination & water, hygiene/sanitation. The documentation center and the expatriate pool management also form part of the department. The Operational research and documentation unit is an integral and overlapping unit of the Medical Department. There are two relatively autonomous units conducting operational research. The LUXOR unit, which is based in Luxembourg, with core activities including operational research capacity building and a focus on research linked to a non-HIV/TB related agenda. The second unit is the SAMU unit based in South Africa which focuses only on HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis.

Geographical location of the postThe Programme Officer is an MSF Luxembourg section position based in Brussels with regular and scheduled time spent in Luxembourg and on the field.

Interactions* The coordinator of operational research (OR) is the overall medical department reference person in regard to guiding global policy and strategic aspects of Operational Research and medical data in the OCB. * The program officer will work closely with the operational cells in charge of the projects and the technical referents in the medical department * The program officer will liaise with counterparts in other MSF sections and out of MSF* The program officer will report to the OR coordinator and Luxembourg DG

JOB DESCRIPTION

1. Support OR activities at MSF OCB and MSF Luxembourg partner section level.

   • Under the Medical Department mandate and in collaboration with the operational coordinator and the cell medical polyvalent, (s)he contributes to the definition of the OR activities; i.e. identify the related resources to achieve the objective (HR, equipment, finances, etc.). This task has to be achieved in the early phase of the definition of a new project and revised periodically afterwards. The Program Officer will thus be actively involved with the annual action planning exercise.
   • Organize regular progress updates and feedback on OR activities at HQ level. Liaise with responsible individual on resolving /facilitating practical field and headquarter based problems or hurdles.
   • Support and facilitate OR activities at cell and operations level (create the correct political climate) along with the current OR team and OR coordinator.
   • Support and facilitate activities related to: -Defining and lobbying for the resources and improved organisational set-up of the OR activities at project level implying data collection/awareness of its relevance.-Regular reporting on OR activities including narrative and quarterly reports -Facilitate feedback and discussions on implications for policy and practice-Contribute to retention strategy of trained research staff

2. Manage and Coordinate the Luxor team

   • The Program Officer will be the direct line manager of the Luxor team members. (S)he will coordinate all Luxor team activities including planning, reporting and budget. (S)he will organize quarterly meeting in Luxemburg and maintain MSF Luxemburg section and department updated on Luxor activities and outcomes. (S)he will update the MSF Luxemburg Board on request basis.
   • The Program Officer is responsible for quarterly and yearly activity report.

3. Manage the epidemiologists' pool in collaboration with the pool managers in Brussels and Luxemburg

4. OR fellows

   • Manage and follow up the OR fellows pool in collaboration with the OCB – OR coordinator.
   • Ensure quarterly reporting of fellows for donors.
   • Collaborate with the HR manager of MSF Luxemburg to improve the fellow statute at OCB level

5. Technical advice given to MSF Luxemburg General Direction and ensure the information flow and feedback.

6. Partnership

   • Contribute to the definition of the partnership between the unit, the OCB medical department and other external identified OR partners.

7. Meetings, contacts, proposal and report with the Luxor donors regarding the operational research funding

8. Be the primary contact to facilitate and advocate for the interest of Luxor activities within Operations.

9. Collaborate with the Luxemburg DG and OR Coordinator on building Luxor to become an international hub for OR within the MSF movement and beyond.

Candidate profile* Qualifications and experience - Medical profile with high operational experience (e.g. HoM, MedCo, FieldCo, medical polyvalent)- Master in public health - Previous experience in OR would be an advantage

Other criteria* A high degree of work autonomy as well as strategic and management capacity are required* Willingness & flexibility to travel and work between Luxemburg, Brussels and the field are essential

Languages* Fluent in spoken English and French.

Conditions:* Full time contract

How to apply:

Please send your CV and motivation letter before the 8th of September 2013 to

Sylvie ThomasMédecins Sans Frontières68, rue de GasperichL – 1617 Luxembourg

Ref: PO/LUX

ORsylvie.thomas@luxembourg.msf.org