Job Description
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 Monday 23rd September 2013:
CV
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Letter of motivation
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Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
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Job Description
Deputy Head of Manson Unit
London Based
Permanent
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 lifesaving 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 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.
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.
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Job Description
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.
Title:
Deputy Head of Manson Unit
Department:
Manson Unit
Reports to:
Head of Manson Unit – MSF UK and Ireland
Direct reports:
Medical Specialists
Position status (FT, PT):
Full time
Contract:
Permanent
Hours:
40 hours per week
Location:
London, EC1N
Salary:
£46,559 per annum
1.
Position Objective:
The Deputy Head of the Manson Unit (MU) will spearhead the development of a centre of
excellence for evidence based decision making. This will include managing and
supporting a team to improve the use of routine programme data, emergency disease
surveillance, and improving the use of MSF experience and analysis to influence policy
and practice both within MSF and externally. The Deputy Head will manage a pool of
medical and non-medical staff, , as well as contributing to Manson Unit objectives
through their own field implementation and research in a relevant topic area of their
expertise (potential topics could include but are not limited to outbreak response,
malaria, antibiotic resistance).
The Deputy head will report to the head of the MU, and work in close collaboration with
the Head of the public health department (PHD) and the PHD coordinators based in
Amsterdam.
2.
Main duties and responsibilities
2.1
Medical and Operational engagement
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Undertake relevant field or project work in an area of technical expertise relevant to
the MU and MSF OCA strategic ambitions. This will include providing strategic advice
to field sites at the request of head of public health department and operational
research and implementation related to a medical topic, usually in collaboration with
other Manson Unit, public health department and/or field teams
Develop and implement the MU strategy for agreed areas of responsibility*
Contribute to the formulation of the annual plans of OCA public health department
and reporting on development
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Job Description
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Devise and implement strategic plans in line with OCA strategic and annual plans
Liaise effectively and frequently with key partners within the MSF network relevant to
medical topic of expertise
Ensure staff are medically trained, resourced and equipped to be able to support MSF
and respond during emergencies
Share expert medical knowledge through documentation and publication, trainings
and workshops within MSF and to external academic audience
Undertake field visits related to assessment/evaluation within area of expertise
Maintain strong relations and a strong medical voice within MSF OCA and other parts
of MSF
Participate and feed into the OCA planning cycle (AP 4M, strategic planning, etc)
* current areas are epidemiology and GIS, however the areas will be subject to change
based on the changing needs of the Manson Unit and OCA Public Health Department
2.2
Management
Together with the head of the MU is responsible for planning, management and output of
the MU strategic plan, specifically taking responsibility for developing a centre of
excellence for evidence-based decision making through:
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Lead and line manage a pool of medical and non-medical staff* Facilitate, propose
and coordinate annual plans with managed staff and relevant stakeholders within the
MU/UK and OCA strategic plans
Coordinate the workload division for medical specialists in collaboration with the
public health department coordinators in MSF OCA
Build relevant external networks of academic and programmatic specialists with
experience to help achieve the MU strategic plan
Manage and guide planning, operational, advocacy, reporting and policy matters
relating to the overall objectives within the MU annual plans relevant to managed
staff
Coaching team members on operational/implementation research and field expertise,
including supporting development of research protocols, documents for publication,
and relevant medical reports
To maintain regular communication with the head of the MU on progress against
annual plan activities
* currently the pool includes epidemiologists, a GIS Technology Innovation Advisor, an
implementation research adviser and Faculty of public health registrar placement positions,
however this pool will be subject to change based on the changing needs of the Manson Unit and
OCA Public Health Department
2.3
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Work within MSF UK
Participate in the organisation of the MSF Scientific day: liase with other key MSF-UK
staff in event organisation, chairing scientific selection committee, presentation
selection, content editing, etc.
Ensure close working relations between the MU and the Programmes and
Communications teams, particularly on OCA related issues and advocacy
Attendance at MSF-UK meetings to include:
- participation in MSF UK MT meetings in the absence of the Head of the MU
- Sessions/modules related to the Strategic Planning or Annual Planning
processes, for PHD+, MU and MSF-UK.
- Other matters as required. In particular, issues dealing with medical matters,
OCA matters, or of high importance to the entire office.
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Job Description
2.4
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Representation and liaison
Maintain an active network with operations and medical departments and field teams
across the MSF movement to inform MSF UK’s operational policy with a priority on
MSF OCA
Strengthen and/or develop useful relationships with (UK in particular) academic,
government and other relevant institutions
Represent MSF’s interests at relevant, external policy/strategy meetings
Willingness and ability to represent MSF towards the media, donors and other NGOs
particularly on important medical issues
3.
Person Specification
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MSF experience (field and/or HQ) with proven experience in management of
medical staff essential
Medical background essential., Strong paramedical candidates will be considered,
but with experience of managing patients in emergency settings/outbreaks
Good understanding and knowledge of individual patient care and public health
programme management in resource limited settings including emergency
humanitarian contexts.
Experience in managing with a style that inspires and develops team members
Understands dynamics and complexities of working in a global medical movement
gained through experience with MSF or other international medical humanitarian
organisations
Proven Ability to develop clear vision and strategy for medical teams to deliver
quality medical humanitarian assistant to vulnerable groups
Excellent communication skills, networking, negotiating and influencing skills both written and verbal
Ability to manage a diverse work load, with competing demands
Ability to build key networks and maintain effective connections within the MSF
movement
Influences at all levels, across own medical area of expertise, upward through
management levels and externally across the medical and humanitarian sector
Generates high performance in self and others
Strong technical expertise in a medical topic relevant to medical response in
humanitarian contexts.
Operational/implementation research experience including experience with
publications in peer reviewed journals.
Qualifications:
Literacy skills:
Masters Degree in Public Health or Epidemiology
Fluent in written English
Language skills:
Fluent in spoken English (Essential)
Spoken French (desirable)
Travel Requirements:
The post holder will be required to undertake field visits related to assessment and
evaluation in topic area in coordination with field team/desk for relevant programme.
This will be for a minimum of 1-2 field visits per year, and occasionally for extended
periods. The post holder will be required to be available to travel to other MSF offices
worldwide and more frequently to MSF Holland.
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Job Description
Candidates must hold an appropriate passport or permit to work in the UK.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
This is a full-time, permanent position, and the requirement is to work 40 hours a week.
The salary for this post will be £46,559 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 though 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:
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Closing date for applications: 9am on 23rd September 2013
Interviews: W/C 30th September 2013
Start date: Within the next 3 months
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 Officer
E-mail: Recruitment.UK@london.msf.org
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Job Description
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-today activities’. With this definition in mind, do you consider yourself to be disabled?
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Job Description
 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.
 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?
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MSF UK/Ireland Association
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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
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