About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients. 

MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.

 

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Managers

As the manager of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) activities, your role will involve leading the development and maintenance of an infection control program in a specific Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) international project. The goals include ensuring high-quality care and the safety of patients, caretakers, and staff. Following MSF protocols and standards, you will be responsible for defining the project’s IPC objectives.

Responsibilities

As a manager of infection prevention and control (IPC) activities with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), you will lead the development and maintenance of an infection-control program in an MSF project. Your objectives include striving for good quality of care and the safety of patients, caretakers, and staff. Per MSF protocols and standards, the IPC manager will participate in the definition of the project’s IPC objectives You will ensure the implementation of standard transmission-based IPC precautions for all departments of MSF’s health structures.

Your work is done in collaboration with each service activity manager using existing tools (guidelines, checklists, audit forms, and training). You will provide technical IPC supervision and guidance to all staff members, with a particular focus on activities such as water supply, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal, latrines and shower facilities, vector control, and medical-waste management. You will also develop multimodal strategies to improve IPC in MSF’s facilities. Examples may include initiating system change. organizing training, conducting performance monitoring, and giving feedback to promote a stepwise IPC improvement approach, working with communities and tailored to the local context.

Requirements

• Commitment to work for a minimum of 9 to12 month assignments
• RN/NP, MD/DO, MPH, Epidemiology or Microbiology degree
• Previous experience in a low resource setting (priority given to those with experience working in a humanitarian context)
• Minimum of two years relevant professional experience in a health care facility (e. hospital, clinic, nursing home)
• Professional experience supervising, managing, or training staff
• Ability to work autonomously with limited materials and resources
• Ability to work within a diverse team

Assets

• CIC certification
• Professional experience in critical wards (OR, ICU)
• Antimicrobial Stewardship
• Outbreak investigation
• Sterilization and high-level disinfection
• Safe medication management
• IPC surveillance for prevention of SSI (Surgical Site Infections)
• CAUTI (Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection)
• CLABSI and PIV infections (Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection)
• French language (B2 or above) 

Before you apply

As you consider applying to undertake an MSF assignment, it is essential that you have a well-informed and realistic personal reflection. Assignments often mean long hours with a heavy workload, basic living conditions, and working and living in often chaotic and volatile environments.

Security and Safety

Because Doctors Without Borders’ purpose is to bring medical assistance to people in distress, the work may occur in settings of active conflict, or in post-conflict environments, in which there are inherent risks, potential danger and ongoing threats to safety and security. MSF acknowledges that it is impossible to exclude all risks, but it does its utmost as an organization to mitigate and manage these risks through strict and comprehensive security protocols.

International