International Consultant (Biomedical Engineer), Freetown, Sierra Leone, 12 months (Onsite) - For non-Sierra Leoneans only

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference?

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this consultancy is to further strengthen and improve overall capacity for maintenance of medical equipment and to support installation, commissioning, operationalization and long-term sustainability of PSA oxygen plants in Sierra Leone. This is expected to contribute towards improving the quality of care within health facilities ultimately reducing the mortality and morbidity of mothers, newborns and children.

Specific objectives include:

- Provision of technical support to MoHS for continued strengthening of the medical equipment maintenance system including the establishment of the proposed MoHS Directorate for Hospital Equipment Maintenance and Related Services

- Support of in-country human capacity development in biomedical engineering/maintenance and repair of medical equipment; building on gains made over the last two years

- Support installation of oxygen plants and improvement their functionality including strengthening in-country capacity for maintenance of the same

Methodology and Technical Approach:

Under the overall guidance of the Director of Reproductive and Child Health of the MoHS, the UNICEF Chief of Health and Nutrition and direct supervision of UNICEF Health Specialist, the Biomedical Engineer will provide technical guidance and capacity building support to the MoHS and UNICEF in establishing a sustainable maintenance and repair system for biomedical equipment in Sierra Leone. The Consultant will also provide support and oversight for the implementation of the Oxygen PSA plants including installation, commissioning, operationalization and building capacity for maintenance of the same. The Consultant is expected to work closely with the HSS Manager and Director of Hospital and Ambulance Services of the MoHS.

Specific Tasks for the Consultant

1. Strengthening operation, management and functional capacity of health facility maintenance units

2. Institutionalization of Inspection and Preventive Maintenance (IPM) and Corrective Maintenance (CM) programme at district and health facility level

3. Operationalization of 10 medical oxygen plants at various facilities

4. Support establishment of 5 referral maintenance units and training centres for sophisticated and complex medical equipment in selected districts/hospitals

5. Support Implementation of solar energy systems in selected facilities

6. Provide technical assistance to MoHS in activities towards establishment of the envisaged Directorate of Medical Equipment Maintenance.

Please access the full JD here VA TOR - International Consultant (Biomedical Engineer).pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in any relevant engineering course (Biomedical, Electrical, Mechanical, Hospital Engineering)
• At least 8 years’ experience in the maintenance and management of hospital and medical equipment, especially maintenance of MNCH equipment
• Experience in planning, procurement, installation, commissioning, maintenance, training, monitoring, risk assessment and boarding of medical equipment
• Experience in maintenance and/or management of oxygen systems including PSA plants will be an added advantage
• Previous experience working in Sierra Leone, or another African country is desirable
• Familiarity with the UN system, including similar prior work in the UN system, is desirable.
• Commitment and willingness to start immediately.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills, including effective communication and people skills; ability to communicate and coordinate with various stakeholders and to express ideas and concepts concisely and clearly in written and oral forms.
• Language proficiency: Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.