MST - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COORDINATOR (EPREP CO)

GENERAL CONTEXT 

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international independent medical-humanitarian organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

MSF is a civil society initiative that brings together individuals committed to the assistance of other human beings in crisis. As such MSF is by choice an association. Each individual working with MSF does it out of conviction and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE AND JOB ENVIROMENT

The Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (EPREP Co) supports and implements emergency preparedness of OCBA missions and HQ to ultimately improve OCBA's capacity and capability in emergency preparedness and responsiveness. The Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (EPREP Co) is accountable to the Director of Operations of MSF OCBA.

The EPREP Coordinator:

• Provides emergency preparedness support and capacity to HQ and field missions across OCBA, through field support (deployment and remote), linking with the respective operational cells (desks) and working with HQ departments.
• Provides support to cells and missions in the development, revision and preparation of their emergency preparedness plans.
• Ensure emergency mind-set in missions and cells through training/workshops and coaching on certain emergency response skill sets, e.g. monitoring/scanning, assessments, emergency response approaches, medical strategies, etc.
• Maintain links, information sharing, and lessons learnt exchanges in emergency response across the Emergency Unit (EU), cells (Cell 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) and missions.
• Collaborate with EU counterparts and relevant departmental staff to implement EPREP policy and help develop/revise tools and documents to support emergency response preparedness in OCBA.
• Ensures OCBA emergency preparedness and response trainings are updated and co-facilitates training sessions. Works with L&D, KM, departments and EU counterparts to develop new training material.
• Collaborates with other MSF section counterparts in order to share information, develop training materials, tools and lessons learnt on improving emergency response capacity in existing MSF missions.
• Supports in the preparation, development and use of emergency response tools and materials.
• Provides technical support to local emergency response teams (MERTS) and EPREP Focal Points in the missions.
• In occasional basis, work directly in the field as an Emergency Coordinator (Ops and/or Medical) if and when required.

The Emergency Preparedness Coordinator will be frequently field based (50 % of work time) travelling in various OCBA missions. Otherwise, he/she will carry out the work in any MSF-OCBA HUB office.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain an overview of the status of emergency response preparedness in all OCBA missions.
• Liaise with OCBA cells to better understand the cell/mission specific needs and contextual settings to better define priority missions for support.
• Once priority cells/missions are identified, closely collaborate with the cell to better understand the challenges and support needs of the missions in terms of emergency preparedness and responsiveness.
• Assess and follow up with missions’ Country Management Team (CMT) members about the current emergency preparedness challenges, their response capacity and the training need to develop a plan of action for that mission.
• Work with Learning and Development to develop, update or improve training modules to be delivered in HQ and field related to both emergency preparedness and responsiveness. Coordinate with other sections to avoid duplication of efforts on (online and face-to-face) training development initiatives.
• Undertake trainings with staff at HQ and mission level (both remotely and in person) to build an emergency mind-set, focusing on preparation, assessments, initial response steps, re-prioritization plans and setting up systems to effectively monitor the context, medical needs and assess alerts.
• If the mission has an MERT, actively involve those teams in all activities. If not, work closely with the mission to identify a pool of long-term staff to participate in training for emergency preparedness and responsiveness.
• Develop and implement a plan to ensure (cell, mission, and individuals’) cross- learning opportunities as well experience sharing sessions.
• In specific priority missions, in person or remotely, the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator will:
  • Review the context with the CMT to assist in identifying the most common hazards/crises and urgent medical humanitarian scenarios according to their likelihood, scale and impact.
  • Discuss the OCBA and other MSF OCs present in the same area/country their respective capacity to respond to these scenarios leading to the identification of unaddressed needs and response priorities.
  • Review intervention plans and response activities, with defined scope and strategies from which decision-making and resource planning can be established.
  • With the CMT, examine different resource strategies and planning required to ensure appropriate E-stock, Logistical and HR capacity are in place to respond to emergencies in a timely and effective manner.
  • Advise on preparedness actions that require longer-term planning, development and ongoing monitoring.
• Remain flexible to support any cell and/or mission as needed with their emergency preparedness and response issues, including HQ departments in the development of trainings or tools e.g. redesign/establish an emergency stock planning tool with Logistics Department.
• Keep existing emergency preparedness guidelines, templates and tools presently in place up to date and regularly liaise with other operational centers to follow up on intersectional opportunities.
• To liaise with KM Ops team to ensure that SharePoint remains up to date with relevant guidance and tools.
• When needed step in as an Emergency Coordinator (Ops and/or Medical) to undertake assessments, implement emergency interventions or new projects & missions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential:

• At least 48 months field experience with one of the MSF sections in various projects/missions, of which at least two have been an emergency projects or a med/high security setting, and at least two in a key coordination position (EmCo, LogCo, MedCo, HoM, FieldCo).
• Experience in acute emergency responses, assessments, project planning and MSF mission/project start-ups, planning and preparing Emergency Preparedness Planning in multiple contexts.
• Experience in working in close collaboration with various departments within the mission and cells (operations, epidemiology, medical, logistical, financial, HR, WatSan etc.).
• Knowledge of emergency public health, rapid assessments, and health surveillance.
• Fluent English and French language skills.
• Willingness and capacity to function as emergency coordinator at project level or at capital level.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint.

Desirable:

• Use of online training tools.
• Experience of working with OCBA, in HQ and with its tools, systems, guidelines
• Experience in organizing and delivering trainings and workshops, including at field
• Experience working with MSF MERTS and/or Emergency Unit.
• Other languages - Spanish, Arabic.

CONDITIONS

• Position home based. Frequently travels to the missions (at least 50 % of his/her working time).
• 1 year contract with possibility of extension.
• Full time job.

• Annual Gross salary: IRP2 Level 5 (divided in monthly payments) + secondary benefits based on MSF OCBA Reward policy. Subjected to local conditions.
• Practical working conditions while in the field are as per the MSF-E guideline.
• Starting date: ASAP.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter
• Closing date: 9th of September at 23:59 CET (Central European Time).

MSF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, race, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are committed to achieving a balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. MSF provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo reference checks.

Médecins Sans Frontières, as a responsible employer, under the¨Ley General de la Discapacidad de 2013 (LGD)¨ invite those persons with a recognized disability and with an interest in the humanitarian area to apply for the above-mentioned position.