Only candidates who are not nationals of the country of assignment are eligible to apply to this position
Hardship LevelH (no hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradePR5
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeProfessional
* Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff memberโs country of nationality.
In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2023-06-24
Job Posting End DateJuly 13, 2023
Standard Job Description
Chief of Medical Section
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The position is under the supervision of the Staff Health and Wellbeing Service (SHWS) in the Division of Human Resources (DHR). The Divisionโs mission statement indicates that DHR is a strategic, trusted and innovative business partner in enabling UNHCR to protect and respond to persons of concern by attracting, motivating, retaining and developing a talented, diverse and agile workforce, while nurturing a culture of excellence, respect and wellbeing for all.
The incumbent of this position supports the UNHCRโs People Strategy and contributes to the implementation of the 2018 independent HR review which resulted in the establishment of HR strategic priorities and the reconfiguration and transformation of the Division from a largely transactional model into a strategic business partner for field operations and senior management.
The Staff Health and Wellbeing Service is responsible for ensuring that the workforce of UNHCR has a safe and healthy work environment, in the interests of good functioning and productivity. The Chief of Medical Section reports to the Head of the Staff Health and Wellbeing Service. The Service includes some 50 professional and support staff providing medical and psychosocial support to the staff. Their work is further supported by regional functions providing medical and psychosocial support which are technically supervised by the Service.
The UNHCR workforce includes some 16000 staff members and 6000 affiliates. Around 40% work in non-family locations. UNHCR has a strict rotational policy resulting in highly mobile staff and family members. In addition to rotation, the frequent travel, high workload, and field assignments in environments with limited resources add further challenges to staff health and well-being. The Chief of Medical Section is responsible for ensuring that the health needs of staff are addressed through sound medical strategies.
The main activities include health risk assessment, physical health pre-mission and pre- recruitment assessments, preventative measures (i.e., first aid training, HIV in the workplace), crisis interventions, support to work life balance, ergonomic conditions. The Medical Section addresses the concerns of staff members and, in some aspects, affiliated workforce, and retirees.
The section works in close collaboration with other sections of DHR, respecting the professional code of ethics and confidentiality. The collaboration also extends to the bureaux and other sections and services outside DHR that are involved in supporting the staff health and psychosocial welfare such as the Office of the Ombudsman, the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of the Ethics Director, the Field Safety Section, Career Management, Medical Advisor and to insurance companies (MIP and UNSMIS) and others.
In close collaboration with the Psychosocial Wellbeing Section and the Regional Medical Officers, the Chief of Medical Section will support, facilitate, and implement, the projects/programmes identified at global and regional levels, aiming at the health prevention, protection, and promotion of national and international staff.
In addition to work with individual staff and teams in direct person-to-person service, the Section is responsible for overall implementation of the UNHCRโs Duty of Care commitments as well as for the development of relevant policy documents that promote staff health and psychosocial welfare.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCRโs core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
Provide guidance to the organization and the staff and implement measures on issues related to the occupational health
Establish functional and operational relations with the Regional Medical officers, manage and leader the regional offices of the Medical Section, in order to constitute a functionally coordinated unit.
Ensure that the allocated human, financial and other resources are managed effectively and in accordance with UNHCR requirements.
Provide appropriate leadership and guidance to staff in the Medical Section in the delivery and management of their tasks and ensures the quality of the services provided, in terms of technical and ethical standards and client service orientation.
Ensure that the Section and its regional offices have a comprehensive strategy that links the elements of service provision, capacity building (training) and policy work.
Supervise and support service organization and provision: walk-in clinic, emergency first aid, medical aptitude certificates, sick leave management and support during sick leave, return to work arrangements and workplace accommodation, work related illness and accident processes, mission readiness, vaccination program and campaigns, distribution of medical and first aid kits, staff awareness of alcohol and drug abuse and their impact on staff health and at the workplace.
Provide support and assist in fully implementing the activities and programs related to UNHCR Policies and IOMs/FOMs relevant to staff health, safety and welfare.
Perform as required and assesses the daily medical examinations and clearances for staff concerning recruitment, periodic medical examination, pre-departure briefing for missions to the field, etc.
Ensure compliance to HIV/AIDS recommended activities including preparation and dissemination of the PEP kit country specific protocols, facilitated access to PICT and VCCT.
Report and analyse regular mortality and morbidity statistics from causes of sick leave, medical evacuations, deaths, work related illnesses or accidents.
Identify the main health hazards (work related or environmental) which could affect the health of the staff and their dependents in their respective area.
Ensure that each functional area in the Section has a well-established code of ethics, including confidential date recording mechanisms, adhered to by the staff concerned and shared with the staff and management of UNHCR worldwide.
Ensure that the Medical Section collaborates closely with similar services in other UN organisations with a purpose of harmonising the practices as much as possible, and of identifying the best practices.
Ensure that the Medical Section keeps abreast of relevant and current occupational health and safety research and state of the art practices, in order to maintain the expertise of its staff.
Coordinate the establishment of comprehensive strategies for prevention and mitigation of the negative medical hazards to include, advocacy, learning activities, and appropriate technical medical interventions.
Along with the Psychosocial wellbeing Section, provide induction and briefing on staff health challenges to in-coming managers with particular respect to medical evacuation procedures and SOPs, medical referrals in country and mass casualty planning.
Ensure that all field offices have an efficient and validated medical evacuation plan and provide support in establishing one when needed. Supervise, manage and authorize medical evacuations. Ensure that there is an up-to-date database of medical facilities and providers globally.
Establish and maintain very close collaboration with the counterparts in other UN organizations or international organizations. Maintain contacts with outside collaborators (hospitals, clinics, research institutions, universities) in order to support the work of the Occupational Health and Safety in UNHCR.
Serve as Medical Advisor/Member of the Executive Board of UNSMIS and MIP (reimbursements, justification of bills, health promotion programs, etc.), the UN Compensation Claims Committee in Geneva (work-related illnesses and accidents) and of the UN Pension Fund in New York (disability benefits). Provide advice to HR policy makers on health issues and propose the policy drafts directly related to this area.
Authorize medical evacuations, assess and clear the centres for medical evacuations for UNHCR workforce and family members.
Review, if necessary, decisions about work accommodations, fitness for work, and mobility that are based on medical assessments, monitoring of care and follow-up of chronic medical conditions diagnosed and for which treatment has already started.
Undertake or advice Head of the Staff Health and Wellbeing Service on delegation to missions to the field and requests operations to implement programs to mitigate health risks to staff.
Endorse the work plans and make decisions on priorities for Medical section.
When needed, authorize payments for implementation of activities.
Provide surge capacity to the corporate and UN System emergency response capacity (UNMERT) including mass casualty incidents.
Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels.
Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans.
Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed.
Designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum QualificationsEducation & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Medicine
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Relevant clinical practice as a Medical Doctor/ Practitioner of which at least 5 years should be in an international organization. Must be a licenced medical practitioner of good standing with a government registration board for medical doctors in any UN member state.
Fluency in English and very good knowledge of French.
Desirable
Higher diploma or certification and experience in occupational health and safety, emergency management (crisis or disaster medicine), travel medicine, tropical and infectious disease. Certification in Emergency or Trauma Medicine . Knowledge of the UN and UNHCR Personnel policies (especially concerning the medical clearances, the medical examinationโs procedures, sick leaves, compensations (appendix D), disability benefits, medical evacuation schemes, MIP, UNSMIS, etcโฆ).
Knowledge of the functioning of the UN Medical Services networks (UN Medical Services, UNDP dispensaries, UN examining physicians, etcโฆ).
Knowledge and ability to work with the International Classification of diseases of WHO (ICD 10).
International Travel and Health book. WHO International Travel and Health book: CDC.
Knowledge and ability to work with electronic health record systems.
Project design and management.
Training experience and facilitation is an asset.
Functional Skills
MD-Crisis/Disaster Medicine
MD-Travel Medicine
MD-Tropical and Infectious Diseases
MG-Organisational Development
MG-Project Management
TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
WB-OSH risk assessment
*MG-Team building (development/facilitation)
*SO-Presentation skills
*CO-Drafting and Documentation
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
Competency RequirementsAll jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.
Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies
Empowering and Building Trust
Judgement and Decision Making
Leadership
Managing Performance
Managing Resources
Strategic Planning and Vision
Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Technological Awareness
Planning and Organizing
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
Desired Candidate Profile The ideal candidate for this position has a medical degree with professional experience in remote field- based medicine, occupational health and health care management, with a special focus on managing a global team of health care workers and having cross functional advisory and collaboration roles.
You have experience working in a large scale international organization and have worked in both headquarters and the field, working with multiple priorities in high-pressure environments, understanding global strategies rolled out to local needs. You have outstanding organizational skills; ability to multi-task between the day-to-day routine of the Medical section and longer-term projects and priorities involving multiple stakeholders internally and externally.
You are passionate about people. You have demonstrated strong collaboration, and ability to connect with all levels in the organization through great interpersonal/diplomatic and people skills.
You are recognized for your ability to execute, navigate without the minimum level of supervision. You have excellent verbal and drafting skills and can analyze, convince, and influence.
You are an expert at engaging and empowering others, as well as handling complex and ambiguous matters and situations. Result and action-oriented, you are used to managing multiple projects and stakeholders needs.
Ideally you have experience with UN medical processes, as well as Inter-Agency experience with key UN-system wide processes, reforms, and mechanisms such as the UN Medical Directors, the UN Pension Fund and UN medical insurance schemes.
You speak and write English fluently and have strong knowledge of at least one other UN language.Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
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,
Desired languages
,
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Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position:
The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland at UNHCR headquarters. The position is under the supervision of the Staff Health and Wellbeing Service (SHWS) in the Division of Human Resources (DHR). The Chief of Medical Section supervises 7 regional medical teams around the world and as such has to expect to be available to them after regular hours to support medical evacuations and other emergencies.
The post entails frequent travel, including to remote hardship environment where there is inadequate health support, so the candidate needs to be of good health and fitness.
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
Skills
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Medicine (Required)
Certifications
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium Add. 3 to March 2023 Compendium - Part B
Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance