JOB DESCRIPTION
MSF UK and Ireland
Application checklist
Please check you have included the following documents in
your application email to recruitment.uk@london.msf.org by
9am on 20th Jan 2014:
CV

Letter of motivation

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Manson Unit
London Based
3 years fixed term contract (40 hours a week) with possible extension
Job description
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 (UK/Ireland) is one of 19 offices and operational centres in Europe, America and
Australasia, pooling funding, expertise and staff for field operations. At any one time,
there are some 1,900 international aid workers in the field working alongside around
20,000 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.
The mandate of the UK/Ireland section has traditionally been to provide technical,
human resources, financial and communications support to field operations. That
support is now evolving towards taking direct, medical and operational responsibility
for specific project development. MSF-UK/Irelands’s income for the year ending 31
Dec 2007 was approximately £18m, 80% of which was spent directly on MSF’s
overseas field programmes. The UK/Ireland office currently has around 50 full time
staff working in the London office and placed about 200 medical & non-medical staff
to work in projects in the field during 2007.
The staff in the UK/Ireland office are
dynamic and enthusiastic, all very committed to the aims of MSF and not afraid of
“mucking-in” when necessary. We invest in potential, rather than always recruiting
the most qualified staff.
Manson Unit (MU)
The Manson Unit has been in existence for over 9 years, primarily working in
cooperation with MSF-Holland (MSF-H) now Operation Centre Amsterdam or OCA
(MSF Holland, Germany, Canada and UK/Ireland). It has proved itself as a model for
supporting MSF operations, having fulfilled its first task of ensuring that Artemisininbased 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.
Currently the Manson Unit has 9 staff. It identifies developments in the management
of medical issues such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, malaria and outbreaks of
infectious diseases and environmental contamination.
The Manson Unit helps MSF field projects put these changes into practice, monitors
the implementation of these changes and documents lessons learned from the
experience.
Recently the Manson Unit has focused on implementing and improving TB screening
and treatment in MSF projects, integrating treatment for drug-resistant TB into all
MSF medical operations, providing HIV and TB care in unstable settings and
improving and advocating the treatment of TB in children.
Clinical Trial Project management team
MSF is implementing a project aimed at identifying a new regimen(s) for M/XDR-TB
that is radically shorter, tolerable, effective and feasible to scale up. This will
principally involve the implementation of a multi-centric (multi-operation centre)
clinical trial led by the project management team. Other components of the trial
governance structure will include the data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) and
the scientific advisory committee (SAC) which will consist of persons external to MSF.
This team is part of the Manson Unit. It consists of 2 full time members based in the
MU, the Project Manager, and Chief investigator, a Clinical Trial Manager and others
based in different offices and trial sites.
Clinical Research Assistant
Reports to: Project Manager
Job purpose:
To provide an efficient and responsive communication, organisational and logistical
service to the TB-PRACTECAL Project
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Communications
 Participate in the development of an internal communications plan for the
clinical trial
 Coordinate all internal communication activities pertaining to the clinical trial
 Work in close collaboration with the Trial communications lead in developing
and maintaining a trial mini site
Clinical trial documentation
 Assist the Clinical Trial Manager in setting up and updating the project
document-sharing web platform
 Collect, file and maintain accurate records of all documents and
correspondence pertaining to the clinical trial (both sponsor and investigator
Trial Master Files) in accordance with GCP guidance
 Assist the Clinical Trial Manager in setting up and implementing a version
controlled document management system for all documents pertaining to the
clinical trial in line with GCP guidance
Support to the PMT
 Support the Clinical Trial Manager, the Laboratory specialist and the Clinical
Trial Pharmacist in following up orders and shipments of study materials and
equipment to study sites
 Take minutes for the PMT and other meetings related to the clinical trial
 Prepare correspondence on behalf of the PMT including the drafting of general
replies.
 Coordinate international travel, visa and accommodation requirements for the
PMT members as well as other external individuals on clinical trial-related
duties.
 Provide required logistical and administrative support to the Scientific
Advisory Committee, Data and Safety Monitoring Board and other clinical trial
entities as requested by the Project Manager.
Person specification
Experience:
 Demonstrable experience in coordinating and managing the logistics of a busy
team.
 Experience in managing communications activities of a project / office,
including managing internet-based tools.
 Experience of successfully working with senior management and virtual
teams.
 Working in an MSF or equivalent organisation’s network.
Knowledge:
 Proficient level in the use of Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft office (Word,
Excel and PowerPoint).
 Expert level in the use of diary management tools i.e. Lotus Notes or Outlook.
 Hotmail for maintaining web sites.
 MSF governance, management and administrative structures
Skills (all essential):
 Excellent organisational skills, ability to multi-task and organise others.
 Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to professionally
represent the Manson unit office in the UK/Ireland and internationally across
the movement, including ability to clearly and concisely minute technical
meetings.
 Ability to work under pressure and be flexible as part of a busy small team.
 Ability and willingness to learn new skills related to Good Clinical Practice and
clinical trials coordination
 Great attention to detail and deadlines.
 Ability to filter information and assess priorities.
 Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships at all levels,
including during difficult or challenging circumstances.
 Ability to prioritise and manage own workload amid conflicting demands and
busy work periods.
 Ability to think ahead and anticipate needs before they arise.
 Ability to exercise discretion in dealing with confidential or sensitive matters.
 Confident and able to work on own initiative and with limited supervision.
Education:
University degree or equivalent (desirable)
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform
other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organisation.
Candidates must hold an appropriate passport or permit to work in the UK
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
This is a full-time, fixed term position, and the requirement is to work 40 hours a
week. The salary for this post will be £27,178 pa pro rata inc. Inner London
Weighting
Current Benefits at MSF UK and Ireland:
SALARIES
MSF UK & Ireland pays the salaries into the bank account on the 21st of each month.
FLEXITIME SCHEME
MSF UK & Ireland operates flexi time. The daily requirement for full time staff is to
work 8 hours plus half an hour for lunch with core hours between 9.30am-5.00pm
and flexi time periods between 8.30am – 9.30am and 5.00pm-6.00pm.
ANNUAL LEAVE
The MSF UK & Ireland holiday (annual leave) year runs from 1st January to 31 st
December. Annual entitlement for full-time staff is 28 days per year in addition to UK
bank holidays (pro rata for part-time).
SICK LEAVE
On completion of the probationary period, employees of MSF UK & Ireland receive
additional benefits through our Group Income Protection Scheme and Group Life
Scheme.
PENSION PLAN
On completion of the probationary period employees of MSF UK & Ireland can join
the Group personal Pension Plan. Members of the scheme contribute between 3%
and 5% of their salary. Contributions are deducted from salaries. MSF contributes
3% (for those paying 3 or 4 % of their salary) and 10% for those paying 5%.
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
MSF UK & Ireland has an annual performance review process in place during which
individual development needs are discussed and training needs identified.
HOW TO APPLY – THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Timetable:
 Closing date for applications: 20th January 2014 at 9am
 Interviews: First or second week in February 2014
 Start date: ASAP
To Apply
If you are interested in this position please send your CV and a letter of
motivation explaining how your skills and experience relate to the person
specification to:
Beverly Gurevitz
Human Resources
E-mail: Recruitment.UK@london.msf.org
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) UK is committed to the principle of equal
opportunity in employment. MSF UK/Ireland values the diversity of its workforce and
is firmly committed to creating a culture of dignity and respect at work that values
the rights of every individual.
We ask you to complete this form to assist us in monitoring who is applying for
employment with us, our adherence to equal opportunities best practice and our
progress towards identifying any barriers to diversity among our workforce.
This form will be separated from your application on receipt, and will not be
seen by the interview panel or used in any way for the purposes of
selection. If you are subsequently employed by MSF UK/Ireland it may be retained
upon your personal file. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence, and
in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
SECTION A: AGE
Please tick the age group you belong to
 16 – 21
 61 – 64
 22 – 30
 65 +
 31 – 40
 41 – 50
 51 – 60
 I would prefer not to say
SECTION B: GENDER
What is your gender?
 Male
 Female
 I would prefer not to say
SECTION C: ETHNIC ORIGIN
What is your ethnic group? Choose ONE section from 1 to 5, and then tick the
appropriate box to indicate your cultural background.
1. White
 British
 Irish
 Any other White background (please specify)
2. Mixed
 White and Black Caribbean  White and Black African  White and Asian
 Any other Mixed background (please specify)
3. Asian or Asian British
 Indian
 Pakistani  Bangladeshi
 Any other Asian background (please specify)
4. Black or Black British
 Caribbean African
 Any other Black background (please specify)
5. Chinese or other ethnic group
 Chinese
Any other (please specify)
 I would prefer not to say
SECTION D: DISABILITY
The Equality Act 2010 defines a disability as ‘a physical or mental impairment which
has substantial and long term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal
day-to-day activities’. With this definition in mind, do you consider yourself to be
disabled?
 Yes
 No
 I would prefer not to say
If yes, please provide a brief summary of your disability if you wish to.
SECTION E: RELIGION AND BELIEF
Please indicate the term which best describes your religion/belief.
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Christian
Buddhist
Hindu
Jewish
Muslim
Sikh
Other (please specify)
No religion or belief
I would prefer not to say
SECTION F: SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Please indicate the term which best describes your sexual orientation.
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Bisexual
Gay man
Gay woman / lesbian
Heterosexual
I would prefer not to say
SECTION G: ADVERTISING
Where did you hear about this opportunity to work for MSF?

MSF UK/Ireland Association

MSF UK/Ireland website
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Agency (please specify)
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Other website (please specify)
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Newspaper (please specify)
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Magazine (please specify)
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Conference / Event (please specify)
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Word of mouth