NGO JOBS

Effective 1 December the Public Health Department of Médecins Sans Frontières is looking for a:

Pharmacist - 100% - based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The overall purpose of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is to preserve life and alleviate suffering while protecting human dignity and seeking to restore the ability of people to make their own decisions. MSF accomplishes this through the provision of medical aid and a personal commitment to act as witness to events surrounding populations in danger. This work is essentially performed in periods of crisis, when a situation is no longer held in balance and the very survival of a population may be threatened. The underlying basis for realising its objectives is respect for medical ethics, humanistic ideals, human rights and international humanitarian law.

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 (laboratory, mental health, nutrition, paediatrics, water and sanitation, etc. based in Amsterdam) so as to provide expert support in a range of fields. The Manson Unit, a medical unit based in MSF-UK, focuses on support to tuberculosis and epidemiology, including longer-term direct field support to overcome implementation challenges.

The pharmacist post is situated in the Public Health Department in Amsterdam. The PHD pharmacist works in close collaboration with the MSF-OCA procurement pharmacist in the Logistics department and with fellow pharmacists in other MSF operational centres.

PARAMETERS OF THE POST

Position within the organisationThe pharmacist reports hierarchically directly to the Co-ordinator Medical Specialists, Public Health Department (Amsterdam) and receives functional support from the international pharmacist (Geneva).

Objective of the postThe overall aim of this post is to assure, and continuously improve, the quality and use of pharmaceutical products in MSF-OCA, through definition of and monitoring adherence to MSF and recognized international pharmaceutical policies.

Core responsibilities and tasks:

• Lead implementation in MSF-OCA of relevant new MSF policies and procedures, including quality assurance of medicines, rational drug use, and pharmacy management • Continuously analyse developments in the realm of pharmaceuticals and liaise with counterparts within other MSF sections and other organizations in order to initiate timely updates to MSF standards and policies• Monitor and evaluate the quality of pharmacy management in MSF-OCA programmes • Provide quality and timely advice and support to health advisors and field medical and logistical personnel (especially medical coordinators) concerning pharmaceutical issues• Collaborate with human resources pool manager on development of pharmacist pool, and support development of field pharmacists through briefing, training, and coaching• Support the use of the standard pharmaceutical supply systems and tools • Advise operational and medical decision-makers on the possibilities and risks of local drug purchase in project countries, after evaluation of the safety of such purchases when importation is not possible• Execute field visits to selected missions to assist with addressing implementation difficulties and provide technical support on local procurement of pharmaceuticals where that has become necessary; document findings and recommendations in trip report• Lead and support optimal development of pharmacy management in MSF-OCA, in collaboration with the field support unit (logistics) and other MSF sections

CANDIDATE CRITERIA

Education and experience:• Qualified Pharmacist• Field experience in low-resource contexts • Experience with quality assurance of pharmaceuticals • Field/headquarters experience with MSF or a similar organisation is an advantage

Capacities and skills: • Good written and oral communication skills, with the capacity to act as an adviser to colleagues and the field• Must be able to visit and support projects at short notice, and willing to spend up to 30% of time in the field• Strong interpersonal skills: innovative, able to mobilise/motivate and coach people• Able to work under time pressure on various projects at a time• Fluency in English and preferably French is required; Dutch is not necessary

WE ARE OFFERING • A full time appointment (based on a 40-hour work week) for a period of (preferably) three years in Amsterdam as of December 1, 2012• A gross monthly salary of a minimum €2,961 and a maximum of €4,230 depending on relevant professional work experience, for a full-time appointment• A stimulating, professional working environment in an international organisation• Attractive secondary benefits

Due to maternity leave we are looking for a full time replacement of our:

HIV/TB Advisor (100%) - based in Amsterdam - from 1 December 2012 to 31 August 2013

BACKGROUND

The overall purpose of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is to preserve life and alleviate suffering while protecting human dignity and seeking to restore the ability of people to make their own decisions. MSF accomplishes this through the provision of medical aid and a personal commitment to act as witness to events surrounding populations in danger. This work is essentially performed in periods of crisis, when a situation is no longer held in balance and the very survival of a population may be threatened. The underlying basis for realising its objectives is respect for medical ethics, humanistic ideals, human rights and international humanitarian law.

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 (laboratory, mental health, nutrition, paediatrics, water and sanitation, etc.) so as to provide expert support in a range of fields. The Manson Unit, a medical unit based in MSF-UK, focuses on support to tuberculosis and epidemiology, including longer-term direct field support to overcome implementation challenges.

MSF-OCA has a policy of providing HIV and TB care integrated in our primary and secondary health care programs. We have successfully implemented integrated HIV care and treatment in our missions, including in conflict-affected areas. Key challenges remain to improve our programming in PMTCT, paediatric care, and to discover innovative strategies to better access marginalized and excluded individuals with HIV. The strategic vision for TB is to include access to DST and second line drugs as part of the package of routine TB care in all relevant programs. This strategy poses key challenges for simplification of DR-TB protocols and innovative implementation strategies. Integration of HIV-TB is a key aspect of our policy and this position is designed to provide integrated advisor support to the two diseases.

PARAMETERS OF THE POST

Position within the organisationThe HIV/TB Advisor will be line managed by the Coordinator of Medical Specialists, Public Health Department (Amsterdam). The post holder will work in close consultation with the partner HIV/TB Advisors and TB Implementers on strategic issues and be responsible for support to a specific portfolio of countries. The HIV/TB Advisor will collaborate with the Health Advisors and other specialists in the department.

Objective of the postThe overall aim of this post is to provide support and impetus to strategic planning, implementation and operational research relating to HIV and TB in MSF-OCA projects.

Key outputs expected: The HIV/TB specialists enable MSF-OCA to successfully implement the MSF TB and HIV policy. This includes:o Review of progress in TB and HIV services against the MSF-OCA strategic plan and the topical annual action plan; o Quality and timely support to health advisors and countries (medical coordinators) concerning “specialist” and non-routine TB/HIV questions; o Close collaboration with Manson Unit medical staff and PHD specialists in related topic areas to support field implementation of TB and HIV interventions;o Development of further networks as required to enhance MSF-OCA expertise and support for field implementation (e.g., KNCV, PiH);o Contribute to development and implementation of TB/HIV operational research within MSF-OCA;o Advocating TB and HIV policy and quality of care issues to MSF-OCA operations and other relevant staff.

• Specific tasks also include:o Support the use of the standard reporting format/tools in place for all MSF-OCA TB and HIV interventions; o Support field teams in analysis of routine program monitoring information;o Oversight and analysis of TB and HIV outcomes (including collation and storage of data), so that implementation can be evaluated effectively;o Supporting the revision of TB and HIV training modules and guidelines, and training for MSF staff.

• Specific attention will also be needed in the following areas, and further plans developed relating to:o Integration of drug resistant TB diagnosis and treatment in all TB programs;o TB/HIV co-infection and integrated care; o Interaction between MSF projects and national TB programmes;o Stigma, discrimination and other barriers to accessing TB and HIV care.

CANDIDATE CRITERIAEducation and experience:• Medical doctor with specialization in Infectious Diseases or Internal Medicine;• Experience with planning and implementation of TB and HIV care and treatment programmes, including treatment of MDR-TB; • Strong clinical experience in managing TB and HIV patients in resource limited settings;• Relevant field experience with a humanitarian organisation;• Proven analytical skills, policy development experience and strategic thinking;• Proven interest and experience in operational research and technical expertise development.

Capacities and skills: • Good oral and written communication skills;• Willingness to spend up to 30% of time in the field;• Strong analytical and problem-solving capacity;• 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 the specified period; • A gross salary of a minimum € 2,961 and € 4,230 maximum depending on relevant professional work experience, for a full-time appointment;• A stimulating, professional working environment in an international organisation;• Attractive secondary benefits.