Emergency Pool Mobile Country Medical Coordinator

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  • French & English
    Language skills
  • Previous MSF experience mandatory
    MSF experience required
  • Full time
    Time allocation
  • 12 months
    Length of contract
  • Must be willing to travel for work as needed
    Travel requirements
  • Fixed term
    Contract type
  • Operations
    Expertise
  • On site
    Work model
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation. 

Emergency Pool Mobile Country Medical Coordinator (m/f/x) - MSF Belgium

CONTEXT  

Within the Operations Department of MSF Belgium (Operational Center Brussels - OCB), our Emergency Pool (E-Pool) has as primary function to intervene directly and quickly with medical activities in crisis situations such as conflicts, epidemics, outbreaks and natural disasters while guaranteeing the quality of interventions. It is also tasked with monitoring and identification of crisis that may arise.  

The E-Pool consists of one E-Pool Coordinator and a deputy, and two Emergency Coordinators based in Brussels. In addition to the Emergency coordinators, the E-Pool unit is composed of technical referent officers in Supply, Logistics, HR and Finance.  

The E-Pool also includes a Mobile Emergency Team deployed in emergency operations and composed of different profiles of coordinators and technicians. Members of the E-Pool Mobile Team travel at short notice to any context where the E-Pool is leading interventions, operating in a roving capacity. They undertake successive several short-term assignments between 6 weeks to 3 months, though in exceptional cases, it may extend beyond 3 months. 

As Emergency Pool Mobile Country Medical Coordinator (eMedCo), you have the critical responsibility to identify emergencies, prepare and lead assessments, launch emergency interventions and be responsible for the design, implementation and monitoring of the medical operational strategy needed to meet the immediate health-related needs of populations in precarious situations. You’ll be responsible for the planning and coordination of all medical activities and resources needed in the programme, according to MSF’s charter, policies, guidelines, and ethical principles with consideration of international and national laws, to ensure the delivery of quality medical care for patients and their communities as well as to improve the health condition and humanitarian living conditions of the target population. 

Priority will be given to assignments of eMedCo positions in programmes or projects managed by the Emergency Pool, but other positions such as Deputy MedCo or Project Medical Coordinator (PMC) could also be covered to support more directly the project. You will be managed by the technical referent of the E-Pool who will define the assignment priorities. According to the E-Pool intervention the hierarchical line varies, yet there will always be a technical line direct to the Emergency desk in Brussels. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Ensure high quality and timely integrated health and humanitarian needs assessments during exploratory visits and emergency interventions 

  • Design and review medical emergency responses and strategies tailored to the context and identified needs and lead the implementation of the health emergency interventions 

  • Identify health staffing needs for emergency interventions and ensure rapid recruitment, induction and training of new country-based medical staff 

  • Oversee pharmacy set-up and management and responsible for timely, accurate, quality medical orders 

  • Support and coach the PMCs in the different projects (briefing, debriefing, regular check-ins, …) 

  • Briefing/debriefing of all medical staff supporting the implementation of any of the projects in the country of intervention 

  • Ensure consistent monitoring and analysis of medical indicators to enhance the effectiveness and quality of medical emergency interventions. The eMedCo is responsible for ensuring regular data collection of all medical activities carried out in the projects, following guidance set out by the E-Pool medical team and the medical department at HQ in Brussels and tailored to the operational and advocacy needs 

  • Oversee staff health at country level (country-based staff and mobile staff) 

  • Provide regular reporting on the programme evolution from the medical perspective and is responsible for the Medical Library in the country of intervention. Informs the medical field staff of all materials available, and keeps all medical documents updated on the digital desk 

  • Represent MSF at local level (national medical authorities) and keeps regular contact with other counterparts in the country of intervention (NGOs, local organizations, donors) to broaden the medical-humanitarian situation analysis, strengthening the impact of the medical interventions and supporting advocacy actions to raise humanitarian awareness 

  • Close emergency interventions when appropriate, including coordinating the handover of medical activities to other actors and ensuring the proper archiving of medical files at the end of an intervention 

REQUIREMENTS 

Education and Experience 

  • A degree in medicine or other paramedical studies is essential 

  • Additional public health, specialization in tropical medicine or epidemiology experience is considered an important asset 

  • Minimum of 3 years international MSF or other iNGO experience in programmes 

  • Minimum of 1-year international MSF experience as a PMC  

  • Experience as MSF MedCo is a strong asset 

  • Demonstrated experience in emergency contexts 

  • Strong technical skills related to primary health care, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, outbreak interventions including the organization of vaccination campaigns, malnutrition and emergency preparedness and response are essential 

Competencies 

  • Strategic vision  

  • Dynamism, proactivity and reactivity 

  • Resistance to stress, ability to adapt to different contexts.  

  • Leadership (able to set priorities, make choices and assume decisions)  

  • Strong communication skills, diplomacy and negotiation skills 

  • Strong networking skills 

  • Flexibility and autonomy  

  • Experience in supervising, capacity building, coaching and training is considered a strong asset 

Languages 

  • Proficiency in English or French, both written & spoken is mandatory
  • Proficiency in the second of these languages is a strong asset
  • Good knowledge of Arabic, Spanish or Portuguese is an asset 

Other 

  • Availability to travel to any country on short notice  

CONDITIONS 

  • Expected starting date: As soon as possible (specific starting date can be discussed) 

  • Location: Carried out in the countries of intervention (all contexts, including high-insecurity contexts) - based in the country of residence in between assignments 

  • Contract type: Fixed term contract – Full-time 

  • Contract duration: 12 months 

  • Salary as per MSF international salary grid
  • The contractual terms, conditions and salary will be established according to the official residence of the selected candidate and in respect of MSF standard function and salary grids
  • Medical insurance 100% covered as per international package; 45 paid leaves; Accomplishment bonus of 1.5-month salary upon completion of 12-month contract
  • No family position
  • Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment  
  • Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments  

     

Deadline for applications: 12th of April 2026 

 

How to apply? 

➢ Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button       

➢ You will be directed to the online application form for this position      

➢ It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter ready to upload (preferably in PDF format)    

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply! 

The position is only open to candidates with previous MSF experience!  

No MSF experience? Check out other job offers on our website.  

 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

  

MSF values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.  

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