HIV/TB Advisor based in Amsterdam
Due to maternity leave we are looking for a full time replacement of our:
HIV/TB Advisor
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 organisation
The
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 post
The
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:
- Review of progress in TB and HIV services against the MSF-OCA strategic plan and the topical annual action plan;
- Quality and timely support to health advisors and countries (medical coordinators) concerning “specialist” and non routine TB/HIV questions;
- Close collaboration with Manson Unit medical staff and PHD specialists in related topic areas to support field implementation of TB and HIV interventions;
- Development of further networks as required to enhance MSF-OCA expertise and support for field implementation (e.g., KNCV, PiH);
- Contribute to development and implementation of TB/HIV operational research within MSF-OCA;
- Advocating TB and HIV policy and quality of care issues to MSF-OCA operations and other relevant staff.
·Specific tasks also include:
oSupport the use of the standard reporting format/tools in place for all MSF-OCA TB and HIV interventions;
oSupport field teams in analysis of routine program monitoring information;
oOversight
and analysis of TB and HIV outcomes (including collation and storage of
data), so that implementation can be evaluated effectively;
oSupporting 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:
oIntegration of drug resistant TB diagnosis and treatment in all TB programs;
oTB/HIV co-infection and integrated care;
oInteraction between MSF projects and national TB programmes;
oStigma, discrimination and other barriers to accessing TB and HIV care.
CANDIDATE CRITERIA
Education 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.
INFORMATION AND APPLICATION
If
you are interested in this job and would like additional information,
please contact Debbie Cunningham (Coordinator of Medical Specialists)
phone +31 (0) 20 520 8724.
If you are interested in this position and believe that you fit the profile and meet the requirements, please send your application letter in English together with your CV before October 25 to officejobs@amsterdam.msf.org,mentioning‘TB/HIV Advisor’ in the subject line and for the attention of Ms Jaline Wijkhuizen (Personnel Officer HQ). Please also mention which source provided you the vacancy.
Post a Comment