Organizational Context

This position is envisioned to address the need to strengthen and streamline occupational medical support for WFP/UNHCR personnel (and by extension to recognized dependents) in the Kabul and field duty stations and coordination of UN response to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of UN’s duty of care responsibilities. Together with the Project Manager, this position is part of the in-country Project Management Team and will report administratively to the Head of Engineering for Administration and management but is expected to work under the technical supervision of, and in alignment with, the WFP/UNHCR Medical Directors through the Medical Advisory Group, (composed of Senior or Regional Medical Officers of agencies participating in the project).

Job Purpose

This position is envisioned to address the need to strengthen and streamline occupational medical support for WFP/UNHCR personnel (and by extension to recognized dependents) in the Kabul and field duty stations and coordination of UN response to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of UN’s duty of care responsibilities. Together with the Project Manager, this position is part of the in-country Project Management Team and will report administratively to the Head of Engineering for Administration and management but is expected to work under the technical supervision of, and in alignment with, the WFP/UNHCR Medical Directors through the Medical Advisory Group, (composed of Senior or Regional Medical Officers of agencies participating in the project).

Key Accountabilities

Within delegated authority, the Project Medical Coordinator will be responsible for the following duties:

Supervision of medical teams:

• Overall supervision, management and coordination of the clinical operations and personnel of the Primary Health Care (PHC), emergency stabilization units, Medical Assistance Teams (MAT) and COVID-19 Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) in the country. These are facilities/teams providing directly medical care to UN personnel; irrespective of whether clinicians are hired directly by the agency or by an external health care provider (contractor/supplier).
• Supervise the follow-up and tracking of positive COVID-19 cases among UN personnel and contact tracing of workplace exposures.
• Closely monitor and streamline day-to-day occupational health duties in the UN facilities such as entry medical, periodic medical examinations, travel-related medical procedures (COVID-19 testing and clinical evaluation requirements), and immunization.
• Ensure compliance to WHO IPC/treatment guidelines and UN Model of Care.
• Review clinical management, treatment and referral plans of UN Doctors.
• Organize health education and health promotion programs, with special emphasis to the prevention measures of the relevant common disease conditions, including COVID-19.
• Organizes/participates in addressing work environment and occupational health issues.

Key Accountabilities -

Health Management:

• Develop and update the Health Support Plan for the duty stations based on UNMD Mandatory Health Support Elements and Health Risk Assessment with data provided by health provider.
• Implement measures defined in health support plan.
• Advises HR/Administration of participating agencies/funds/programmes on medical standards for recruitment, sick leave, and medical evacuations/repatriations as per United Nations policies and guidelines;
• Consult and collaborate with Senior/Regional Medical Officers of entities with corporate OHS/medevac system on clinical management, sick leave and medevac of their personnel and eligible dependents.
• Ensure that a holistic approach is taken on staff health and psychosocial welfare. Health risk assessment, mitigation measures are developed to address occupational health risks.
• Participates in drafting and implementation of business continuity and crises preparedness plans for the duty station/mission;
• Preparation of reports on specific updates, statistics, health facility assessments, status of UN personnel, eligible dependents and humanitarian personnel who are in the process of, during and after medevac.
• Conduct technical assessments of health facilities/health providers, draft terms of reference (TORs) for tender or requests for proposals or MOUs and provide technical recommendations to Supply and Logistics Unit.
• Provide clinical technical input, in consultation with the MAG, for TORs, MOUs and contract extension related to the occupational medical projects.

Key Accountabilities

Supervisory Administration of the UN contracted medical facilities and personnel:

• Supervises work of doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and medical administrative staff in the UN contracted medical facilities.
• Ensures availability of drugs and medical supplies and proper functioning of medical equipment in coordination with project manager.
• Carry out induction training programme for clinical personnel, in collaboration with the Medical Advisory Group, prior to beginning deployment and work in the duty station.
• Ensures appropriate training programs are implemented in order to maintain and develop the medical capabilities (e.g. health education, dedicated training related to the pertaining outbreak) health education, health promotion and prevention, first aid and CPR).
• Ensure all medical facilities in the capital and in the field are adequately staffed to be fully operational at all times. Work with contracted regional medical director of contracted health care provider to ensure personnel rotations are well coordinated.
• Conduct regular weekly technical coordination meetings with clinicians, medical director of the contracted (external) health care provider, and members of the Medical Advisory Group.
• Monitor and ensure implementation of action points agreed with stakeholders.

Key Accountabilities -

Coordination with other Providers:

• Closely collaborate with Senior/Regional Medical Officers or Medical Advisers of UN entities (eg. UN Joint Medical Services (JMS) with corporate OHS/Medical Services on the clinical management and medevac and follow-up care of personnel and eligible dependents within the country.
• Organize, provide weekly technical & operational updates and record minutes of the Medical Advisory Group meetings.
• Attend and provide technical recommendations on clinical recommendations (based on WHO, UNMD, DHMOSH) and communicate recommendations of the Medical Advisory Group to Senior Management in the country.
• Draft memos and communicate decisions of the Medical Advisory Group to project site clinicians (Doctor, Nurses, Paramedics).
• Together with UN Snr/Regional Medical Officers, evaluate the services provided by health care facilities within the country, recommend specific actions to improve performance, or conduct assessments to identify more technically compliant providers.
• Participate in the Country Health Sector Coordination meetings.

Result Expected

• Implementation of preventive and medical actions and responses related to disease outbreak crisis. Implementation of sound medical practices, training, prevention and treatment to ensure the physical and mental health of UN staff, and to promotion and maintenance of proper health care, including the prevention of health hazards.

This work implies frequent interaction with the following:

•  UN personnel at large
•  Staff within work unit
•  Staff counsellors of the UN system
•  Senior management throughout the Organization
•  Security personnel
•  Senior/Regional Medical Officers of various UN agencies
•  Health care providers (public, private, governmental and NGO)
•  Physicians and representatives of Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Associations and Societies

Standard Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• Doctorate (MD) or equivalent in medicine, including residency/internship in one of the medical specialties, preferably internal medicine or family medicine with relevant experience in health facility-based medical care.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible clinical experience in one of the areas of medicine. UN field experience is desirable. Previous experience in humanitarian crisis and infectious diseases is highly desirable. Experience in health care management or coordination of medical teams is essential.

Language:

• Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.