Medical Officer

Organizational Setting

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The FAO Health Services (CSLH), which is a part of the Logistics Services Division (CSL), provides preventative medical, counselling and occupational health services to FAO employees and their dependents, and advice on all health-related matters to the Organization.

The position is located in the Health Services of the Logistics Services Division at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Medical Officer reports to the Chief, Health Services, under the overall guidance of Director, Logistics Services Division (CSL).

Technical Focus

Clinical medicine, travel medicine and occupational health and wellbeing.

Key Results

Perform clinical and medico-administrative duties related to the staff members and eligible dependents of FAO and other Rome-based UN system organizations (World Food Programme - WFP, International Fund for Agricultural Development - IFAD and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property - ICCROM) if required, as well as staff members and eligible dependents located in field duty stations.

Key Functions

• Supervises and coordinates the acute care services provided by the medical units at FAO and IFAD;
• Determines fitness for duty for newly appointed staff at headquarters and field duty stations, including staff deploying to hazardous and/or non-family duty stations;
• Approves medical travel for staff and their dependents deployed to field duty stations, providing oversight of emergency medical evacuations via air/ground ambulance when required;
• Provides medical advice in the determination that an illness or injury is service incurred as well as evaluates and rates permanent impairments linked to injury and/or illness;
• Acts as the Medical Adviser for IFAD, overseeing the occupational health services provided in that Organization and providing counsel to its management on all issues pertaining to staff health;
• Reviews requests for disability benefits for staff members and their dependents and prepares recommendations to the FAO/WFP Staff Pension Committee;
• Reviews and approves requests for special child allowance and special education grants of staff with children with special needs;
• Promotes continuous learning and capacity development on health related issues and ensures the delivery of appropriate training programmes in order to maintain and develop the medical capabilities (e.g. health education, HIV/AIDS prevention, first aid, etc.);
• Conducts field missions to assess local medical resources, as required, and advises staff through medical assessments and health education;
• Collaborates in the review of new or revised policies, procedures and guidelines;
• Acts as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Chief, Health Services;
• Performs other duties as required.

Special Functions

• Supervises, coordinates and participates in occupational safety and health (OSH) functions of the Health Services, including working closely with the principal OSH Medical Officer, OSH Officer and other stakeholders in FAO and the UN system.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Doctoral Degree in Medicine, including residency training in a medical specialty, preferably Internal Medicine or Occupational Health in addition to a valid medical license/registration to practice in home country.
• Seven years of relevant clinical/medical experience including occupational health and travel medicine.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in remote settings.
• Work experience in the UN is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in clinical medicine and occupational health, including travel medicine.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and in writing, and demonstrated ability to write clear and concise reports in English are considered strong assets.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of Italian would be an asset.