Artsen Zonder Grenzen

Coordinator of the Brazil Medical Unit (BRAMU)

02/09/2010 - 30/09/2010

Werkaanbiedingen in Brazilië

GENERAL CONTEXT

The Brazil Medical Unit (BRAMU) is part of the MSF Brazil Branch Office. The Unit was created in September 2007, out of the wish to explore the medical resources existing in Brazil to the benefit of MSF medical mandate and operations. Since October 2009, OCB (Operational Centre Brussels) and OCBA (Operational Centre Barcelona-Athens) agreed the effective incorporation of BRAMU to the OCBA Medical Department, thereby transcending OC/Group logic to optimise support to the MSF social mission in general and management of the BRAMU's faculties and potential in particular .  The BRAMU is financed 80% by OCBA, and 20% by OCB, but the Unit offers its support wherever it can be of value in MSF.  The objective of the BRAMU is to provide medical technical support to operations, primarily on three main axes, which are: technical medical support for neglected and ‘emerging diseases’, trainings and medical advocacy.

Structure of the BRAMU:  currently consists of 1 Coordinator, a Medical Advocacy Officer (0.5 FTE), a Chagas Disease and Dengue Advisor (0,38 FTE), and a Paediatrics Advisor (0,25 FTE).  In 2010, the BRAMU took over all technical field support for Chagas, Dengue, and Paediatrics for OCBA, as well as providing relevant support to other sections on these topics.  Furthermore, a specialized training in Chagas and Dengue will be offered by the BRAMU in December, 2010.

JOB GENERAL OBJECTIVE and CONTEXT:

His/her mission will be to coordinate the BRAMU staff on their tasks and to assure the connection between OCBA operational priorities and the technical support provided by BRAMU. S/he will be based in Brazil, as part of the Brazil Medical Unit (BRAMU),  

The Coordinator of the BRAMU is hierarchically and directly accountable to the Director of the MSF-Brazil Branch office, and functionally accountable to the Director of the Medical Department of MSF-OCBA.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES and TASKS:

• Increase the internal capacity of the organisation, supporting programmes implementations / projects components and ensuring quality of the treatment through the coordination of the areas within the BRAMU’s portfolio.  
• Coordinate support in the elaboration of policies and medical strategies in the OCBA, when requested.
• To coordinate the building of an overview of external actors in the technical areas in the scope of BRAMU within in Brazil and Latin America.
• To follow research initiatives relevant to MSF operations in Brazil and Latin America, and to feed information back to internal discussions in the MSF Movement.     
• To coordinate the support and provision of technical support to operational research linked to BRAMU’s portfolio, and when requested by the Medical Director.
• To provide specific support and involvement in operational research when eventually required by Medical Director, for example when related to Chagas disease.
• To contribute to the “transversal” analysis of our projects and capitalisation on experience through the coordination of the elaboration of strategic documents, technical recommendations and guidelines.
• Coordinate the elaboration of both general and specific training programmes organised by MSF when requested by the Medical Director.
• To participate and/or delegate participation, in specific events, trainings, conferences, or medical platforms, all related to BRAMU’s portfolio, representing MSF when agreed and/or requested by the Medical Director.
• To coordinate the activities of advocacy in close connection with the OCBA action plan for each year.
• Under supervision of the OCBA Medical Director, the BRAMU Coordinator will submit its annual plan to the Director of the MSF-Brazil Office .

Requirements:

• Medical Doctor.
• Polyvalent profile with a background in infectious diseases or pediatrics as an asset.
• Good knowledge of medical institutions in Brazil and Latin America.  
• A minimum of 3 years experience with MSF.
• Very good general knowledge of MSF structure and field operations.

                Ability to travel for short periods

                Languages: fluent Portuguese and English; Spanish and French are distinct assets.

Competencies

• Identification with MSF
• Management skills
• Cross-cultural Awareness and Flexibility
• Analytical Thinking
• Information Seeking and Handling
• Quality and Results orientation
• Planning and Organising
• Initiative and Innovation
• Internal User and/or End Beneficiary orientation
• Capacity to influence
• Teamwork

Conditions:

• 40 h/week contract for an indefinite period
• Starting date: 15st November
• Based in Rio de Janeiro

CV + letter of application to be sent before 30th September 2010 to: vaga.bramu@rio.msf.org