Non-Communicable Diseases Referent

About MSF-USA | Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian organization providing medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care in over 70 countries. We were formed in France in 1971 as an association by a group of doctors and journalists to go to emergency situations and to treat patients with dignity while bearing witness independently of geopolitical boundaries. MSF is now a global movement of more than 25 MSF organizations, working in over 70 countries. We cooperate as an international, independent, medical humanitarian association that offers medical assistance to populations in distress, victims of natural or manmade disasters, and civilian victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, age, gender/sex, national or ethnic origin, color, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or political affiliation and provides assistance to the population in distress and intervenes worldwide. MSF staff also “bear witness” by speaking out about our work and what is experienced on the ground, not only to draw the world’s attention to crises, but to stand in solidarity with our patients and colleagues who are experiencing these emergencies firsthand.

We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.

About the New York Medical Unit Department

The New York Medical Unit (NYMU) is part of MSF-USA and part of the Medical Department of Operational Center Paris (MSF-OCP). MSF-OCP currently operates activities in over 30 countries. The NYMU is comprised of a mixed team of MSF-OCP and other MSF entities who provides technical support for: Antimicrobial Resistance, Medical Editing, Operational Research Coordination, Non-Communicable Diseases, Digital Health Information Management, Data Protection and Management, Learning & Development, and Medical Devices/In-Vitro Diagnostics Quality Assurance.

The overall purpose of the medical department is to achieve MSF’s social mission by its leadership, expertise, and advocacy through:

• The co-creation of medico-operational strategies and priorities
• Pertinent, context-adapted medical support
• Leading/oversight of/support for continuing improvement of quality of care and respect for medical ethics
• Conducting operational research and new medical approaches
• Internal and external advocacy based on field needs, our experience, and the results of our research.
• The development of links between MSF and the medical world

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a high burden in populations that MSF serves (especially in the Middle East and Asia but also increasingly in low-income countries impacted by a dual burden of infectious and non-communicable chronic conditions. In the MSF-OCP strategic plan 2020-2023, the need to address long term needs for the population we serve is highlighted as being central to the quality of our care and to our ambitions to remain patient-centered.

About the Project

ROLE OVERVIEW

Based in New York and under the hierarchical responsibility of the Head of the NYMU, the NCDs Referent contributes to the definition of NCDs medical policies, MSF-OCP’s medico-operational strategies relevant to NCDs and their implementation and coordinates the technical support to the field.

ROLES SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES

Daily Activities & Responsibilities

• Participate in the definition of medico-operational strategies:
• Participate in the definition of MSF OCP medico-operational strategies for NCD care and general chronic disease care delivery systems.
• Identify priority projects according to these strategies, aligned with the MSF-OCP strategic plan, and participate in the definition of the department's action plan.
• Participate in discussions in MSF-USA pertaining to its role in implementing elements of movement-wide MedOp strategies and objectives.

Provide advice and support to cells and missions:

• In conjunction with cell teams, actively participate in the development, strategy definition, and monitoring of projects in NCDs.
• Support the project and headquarters managers in decision-making related to NCDs and ensure good practice, taking into account specific context constraints.
• Ensure the cell medical staff and medical coordinators are aware and have access to the policies, procedures, and tools of the department for further dissemination.
• Ensure that tools and procedures to guarantee quality of care are available to teams.
• Define and monitor the application of guidelines, protocols, and tools.
• Provide (de-) briefings to headquarters and field personnel related to her/his specialty.

Be responsible for monitoring and analyzing project activities in NCDs:

• Participate in defining the indicators needed for monitoring and reporting on medical activities.
• Maintain an awareness of routine programmatic data concerning NCDs for all missions and regularly discuss relevant metrics with the coordination teams and medical managers.
• Prepare the annual report of activities for NCDs.
• Technically supervise NCD activity in all projects.

Maintaining an overview of NCDs and chronic disease care delivery:

• Monitor R & D and technical developments in NCDs in order to develop innovative practices and standards, including in the area of chronic disease care delivery models.
• Write protocols and guidelines for NCDs and participate in the development and revision of international guidelines with the NCD Working Group.
• Develop and propose new tools and ways of organizing services according to developing medical standards: medicines, materials, strategies, techniques, procedures, protocols, guidelines (including budget data).
• Develop an internal and external network of medical and research NCDs-actors, humanitarian actors, and others in chronic disease care with special focus on community based organizations and public sector health interventions in the USA.

Be the contact person for NCD activity within and outside of the MSF movement:

• Share technical advances, methods, and background material with other MSF operational section counterparts.
• Represent MSF-USA and MSF-OCP in the MSF-NCD Working Group and outside the movement at the request of the medical direction.
• Propose, develop, and monitor operational research projects in NCDs, at the project level, in collaboration with the cells, Epicentre, and other research partners.

Contribute to transversal development:

• Share information and knowledge, develop the ability to work with other referents, services, departments, and satellites of MSF as part of improved collaboration across the medical department. Especially with referents for other Chronic conditions (such as HIV, TB, etc.)
• Coordinate with various MedOp actors (Patient Centered Approach team, Quality of Care Advisor, Hospital Management team, etc…) within MSF to develop chronic disease care delivery systems.

Skills transfer:

• Participate in the definition of training content.
• Participate as a facilitator for MSF OCP and international medical trainings.

Who You Are

• Commitment to the work of MSF-USA and Our Social Mission

• Interest in NY Medical Unit activities and Non-Profits

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office is required

• Must be pro-active, self-directed, detail-oriented and organized, as well as work independently in a virtual setting. Curious and creative approach to problem solving.

• Ability to interact professionally with multiple and diverse cross- departmental stakeholders

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Background Preferred

Experience:

• At least two years of significant professional project experience with a medical organization, MSF experience preferred

• Experience in a coordination or management position and/or project management is preferred

• HQ experience is an asset

• Recent clinical practice in internal medicine or relevant clinical work in NCDs an advantage

• Experience in implementing strategies, research projects, and training programs is an asset

Languages:

• English fluent required (written and oral). Other languages an asset (Arabic, French)

Skills:

• Proficiency in the technical skills of NCDs/chronic diseases domain

• A Master in Public Health or International Health or Epidemiology is an asset

Abilities:

• Ability to work with other specialists and as a team. Organizational skills, initiative, and good communication skills. Ability to convince, and to anticipate and plan

• Skills in scientific analysis and reporting. Availability for field visits

Mobility:

• Example of previous positions (P-1): Medical Coordinator, Medical Focal Point, Project Coordinator, Medical Referent, Nursing Referent, ..

• Examples of professional development (P + 1): Medical Cell Manager, Clinical Leader Referent, Head of Medical Unit, Deputy Medical Director, Medical Director.

Expected to work in a hybrid work environment with the ability to come into either the NYC office or regional hub (Washington, DC or Bay Area, California) a minimum of 2 times a week.

We offer a generous comprehensive benefits package inclusive of Wellness initiatives to support a healthy work life balance

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

No phone calls or emails please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Our staff works a hybrid schedule of two days a week in the office, three days remote. The required days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from January to June and September to December.

Summer months of July and August are fully remote. In office work attendance during July and August is optional.

Your Safety Matters: Vaccination and booster against COVID-19 is a requirement at MSF - USA.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

MSF-USA is committed to building a diverse, unbiased, and inclusive workforce. MSF- USA is an equal opportunity employer; we recruit, hire, train, promote, develop, and provide other conditions of employment without regard to a person’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences consistent with applicable laws. This includes providing reasonable accommodation for disabilities, or religious beliefs and practices. Members of communities historically underrepresented in the Humanitarian Aid sector are encouraged to apply.

If you have a disability of some kind and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources by emailing us: employment.msfusa@newyork.msf.org.

Reasonable accommodation requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Type

HQ

Pay Class & Contract Type

Regular FT Salaried Exempt

Compensation

Starting salary $132,900.04 to $142,200.24 (commensurate with experience)

Working Time (Hours Per Week)

35

Nearest Major Market: Manhattan
Nearest Secondary Market: New York City