Medical Doctor - Roster Position

SOS MEDITERRANEE is a civil European rescue association founded in 2015 to face the humanitarian tragedy and the lack of adequate state rescue capacity in the Mediterranean on the deadliest maritime migratory route in the world since 2014. Created by a group of European citizens, our maritime and humanitarian organisation has three missions:

1. To rescue people in distress at sea.

2. To protect and assist survivors on board our ship.

3. To bear witness and raise awareness about the tragedy unfolding in the central Mediterranean.

Today, SOS MEDITERRANEE is a network composed of four European entities (Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland) sharing the objective to support our rescue operations at sea. Search and Rescue (SAR) operations have been carried out since February 2016 in the Central Mediterranean off the Libyan coasts with the chartered ships Aquarius and Ocean Viking. To date, over 43.000 people have been rescued by SOS MEDITERRANEE.

SOS MEDITERRANEE is now looking to hire a Medical Doctor, in order to build a resilient pool of people who would be available to join our Post Rescue team onboard of the Ocean Viking.

We are looking for someone available to start a rotation by the end of june.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Reporting to Post-Rescue Team Leader, the Medical doctor will provide appropriate care to the survivor onboard the Ocean Viking and participate in the protection and care activities.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

Medical activities

• Apply medical knowledge and skills to respond appropriately to any medical needs  

• Oversee any critical medical situations and provide critical medical skills related to emergencies or critical situations 

• Provide any relevant medical certificates to survivors when needed 

• Ensure universal precautions are followed at all times, reducing bio-hazard risks and participate in infection prevention onboard 

• In collaboration with PRTL, responsible for indicating the need for medical evacuation of critically ill patients 

• In collaboration with medical team, identify and organize cases for medical referral on land at disembarkation  

• Responsible for health of all crew on board with the support of the wider medical team 

Protection and care activites

• Participate in the identification of vulnerable individuals onboard and referral of cases to other actors ashore 

• Participate in all on board survivors’ care activities 

Learning and Medical supply

• Participate in the delivery of medical trainings to the medical team and other crew members

• Ensure rational distribution of medicines and equipment 

• Support the PRTL to ensure regular inventories are conducted to determine medical supply needs  

• Support in the appropriate removal of expired items  

• In collaboration with the wider medical team and logistics, ensure medical waste is properly managed on the ship according to SOPs 

• Upon request and on a voluntary basis, participate in medical and non-medical conferences to raise awareness about the project and its medical activities. 

Skills and qualifications required or desirable

• Medical degree mandatory

• Advanced Cardiac Life support (ACLS) training desirable

• Ability to provide life-saving medical intervention in low ressource setting

• Ability to provide general primary healthcare independently

• Ability to ensure sensitive working practices with vulnerable groups of people in line with confidentiality and privacy  

• 2 years’ experience minimum as a Medical Doctor  

• Recent hands-on experience in critical care or emergency room  

• Experience in public health, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS/STDs, TB, general practice, general medicine, or minor surgery desirable 

• Experience supporting and caring for sexual violence survivors 

• Experience in a multicultural setting or low resource setting 

• Experience at sea desirable but not essential 

• Proficiency in English both written and spoken is essential. Additional language skills desirable with preference given to proficiency in any of the following: French, Arabic, Bengali, Amharic or Tigrinya. 

IT/SI :

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (good command of Excel) 

• Knowledge in ultrasound system is mandatory

• Knowledge in the Kobo application is desirable   

Soft skills :

• Adaptability; 

• Autonomy; 

• Stress management skills; 

• Rigor; 

• Sense of initiative; 

• Ability to delegate; 

• Conflict resolution and mediation skill;  

• Ability to work in team; 

• Active listening an non-violent communication skills

• Sense of confidentiality; 

• Analytical skills; 

Terms of contract:

• Short term contract, for around 8 weeks rotation onboard

• Ship-based position

• Europe-wide travel

• Salary : from 2.860 € gross according to the time spent on the OV

• Insurance onboard during the rotation and on land for 16 weeks

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS :

• This position is on board a ship and candidates must be physically fit and “seaworthy” having spent some time at sea (be aware that sea sickness can be significant)

• Space is limited on the ship and rooms will be shared with other colleagues with little to no personal space.

• Candidate must have effective coping skills to deal with stress during high intensity rescues.

• Due to the current context and several uncertainties, flexibility is necessary.

• Transit with rescued people on board may last longer than usual waiting for a place of safety.

• Candidates may be asked to participate in recording audio and video messages for the media.

SOS MEDITERRANEE is committed to promoting an inclusive workplace and actively fights against all forms of discrimination.