Ebola Focal Point

Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) - United States•New York, NY

6d•$78,399 - $117,599•Hybrid

About The Position

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients. MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission. In just two months since the official declaration of the Ebola disease outbreak, we are already confronted with the third largest Ebola outbreak and the fastest on record, with nearly 2,000 confirmed cases in DRC to date. In 2 months, we have already reached about half of the total cases reported during the 2018–2020 outbreak in the same country (the world’s second largest Ebola disease outbreak, which lasted just under two years, with a total of 3,381 reported cases). Additionally, the current outbreak has already achieved a broader geographic footprint than the 2018–2020 outbreak and has done so in a matter of months. With more than 700 deaths since the official declaration of the Ebola disease outbreak in Uganda and DRC, the situation remains a public health emergency. More than 1,400 MSF staff are currently responding in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, working alongside the Congolese health authorities. The MSF USA Ebola Focal Point will act as the centralized focal point of contact for an efficient emergency staffing response from MSF USA coordinating essential information flow, processes and resources pertaining to the Ebola outbreak response from MSF USA IHR Department. The Ebola focal point will lead the MSF USA core response team which include representatives from IHR, People OPS, Talent, US Medical Unit and other stakeholders as needed. The Ebola Focal Point is accountable for the implementation of US staff return protocols and post assignment observation period follow-up as per MSF and US CDC standards. This role is temporary and will fulfill a vital immediate need and has an anticipated duration of 6 months, minimally through the end of 2026.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience with and commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Adherence to MSF safeguarding principles, culture and standards
Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles of MSF
Minimum 2 years of international humanitarian experience in supervisory/coordination roles
Demonstrated understanding of, and prior experience with, HR policies applicable to international mobile staffing

Nice To Haves

Medical or paramedical background with prior knowledge of US health authorities’ structure ( central/ state/ county level)
Prior experience in Viral Hemorrhagic Fever outbreak response (based in US or in programme-countries).
Good knowledge and understanding of MSF emergency response structures, Operational Centers, Staff Health Units and Mobile staff deployment process

Responsibilities

Coordinate MSF USA Ebola response multi-disciplinary team composed of representatives from IHR, Talent, People OPS, US Medical Unit and acts as Team Lead overseeing preparedness, implementation and follow-up of MSF USA staffing response.
Report regularly on MSF USA response, challenges, achievements and plans.
Serve as a point of contact for non-medical matters for the OC SHU Ebola Focal points to ensure MSF-USA is up to date on their policies and procedures, overseeing information flow to the relevant personnel in the P&C department and others in MSF-USA.
Liaise with relevant stakeholders to ensure that MSF-USA policies for post-return surveillance and employment are approved by OC counterparts and compliant with US specific (USG, CDC) and MSF standards.
Support IHROs and P&C department in confirming OC and MSF-US pre departure and post return requirements.
Oversee the department’s Ebola action planning tool in collaboration with the IHR Director, ensure that adequate support and resources are available to the team.
Liaise with the P&C subunits (People OPS, IHR, Talent team) and other relevant stakeholders as needed to ensure optimal communication and information sharing.
Conduct as required Ebola specific briefings/debriefings for Mobile Staff to maintain clarity of information, coherence of preparedness and feedback loops.
Coordinate pre-departure health related questions (between IMS<->SHU) and ensure that answers provided are consistent with OC and MSF USA Policies.
Work in close collaboration with the Global Mobility team to anticipate and manage IMS movements to and from the Ebola context, ensuring all staff returning from the Ebola context complete the ‘Return Form’ and are informed of what to expect upon return.
Liaise with Director of US Health Unit in order to finalize return plan for IMS based on risk assessment, MSF-USA policy, and local health authority guidelines.
Conduct regular check-ins with IMS during their monitoring period post return (as needed per CDC/local health authorities recommendations)
Refer medical questions/concerns to the Director of US Health Unit as needed
Update internal Ebola knowledge management repository on Sharepoint to ensure traceability of decisions/ actions/ communications and capitalization of knowledge
Provide comprehensive wrap-up /lessons learnt assessment at end of the intervention for the continuous improvement of processes in MSF USA ahead of future interventions.