Emergency Care Referent

CONTEXT 

The medical department of MSF Belgium (OCB - Operational Center Brussels) plays a strategic role by defining the modalities of implementation of MSF’s medical strategy in order to ensure coherence and quality. Strategical support is provided throughout the phases of the project cycle. It has a normative role and technical support role in the implementation and follow-up of the projects. The medical department ensures the transfer of knowledge to the medical workforce and stimulates research and innovation by challenging current medical practices and exploring of new approaches.  

It is composed of several specialists based in a network of units worldwide (Belgium, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Luxembourg, and South Africa) and works in close collaboration with operations, other OCB departments and the MSF movement. We also support the projects of MSF West and Central Africa (WACA).  

The Emergency Care Referent will be the medical expert at OCB, providing technical, strategic and organisational advice on emergency care (including pre-hospital care and emergency departments), intoxications, and the care and preparedness of victims of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) hazards.

You will give support and collaborate with the medical staff in the cells/emergency pool and the coordination and project teams (Operational Department) by providing technical and strategic advice, creating relevant tools and guidelines and conducting project visits.

As the Emergency Care Referent, you will work and coordinate very closely with the other referents in surgery and critical care as well as other members of the Medical department. These include the hospital management support unit, the non-communicable disease referent, the infectious disease referents, the nursing referent, the pharmacy unit, environmental health, the E-health etc., as well as the logistics department for infrastructure planning. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Support the implementation of emergency care in the projects:

• ¨Provide technical support to projects through
  • Responding to technical queries, discussing ED/urgent care cases, providing feedback on adaptation of the protocols to the local context
  • Visits to the projects, submission of a visit report with recommendations, and follow up of main recommendations
  • Supporting the choice and validation of medical equipment and specific medical items
  • Supporting relevant innovative approaches
  • Collaborating with the concerned operational cell and coordination team and other medical referents
• Give strategic support to projects in collaboration with the relevant people from the Operational and Medical departments:
  • Co-defining strategies for emergency care (including community, first aid, pre-hospital, facility-based emergency care) and emergency rooms/emergency departments (ER/ED)
  • Establishing adequate patient flow circuits
  • Supporting the setup, the infrastructure and equipment of ER departments and ambulances in the projects
  • Supporting the organization of contingency plans for incidents involving multiple casualties and their planning
  • Participating in the Annual Review of Operations (AROs) and quarterly project monitoring meetings
• Ensure the technical briefing & debriefing of emergency doctors, nurses and other relevant staff and follow-up on specific issues and concerns with the coordinators and the medical lead of the respective cell
• Technically validate the recruitment of new emergency specialists
• Identify the training needs of the local staff involved in patient care in the ED, or for mass casualty management, and make recommendations
• Project visits or to kick-start emergency care in OCB Emergency Pool interventions

2. Ensure the technical, normative and monitoring work on emergency care-related topics

• This includes organization, follow-up and management modalities of the Emergency Department, prehospital/community emergency care, and related services
• Provide regular updates to diagnostic and therapeutic protocols for emergency care, mass casualties, intoxications, and care for victims of CBRN hazards
• Disseminate all protocols and tools to the projects
• Update the definition of the indicators necessary for monitoring medical activities, and related data collection tools, in the projects in collaboration with the E-Health Unit
• Analyse the data in your field of expertise and regulary share this analysis with the relevant stakeholders
• Follow-up and monitor the emergency care data and write the annual report
• Capitalize on the MSF experience in your field of expertise and disseminate lessons learned
• Keep up to date with the relevant medical literature as well as innovative context-adapted tools and equipment
• Identify major operational knowledge gaps, propose and submit ideas and concepts for operational research, and collaborate in the preparation, implementation, analysis or dissemination of the results
• Support and monitor the use of telemedicine for emergency care

3. Participation in internal meetings and working groups

• Participate in transversal dossiers and circles in the department such as quality of care, hospital management circle, etc.
• Actively contribute to f the Intersectional Emergency Care Platform
• Discuss and share experiences in the field of emergency medicine within the movement
• Participate in the department meetings

4. Participation in and /or support in training sessions

• Organize, support and participate in various training sessions and simulations such as the acute care training, triage training, mass casualty incident training, etc.
• Contribute to the development of training modules for other training courses, including hospital management team training (HMTT) or CBRN refresher training
• Give lectures/modules on emergency care in the training courses organised by MSF when needed

5. Represent the departement outside MSF

• Identify possibilites of partnerships for emergency medicine
• Develop a relevant network of external stakeholders in emergency care

• Participate in workshops, international expert groups organized by WHO, academic institutions or other relevant bodies when necessary

  REQUIREMENTS 

Education and experience

• Medical doctor with specialization in Emergency Medicine
• Minimum of 3 years clinical experience as Emergency Doctor
• Minimum of 2 years international experience in humanitarian contexts with MSF or similar organization
• Experience in coordination responsibility of an Emergency Department, in prehospital/community emergency care and/or in mass casualty plans is an important asset
• Knowledge on toxicology is an asset

Competencies

• Training & Communication skills
• Ability to represent MSF during public events, technical and scientific meetings
• Flexibility and ability to work with a team

Languages

• Proficient level in English, both written and spoken is mandatory
• Good knowledge of French is required
• Fluency in Arabic is an asset 

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: As soon as possible

• Location: Brussels* (Belgium) or Other locations** where there is an MSF entity (France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom) accessible by train to Brussels

  * Due to legal administrative constraints, given the type of contract, candidates must already have the right to live and work as EU national or resident, and/or valid work permit with mention of "access to the labor market”  

  ** The outcome depends on the residency of the candidate, the local legal limitations (residency, work permit, etc.) and on agreement with the hosting MSF entity of these locations and in compliance with the standard MSF policies

• Contract type: Open-ended contract – part-time (50%), requiring you to be present in Brussels half of that time

• Mobility: 20% per year in MSF projects

• The contractual terms, conditions and salary will be established according to the official residence of the selected candidate and administrative constraints (work permit, residency, etc.) and in respect of MSF function grids and salary policies 

• 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: 9th July 2025

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)

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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