Medical Team Leader

The Netherlands Refugee Foundation / Stichting Vluchteling (SV) is an emergency relief organization that supports partner organizations worldwide, to assist displaced populations. In case of acute need, the Netherlands Refugee Foundation provides funding to international and national partners in order to provide direct assistance, such as shelter, medical care, protection, cash, clean drinking water or sanitation. In the Netherlands, SV provides information to the Dutch public about the situation of refugees and internally displaced as well as about emergency aid in general.

SV currently has a diverse and enthusiastic team with around 50 employees, working predominately from The Hague. The working atmosphere is informal yet decisive, which is necessary to be able to react fast in case of emergencies.

SV is currently looking for a Medical Team Leader (80% – 100%)

Vision

SV aims to provide access to care for common chronic diseases, with demonstrated improvement in patient outcomes, in a humanitarian setting. This is done by the integration of a cost-effective non-communicable disease (NCD) interventions (including mental health & psychosocial support – MHPSS) into a primary health care package. SV aims also to use the data from the NCD-MHPSS projects to advocate for persons in similar humanitarian settings to have improved access to chronic disease care.

The NCD/MHPSS program aims at developing and implementing this model in different settings. By documenting its effectiveness in reducing morbidity and mortality and in increasing quality of life, we aim at creating a fertile ground for it to become a standardised approach in similar settings.

The main objective of the role is to coordinate the implementation of the NCD/MHPSS strategy, in collaboration with SV partners.

Main tasks:

• Responsible for managing the health team and the implementation of the NCD-MHPSS strategic ambition.
• Responsible for developing and updating strategies related to NCD-MHPSS, including the research, advocacy and fundraising components and ensure their execution.
• Communicate about the NCD-MHPSS team’s work to increase impact internally and externally.
• Coordinate the research and study component of the strategic ambition, including the learning agenda and potential advocacy avenues that derive from the learning.
• Coordinating the team’s contributions to actively participating in national and global networks where relevant.
• Coordinating and contributing to establishing relationships with relevant stakeholders and like-minded organizations, government bodies and business partners.
• Collaborate with colleagues from communication, fundraising and the programs-and-advocacy departments.

Place in the organization

The Medical Team Leader is part of the Programs and Advocacy Department. The overall team consists of 25 colleagues managed by the Head of Programmes and Policy. Based in the Hague are six program officers (each responsible for their own region), two advocacy officers, a localisation officer, a MEAL advisor and a humanitarian access advisor. The Medical Team Leader manages the health team, which consist of the team lead, the MHPSS advisor and the NCD advisor. Next to that there is a team working in the Ukraine, responsible for three medical projects under the direction of a Head of Mission/ Health Coordinator.

The programme team works closely with the Fundraising and Communication departments. The post holder will be based in the Netherlands and will report to the Head of the Programmes.

What does the job entail?

Coordination 

• Manages the NCD advisor and the MHPSS advisor.
• Is the referent for SVs health coordinator in Ukraine.
• Ensures the integration of the NCD/MHPSS strategic objective and the NCD/MHPSS team’s efforts within SV structure/projects.
• Coordinates and contributes to improvements of other SV health projects as needed.

Partner support

• Actively participates in start-up of new relationships for NCD-MHPSS projects (e.g. work with new local partners) or other health partnerships of joint intervention in nature.
• Coordinates, together with the advisors, joint efforts with SV’s partners to ensure that health projects are implemented according to general quality standards
• Supports SV’s partners in advocating to address NCD/MHPSS gaps in service delivery and care in humanitarian setting.

Operational research

• Ensures proper data collection is in place within strategic NCD and MHPSS projects to document impact and learnings
• Monitors the progress of integration of NCD and MHPSS interventions in primary health care setting and documentation of patient outcomes and research activities. Prepares in collaboration with the team periodic and ad hoc reports.
• Ensures operational research documents the impact of our pilot projects.
• Coordinates the health team’s inputs to implementation of quality research study projects.

Advocacy and networking

• Revises the draft advocacy strategy and its objectives and contribute to its implementation
• Establishes and maintains the necessary networks and collaborations with (Dutch) organizations with common/shared interest and collaborate to develop innovative (digital) solutions for MHPSS and non-communicable diseases of refugees/displaced people.

Fundraising

• Add scoping of funding opportunities (amongst others for innovation).
• Contribute to fundraising efforts with institutions and foundations for health related proposals/NCD-MHPSS interventions.
• Supports the Ukraine team in looking for funding from (institutional) donors.

What do we expect from you?

• Extensive experience in coordination and managing health teams in humanitarian programming.
• Five years’ experience working in health programs in humanitarian settings, preferably with local implementing partners.
• Having worked in NCD and/or MHPSS projects as well as with innovations is an advantage.
• A master’s in public health is desired, or at minimum good knowledge of public health and research. Previous experience in quantitative data-analysis is an added value.
• Previous experience in fundraising and advocacy is an advantage.
• Commitment to the aims, goals and values of humanitarian work and SV
• Excellent communication, negotiation, diplomatic and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrable experience of working and constructively participating as part of a multi-cultural team.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency or knowledge of Dutch is highly desirable. Other languages (French or Arabic in particular) is, an advantage.
• Willingness to travel, also to areas where there is a humanitarian crisis or conflict situation.
• Your nationality, or a work permit, allows you to work in the Netherlands, Stichting Vluchteling is not in the position to apply for a work permit for this position.
• You live within travelling distance of The Hague. SV has a work-from-home policy that makes it possible to work partly from home, but presence at the office is also regularly expected.
• The start date can be agreed upon in consultation, but the preference is 1 June 2025.

What do we offer you?

• A dynamic position in an enthusiastic organization of about 50 employees.
• The position will be based in The Netherlands (The Hague).
• A function with room for own initiative and new ideas.
• An employment contract for initially one year with the prospect of renewal.
• Salary and working conditions appropriate for a non-profit organization, depending on education, experience and age.

Stichting Vluchteling has a Code of Conduct, containing the values and principles of the Refugee Foundation, including with regard to integrity & reliability and the prevention of any form of discrimination and / or abuse of power. Every employee must endorse these and act accordingly at all times. Taking references and requesting a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) are part of the application procedure.

Something for you? Then respond as soon as possible.

Send an e-mail before 10/04 with your motivation and your CV to Benoit de Gryse, via solliciteren@vluchteling.nl stating “Medical Team Leader”. Applicants will be notified before 14/04

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Benoit de Gryse during office hours: +31 (0)70 346 89 46.

Acquisition is not appreciated.