Medical Coordinator

Employer:  International Medical Corps
Location: Cameroon
Closing date: 18 Jan 2016

Background:
International Medical Corps, a global humanitarian nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs, seeks candidates for the position of Medical Coordinator in Cameroon.

Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

International Medical Corps has been present in Cameroon since 2008 to provide assistance to thousands of CAR refugees sheltered in Cameroon as a consequence of the political and social troubles which occurred in CAR since 2005. The CAR refugee operations now currently span the Adamoua, East and North regions. Since 2010, International Medical Corps has been operating in the Far North region of Cameroon implementing humanitarian health, nutrition and WASH support activities to vulnerable communities. The recent escalation of violence in the north east of Nigeria and neighboring countries since 2014, has led to the mass flow of refugees into the Far North region of Cameroon as well a large displacement of communities within the region.

International Medical Corps is currently services in support of these conflict affected communities.

International Medical Corps basic package of essential health care encompasses high impact primary health care services, Water Sanitation and Hygiene as well as key nutrition, GBV and child protection interventions. Through support of existing Ministry of Health (MoH) health facilities, training of medical staff, and operation of mobile clinics, International Medical Corps offers curative and preventive consultations, maternal and child health (MCH) care, reproductive health services including skilled birth attendance, family planning (FP), syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and services of the Minimum Initial Services Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health, therapeutic and supplementary nutrition services, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, child protection and mental health support. International Medical Corps also focuses on building the capacity of local community structures, such as village health committees (VHCs) and community health workers (CHWs). The aim of International Medical Corps’ work is to strengthen local social services and develop capacity for greater community resilience, while maintaining flexibility and the ability to respond to the continuing instability and accompanying increasing humanitarian needs in the country.


Job Summary:
The primary function of the Medical Coordinator is to support the Senior Management and Program department in providing technical oversight to all projects and support to a number of field sites. As part of the Programs team, the Medical Coordinator also plays an active role in planning, designing, implementation, supervision, expansion/development and administration of overall country programs. The Medical Coordinator is expected to conduct frequent field monitoring visits on each project to provide technical guidance and support.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities
1. Program
Actively participate in development of concept notes, project proposals, needs assessments and budgets, donor reports to expand the program portfolio of the country mission.
Maintain working relationship with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the UN agencies health advisors, and relevant clusters and interface with them on a regular basis,
Provide technical support and oversight to all project staff and site managers,
Work closely with Cameroon Senior Management and other staff of program department,
Ensure donor compliance in implementation all facets of medical and technical aspect of projects implementation,
Guide and support curriculum development and training program for staff and local NGO partners, if any.
Support in the development of proper drugs & medical material consumption follow up system for the country mission. Be in charge of reviewing/controlling all medical orders of the country. Be in charge of avoiding drugs shortage on the field and drugs quality.
Make sure all medical protocol are in place in each field site. Ensure health programs utilize standardized protocols, policies and guidelines according to the MoPH, or in the absence of such national standards, ensure that programs utilize standards endorsed by the WHO.
Replace field medical doctors on the field during absence if needed.
In collaboration with the M&E Coordinator and Senior Program Officer, oversee the collection and timely reporting of project data and statistics for all programs (including objectives, indicators and outcomes of health programs) according to internal and donor requirements

2. Representation
Attend coordination meetings relevant to country programs when dealing with medical aspect (other coordination meetings will be attended either by the CD or the Senior Program Officer such as UN coordination meetings, INGO coordination meetings as appropriate). Attend the epidemiological meetings, the health and nutrition clusters.
Ensure maximum visibility of the agency amongst the NGO/UN community
Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of the organizations Code of Conduct, medical ethics and respect of medical protocols and deontological medical code, values and stand-point with regard to internal and external actors
Is in charge of updating all the medical protocol of the country, following all updated national strategic plans of the country (against malaria, HIV, TB, etc.) and ensuring the implementation of them by field teams. For this, she/he will be in regular contact with all MoPH specialize advisors.

3. Human Resources Management
Assist in the selection, recruitment and training of technical staff.
Supervise all technical staff of the country by orienting them in their work, checking their outcomes and evaluating them.
Maintain open lines of communications with all field staff and service departments

4. Training/ Capacity Building
Determine training needs for medical/technical staff and organized part of them.
Train or support the training of senior medical/technical national staff to build capacity and enable them undertaking greater responsibilities and thus ensure sustainability of programs
Advocate and plan for professional development for expat and national staff

5. Working Relationships
Work with Country Director, Senior Program Officer, Logistics staff and FAD to ensure the coordination of timely delivery of programs supplies and expenses are within budgeted limits
Interface with national government and relevant agencies as necessary
Maintain the contact with Health Technical Unit & NFS technical Unit and plan in the budget and organized regular field visit with roving advisors.

6. Security
Collaborate with Security Manager/CD in order to ensure staff and reputation of the organization are safe and secure at all time.
Ensures application and compliance of security protocols and policies

“Other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all inclusive.”


Qualifications
“To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation.”
Medical Doctor (physician) diploma needed.
Minimum 4 years’ experience in design, management and evaluation of health, nutrition projects with strong focus on nutrition and primary and secondary health care of which at senior management level,
Previous experience in medical humanitarian work as a field doctor and then at a medical coordinator position.
Familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures, and the mandates of donors, UN agencies, and NGOs
Ability to live and work in precarious environments
Demonstrated familiarity with Project Cycle Management
Knowledge and experiences of budget preparation and management and donors requirements
Profound cross-cultural awareness and insight into health care issues
Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently following consultative processes
Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations and frustrations
Ability to relate to and motivate local staff effectively
Creativity and the ability to work with limited resources
Team player and strong communication skills, both oral and written
Proficient in computer applications, especially with MS Word and MS Excel, MS PowerPoint a plus
Must have a good level in French and in English (both written and speaking).

How to apply: 

Please go to: Medical Coordinator - Cameroon and follow the instructions for applying online.

“International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.”