UNICEF recruits 01 International Biomedical Engineer

International Biomedical Engineer to provide technical support to MoHS, Sierra Leone

Job Number: 524069 | Vacancy Link

Locations: Africa: Sierra Leone

Work Type : Consultancy

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, health!

Medical equipment is the vital component in the hospital care delivery. With support from multiple donors, Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) procured and distributed across the country a number of expensive medical equipment for maternal, neonatal and child health care such as infant warmer, oxygen concentrator machines, respirators/ambu bags, infant incubators and the like. However, return on investment for these equipment is not always optimal because of poor management and maintenance coupled with over-utilization and inappropriate use of these equipment. In this context, under the DFID-funded Saving Life Programme Phase II (SLP II), UNICEF intends to hire an International Biomedical Engineer for the period of 2 years to help the MoHS establish a system to manage medical equipment (inventory of equipment, preventive maintenance and repair and maintenance of damaged medical equipment). The consultant will be seconded to the MoHS and work closely with its Maintenance Department to develop/strengthen the system and build the capacity of the biomedical technicians in-country to conduct regular preventive maintenance and repair and maintenance of non-functional / damaged medical equipment. S/he will also review the roles and responsibilities of the department and advise the sustainable and efficient model – including the possibility of outsourcing certain functions of maintenance repair as appropriate.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the consultancy is to establish a functional biomedical system to ensure and improve availability and performance of afore-mentioned medical equipment and devices, at the least possible cost and with all safety considerations through proper maintenance and management. It is expected that with these objectives in mind, it will impact on the quality of hospital care delivery and ultimately on the mortality and morbidity rate of mothers and newborns.

Specific objectives include:

To provide technical support to MoHS to establish a system to manage the medical equipment (inventory of equipment, preventive

Main Objectives include:

Develop a national electronic inventory of biomedical equipment and devices (with focus on MNCH) at the Tertiary, Regional and District Hospitals. This will involve:

Develop and implement a strategy / plan for human resource capacity strengthening in maintenance and repair of MNCH equipment. Organization of the capacity building / training activities for MoHS biomedical technicians and equipment users in the District Hospitals

Develop sustainable planned preventive maintenance (PPM) and corrective maintenance (CM) programs (with focus on MNCH equipment) for Sierra Leone. Supervision, monitoring and evaluation of PPM and CM programs implementation, adjusting programs to address issues identified.

Organize the quarterly meetings with the District Biomedical technicians, hospital management and SBCU service providers to discuss the progress, challenges, lesson learnt and way forward.

Management, Organization and Timeframe

The consultant will be seconded to the MoHS and deployed in the government premises. The monthly salary of the consultant (direct payment) will be processed by UNICEF upon request from the Director of RCH who certifies a consultant’s work with his/her monthly progress report.

The duration of the consultancy is 20 months.

Start date:  As soon as possible

Payment schedule

The Consultant will be required to submit a financial proposal that would be agreed upon and included in the final contract

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of the consultancy fee payment if the Director of RCH reports that the performance is unsatisfactory, deliverables are incomplete, or the consultant shares data/information generated in the program with a third party without permission of MoHS and UNICEF.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

An advanced degree required or a degree plus 3 years’ experience in the professional area (in any relevant Engineering course; Biomedical, Electrical, Mechanical, Hospital Engineering with background in human anatomy and physiology)

Experience

At least 5-years experience in the maintenance management of hospital and medical equipment, especially the maintenance of MNCH equipment

Experience in planning, procurement, installation, commissioning, maintenance, training, monitoring, risk assessment and boarding of medical equipment

Previous experience in Sierra Leone or African countries will be an asset and developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

Skills required

Communication skills, both written and verbal

Ability to develop suitable capacity building training program for local medical equipment technicians and maintenance crew and equipment users based on training needs analysis and assessment (TNA/A).

Excellent facilitation / training skills to carry out tailor-made capacity building training exercises for local medical equipment technicians and maintenance crew and equipment users

Coordination skills with the key health stakeholders

Interpersonal skills to establish rapport with the local hospital technicians and staff, the key MoHS stakeholders, UNICEF and other health partners

Ability to articulate and link up the maintenance needs of medical equipment and that of the priorities and programs of the key health stakeholders and partners

Monitoring and supportive supervision skills for maintenance programs and equipment performance, hospital maintenance units and its technicians.

Skills to plan for the procurement and acquisition of medical equipment including its specification development (Needs Analysis)

Fluency in English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

 Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date Mon Aug 05 2019 00:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)