Coordinator - Middle East Medical Unit

MSF Lebanon Branch office is part of the MSF international movement. Our team is composed of 20 full time employees based in Beirut and Cairo working together in the areas of international field recruitment, communications and medical operational support.

From Lebanon and Egypt, we work regionally and contribute globally to MSF’s medical humanitarian response.

MEMU is part of the Operational Center Brussels Medical Department, and it is also an integrated component of MSF Lebanon Branch Office. MEMU members are expected to play a role in supporting the broader objectives of MSF Lebanon office, as well as engage when requested with other units on medical and other relevant issues.

Key responsibilities

The Coordinator of the MEMU is responsible for the overall activities of the unit, while actively supporting as a referent the AMR activities in the projects.

1. MAIN ACTIVITIES

The Coordinator of the Middle East Medical Unit has the following responsibilities:

As Coordinator of the Middle East Medical Unit and member of MSF Lebanon Management Team  (50%)

• Provide direct support to the overall objectives of MEMU through development of the vision and strategy along with specific technical support where relevant.
• Develop the unit’s annual plans and budget
• Plan, co-ordinate, supervise and evaluate activities of the unit
• Share the tasks necessary for the accomplishment of the different activities with other MEMU members
• Management and evaluation of MEMU members in collaboration with other functional/technical line managers.
• Convene regular meetings of the MEMU
• Establish a network of internal and external collaborators for technical support in the region and beyond
• Represent MEMU at internal and external events.
• Report to the OCB Medical Director on MEMU activities on regular basis
• Participates in the medical management meeting under the Medical Director
• Participates in the MSF Lebanon management team meetings under the General Director
• Plays an active role in the coordination of the intersectional coordination group on ABR together with the Lebanon DG
• Report to the MSF LB GD & MT on MEMU activities, state of affairs and strategies (during MT meetings, Monthly & Quarterly reports)
• Provide critical input into the overall direction of MSF Lebanon
• Support the development of an integrated Annual Action Plan with the rest of the MSF LB management team
• Ensure that MEMU provides medical expertise/views to other MSF LB units when needed (proof reading, content, expertise, etc.
• Ensure representation of MSF Lebanon on medical issues through networking, public engagements and in the media

As OCB Antimicrobial Resistance Referent (50%)

The coordinator will work closely together on the following tasks with the other 50% infectious disease referent on ABR. Specific tasks and follow-up of certain projects will be allocated to one of each.

1. Defines medical policy, strategies and technical norms related to Antibiotic Stewardship Programs

• Drafts, reviews and follows the implementation of guidelines, protocols and tools.
• Propose different strategies for projects in antibiotic stewardship and ABR surveillance system in the MSF facilities.
• Review and develop facility-specific treatment recommendations, based on patient type (neonate, surgical, burn wound, etc.), national guidelines, local susceptibilities and formulary options. Imbed facility-specific guidance in evidence-based clinical pathways and antibiotic protocols.
• Evaluate the need of and requests for WHO Watch and Reserve category antibiotics given individual bacterial resistance pattern.

• Contribute to the operational research agenda on antibiotic resistance and its treatment and prevention within MSF.
• Develop algorithms outlining indications for ordering various microbiological tests in collaboration with other medical referents (e.g. bone/tissue sampling for osteomyelitis).
  • Work with the laboratory team to develop SOP’s for ordering and obtaining cultures and other diagnostic tests Discuss with microbiologist and clinicians the documentation and interpretation of bacteriologic results.

2. Provide support to the field and the medical managers in the cells

• Give technical support to field projects through:
  • Responding to technical queries or case discussions. Providing clinical decision and patient management support to the field (prescribers, pharmacists and laboratory technicians) for complex infections or clinical conditions, including interpretation of results and adaptation of treatment based on preliminary microbiology results and AST.
  • Regular field visits.
• Contribute to the strategy of field projects through collaboration with the medical responsible in the concerned operational cell and RST and Emergency Unit.
• Assure the technical briefing & debriefing of medical expatriate staff that will be responsible for antibiotic stewardship programs in the field.
• Support the HR on the organization of field positions for infectious diseases specialist related to ABR.
• Develop and make available expertise in antibiotic use. Together with the Learning & Development Unit contribute to establish training modules on antibiotic use and stewardship.

 3. Monitoring and analysis of Microbiology and Antibiotic use activity

• Establish a surveillance data management system in collaboration with the microbiologist.
• Work with pharmacy team to monitor, give feedback, and make visible data regarding antibiotic utilization, cost and adherence to the MSF health facilities’ recommended culturing and prescribing practices.
• Performs regular analysis of data and shares outcomes with medical teams.
• Produces an analytical medical annual report.

 4. Collaborate in internal working groups and assure representation outside MSF

• Participate in the OCB ABR circle (some roles included in the circle: pharmacist referent, lab referent, IPC referent, environmental health referent, microbiologist, etc…).

• Collaborate as active member of other Med Dep circle (working group)
• Participate regularly in the Antibiotic Stewardship contact group
•  Liaise with the Analysis Department to develop advocacy messages and strategies on ABR.
• Establish an external network of specialists in antibiotic resistance in high, low and middle-income countries.
• Participate to workshops, conferences, international expert groups, or other validated initiatives.
• Participate to the medical department meetings, B&O exercises, and the coordination week.
• Collaborate with the Medical Academy regarding specific dossiers related to AMR or infectious diseases education.

Education & Experience

• Medical doctor with Clinical Academic Infectious Diseases specialty training
• Masters in public health is an added value
• Experience with implementation/monitoring/evaluation of a hospital antibiotic stewardship program
• > 2 years Field Experience with MSF
• > 2 years management experience

• Fluency in spoken and written English. French is an added value.

• Demonstrated ability to work on projects with a wide variety of participants, and to facilitate dialogue and share information among all concerned parties
• Ability to write reports, medical protocols, and scientific articles for internal and external audiences
• Adherence to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Ability to travel within the region and to Europe as required (minimum 3 months per year)

Knowledge & skills

• Understanding of humanitarian values

• Knowledge of MSF in the field and its medical challenges
• Good planning skills

• Good team management skills
• Ability to multi-task
• Overall management skills – including coaching and training skills
• Writing and presentation skills
• Good communication, interpersonal and listening skills
• Knowledge of regional nuances
• Computer literacy

• Fluency in spoken and written English. French is an added value.
• Working in a team
• Ability to communicate
• Work in situations of great diversity of language and culture