CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: International Organization for Migration
Country: Liberia
Closing date: 12 Oct 2014

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Context:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM) in Liberia and technical oversight and policy guidance of Occupational Health Unit (OHU) in Geneva, the successful candidate will be responsible and accountable for the supervision, effective coordination and implementation of efficient occupational health and personal well-being support of all IOM international and national staff working within IOM Liberia’s Ebola response operations.

S/he is expected to carry out his/her duties in accordance with the strictest ethical standards, safety of IOM personnel, building and maintaining of partnership with relevant counterparts and local health facilities as needed, and with due respect for gender and socio-cultural sensitivities.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Monitor the physical health and psychosocial well-being of international and national staff working in various sections of the IOM Ebola operations at all times given the intensity, highly stressful and exceptional circumstances of the Ebola operations.
2. Ensure that all staff has access to necessary medical information including prevention, protective measures against Ebola, Malaria, and other endemic diseases in the country.
3. Facilitate staff’s access to United Nations (UN) and approved health care facilities (e.g. access to humanitarian workers hospitals or private clinics) and to humanitarian “flights” (e.g. United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS)/ World Food Programme (WFP)) as needed; coordinate with Occupational Health Unit and Health Insurance Management (HIM) Medical Officers in case of emergency medical evacuations or necessary travel for health reasons.
4. Maintain data protection and confidential medical documentation of staff. Share medical concerns and documents only with the OHU/HIM Medical Officers.
5. Coordinate and liaise with the Occupational Health Unit on a regular basis.
6. Monitor and analyse staff occupational health and well-being issues, working environment, length of stay at work posts, and occupational health hazards, specifically aimed at increasing effectiveness, recommending specific actions, and assist in the development of monitoring protocols.
7. Report on identified health risks in the IOM working (e.g. offices, ETUs) and living environment (e.g. compound) needs and constraints, and advise OHU and CoM on progress, plans, priorities, and issues related to occupational health and well-being of IOM staff.
8. Inform OHU/HIM doctors immediately of any acute emergency. Deal with it locally with support of the UN Doctor and/ or other Doctors in recognized Health Structures locally, in coordination with the IOM OHU/HIM doctors.
9. Inform OHU/HIM doctors of any possible mental health risk of staff (e.g. when the coping mechanisms of staff are no longer sufficient to manage an acute stress, their anxiety or if symptoms of depression occur); and refer him / her to the available psychosocial services (e.g. UN Counselor) that the Occupational Health Specialist will have identified locally.
10. Maintain an inventory of essential medicines and supplies at the IOM Office for the use of IOM staff and be in charge of this small pharmacy.
11. Request purchase of certain items in coordination with OHU.
12. Give minor medications for general ailments and health care issues to IOM staff only (not their families), only in case staff cannot access non-ebola clinics.
13. Maintain relationships with external counterparts (e.g. private clinics, Army Hospitals, UN agencies, NGOs etc.) and the IOM Security Officer in the country to update and/or harmonize the Standard Procedures (e.g. Standard Evacuation Procedures and Procedures in case of suspicion of Ebola amongst staff) as well as IOM’s health and well-being standards.
14. Undertake on a regular basis duty trips to ETUs locations to evaluate the health risks in the working environment and the living conditions of IOM compound(s). Give recommendations on how to improve the wellbeing of staff on each site.
15. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Competencies

Behavioural

• Takes responsibility and manages constructive criticism;
• Works effectively with all clients and stakeholders;
• Promotes continuous learning; communicates clearly;
• Takes initiative and drives high levels of performance management;
• Plans work, anticipates risks, and sets goals within area of responsibility;
• Displays mastery of subject matter;
• Contributes to a collegial team environment;
• Creates a respectful office environment free of harassment and retaliation and promotes the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA);
• Incorporates gender-related needs, perspectives, and concerns, and promotes equal gender participation;
• Displays awareness of relevant technological solutions;
• Works with internal and external stakeholders to meet resource needs of IOM.

Technical

• Effectively applies knowledge of health issues in execution of responsibilities at appropriate level;
• Maintains confidentiality and discretion in appropriate areas of work.

Emergency and Crisis

• Works effectively in high-pressure, rapidly changing environments;
• Coordinates actions with emergency response actors and making use of coordination structures;
• Supports adequate levels of information sharing between internal units, cluster partners, IOM and other emergency response actors;
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with implementing partners;
• Makes correct decisions rapidly based on available information.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

· Doctorate in General Medicine, Internal or Emergencies Medicine or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or

· University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

· Post-graduate education in Occupational Health, Travel Medicine, Infectious Diseases or Military Medicine is an advantage.

Experience

• Experience in clinical care and occupational health, including in the context of travel and tropical medicine; promotion of physical and mental health;
• Experience in occupational health issues related to crisis and in developing countries;
• Experience in working with government, private sector and/or at international agencies;
• Experience in humanitarian crises, natural disasters, infectious diseases and in a resource poor setting is beneficial;
• Familiarity with the public health sector in the African region is an advantage.

Languages

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Liberian Kreyol is an advantage.

Note:

* With frequent travel to field missions within Liberia.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via PRISM, IOM e-Recruitment system, by October 12, 2014 at the latest, referring to this advertisement.

For further information, please refer to:

http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/about-iom-1/recruitment/how-to-...

In order for an application to be considered valid, IOM only accepts online profiles duly filled in and submitted with a cover letter not more than one page specifying the motivation for applications.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. You can track the progress of your application in your personal application page in the IOM e-recruitment system.