Deputy International Food Safety and Quality Coordinator

Location: Any MSF office*

Contract: Permanent – Full time

Starting date: ASAP

Deadline to apply: 3 January 2023

*By default, the successful candidate will be offered a contract in the MSF office of their country of residence at the time of application.

I. MSF INTERNATIONAL

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural disasters. MSF offers assistance to people based on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

MSF International is the legal entity that binds MSF’s 24 sections, 25 associations and other offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested.

II. POSITION BACKGROUND

MSF has established a quality assurance system to improve and ensure the quality of medical products (specialised food, medical devices and medicines) procured and used in MSF projects.

Detailed specifications for every specialized food product are defined.

A standardized approach/procedure for the validation of specialised food sourced for MSF projects has been developed. This approach includes inspection of the manufacturing sites followed by a product evaluation for the majority of specialised food products as they are not covered by existing regulatory systems. This is done in close collaboration with the Inter-agency network. The Procedure for supplier and product approval has been endorsed by the Medical Directors.

Other procedures and guidance have been developed to ensure quality of specialised food on the entire supply chain (e.g. storage, transport, reception, good hygiene practices, handling of quality complaints and non-conformities…); some of them are harmonized for all medical products.

Briefing and training tools have been developed.

The technical expertise on specialised food product is very specific and needed for all the MSF movement. All this activity can only be achieved through a coordinated and structured approach, internally through the NFOS QA Network which includes expertise and experience at International Supply Centres, Operational Centres and International Office level, and externally with an active collaboration at Inter-agency level and with the relevant international organizations (WHO, FAO, WFP, UNICEF).

All this activity is led by the International Food Safety and Quality Coordinator , with 30% support from the Quality Assurance officer, both working in the International Office. This new position is to reinforce the Food Quality Safety and Quality leadership team, in the context of increase of needs for specialised foods.

III. PLACE IN THE ORGANISATION

The Deputy International Food Safety and Quality Coordinator is part of the Quality Assurance (QA) team of MSF International. He/she reports to the International Food Safety and Quality Coordinator and replaces her/him in case of absence.

He/she assists the International Food Safety and Quality Coordinator in coordinating the nutritious specialized food (NFOS) network, consisting of:

the NFOS QA referents: one pharmacist in each International Supply Centre, one in each in the Operational Centres of MSF
the Intersection Pharmacists based in some programming countries,
the direct category buyer for NFOS, in MSPP team (MSF Strategic Procurement Program),
the nutrition working group,
the Source of Product INformation Coordination (SPINCO) medical referent / NFOS data steward

He/she supervises the QA officer, and works closely with the International QA medical coordination.

He/she also represents MSF externally as a member of international interagency WG for Specialized Nutritious Food Products (UNICEF-MSF-WFP-USAID-ACF-ICRC).

IV. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Manufacturer/products validation: (therapeutic milks, ready to use therapeutic food and lipid-based nutrients supplements, emergency food rations…)

Manufacturer audits and CAPA monitoring:

o Perform manufacturers audits (as lead auditor or as second auditor)

o Monitor the CAPA (Corrective And Preventive Action) plan for each audit conducted as lead auditor

o Organise the sample collection when required, and send to the laboratory according to the sampling plan, create the MSF Certificate of Analyse summarizing the results,

o Perform organoleptic tests

o Check the packaging compliance with international standards and interagency requirements,

o Evaluate the stability study report as per interagency requirements,

o Share results of product evaluation with the manufacturers, and monitor the quality complaint/non-conformities when necessary

Manufacturer/product dossier evaluation:

o Perform the dossier evaluation by using the rating system defined in the procedure

– Monitoring of approved manufacturers/products:

o Send the interagency questionnaires when needed, screen for completeness

o Request data/documents to manufacturers, screen for completeness and evaluate the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).

In the absence of the International Food Safety and Quality Coordinator:

o Monitor the Change declaration, in collaboration with interagency group

For each of the points above: maintain information up to date in MSF databases (Uniquality) and centralise documents in the document repository (sharepoint).

2. MSF Product Specifications:

Contribute to the writing of new MSF Product Specifications as needed, in collaboration with the interagency network
Monitor the regular revision of the MSF product specifications, and their endorsement by approved manufacturers
Participate to the surveillance of codex alimentarius and other relevant international standards (e.g. codex WGs /contaminants, FAO /GE-3MCPD WG)
Participate and contribute to the relevant interagency WGs

3. Develop and maintain Quality Management System (QMS)

Contribute to the writing and regularly update of all procedures and related documents for the QA-NFOS QMS

4. Technical support and training / briefing

In collaboration with the International Food Safety and Quality Coordinator:

Respond to field quality or product related questions
Provide guidance on specific technical issues, food safety and good hygiene practices
Develop training and briefing tools

In the absence of the International Food Safety and Quality Coordinator:

Coordinate quality complaints / NC (Non-Conformities) and recall, liaise with UNICEF and WFP for all major and critical non-conformities from the 3 agencies
Perform briefing and training session, as needed

5. Internal network

Participate and contribute to the trimester NFOS QA coordination meeting
Participate and contribute to the annual NFOS network meeting
Participate and contribute to the monthly calls for NFOS QA referents, NFOS category buyer and the Intersection Pharmacists,
Participate and contribute to the Nutrition working group meetings (biweekly call and annual meeting), when relevant
Contribute to pharma network when relevant

In the absence of the International Food Safety and Quality Coordinator:

Coordinate the NFOS network
Represent the NFOS QA coordination in relevant meetings

6. Represent MSF in international forums according to needs

Promote the MSF quality assurance scheme for specialised food
Participate and contribute to interagency networks and working groups sharing the objectives to improve/ensure quality of specialised medical food
Participate and contribute to supplier meetings organised by the interagency working
Represent MSF in codex alimentarius and WHO/FAO relevant WGs

Job requiremnets

Food scientist / food technologist (Food science degree: Master of Science level, or equivalent -pharmacist with experience in quality assurance management may be accepted)
Qualified auditor / international food standard (FSSC 22000, BRC, IFS…)
Mature with strong interpersonal and organisational skills
Proactive, able to work and report independently
Able to work with precision and rigor
Communication skills: public speaking to be able to represent MSF in relevant meetings
Fluency in English is mandatory, French or other language would be added advantages
Experience (more than 2 years) in similar positions in the humanitarian/private sector at international/national level.
Experience with MSF or similar organisation is desirable
Experience in project management and team management is desirable
Willingness to travel regularly in Europe and in the field

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

At MSF, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.