Medical Officer

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

11 November 2026-23:59-GMT+02:00 Central Africa Time (Juba)

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of extreme weather shocks.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

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WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE: Medical Officer (Consultant Health & Wellness)

TYPE OF CONTRACT: International Regular Consultant (CST level II)

UNIT/DIVISION: Wellness

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Juba, South Sudan

DURATION: 11 months (renewable subject to performance and funding availability)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) South Sudan has over 700 staff working in Juba and field offices Aweil, Bentiu, Bor, Kuajok, Malakal, Renk and Rumbek and operated in an extremely fragile security situation.

The World Food Programme Juba Medical Assistance Team (JMAT) provides primary and emergency healthcare services to WFP staff, eligible dependents, consultants, and volunteers of the UN World Food Programme working in South Sudan. The Medical officer will be based at the JMAT Clinic in Juba, South Sudan, with travel to support WFP field offices when required.

The Medical Officers are required to employ their clinical experience and proactive public health/ community health approach in managing and treating patients especially utilizing the resources available and coordinating closely with the UN and local medical services. A unique blend of family practice, public health, occupational health and emergency training and experience in clinical management is needed to fulfill this role. 

The Medical Officer shall be appointed to ensure

i)            The health of staff at work, ensuring they operate safely; and

ii)           The organisational effectiveness of WFP by providing expert advice on staff health and safety while providing support to chronic and lifestyle ailments within the context of a paucity of health care services in South Sudan. This will also encompass medical and casualty response, assessment of health, safety and environmental issues of WFP staff and offices, medical support during outbreaks, process medico-administrative requests, hygiene and safety training.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director Enabling Services and the functional supervision of the Regional Medical Officer (RMO), the Medical Officer will be responsible for the following key duties.

1. Clinic Duty & Management, Team Supervision and Clinical Governance

• Lead clinical service delivery in Juba and field offices, providing evidence-based primary and emergency care, overseeing diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, and guiding medical staff on complex cases.

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the JMAT Clinic in Juba, translating country staff-health priorities into a clinic workplan, service arrangements and resource requirements

• Establish and maintain clinic standard operating procedures for patient access, triage, consultations, referrals and follow-up; provide clinical oversight and direct medical support within the clinic’s approved scope of services, ensuring informed consent, professional ethics and patient safety.

• Oversee medical supplies and equipment, including consumption forecasts, technical procurement specifications, stock and expiry monitoring, appropriate storage and cold-chain arrangements where required, and equipment maintenance and readiness, in coordination with relevant support units.

• Maintain infection prevention and control arrangements, safe clinical-waste disposal and clinic hygiene standards; review clinical incidents and service-quality concerns with the medical team and follow corrective actions.

• Ensure accurate, secure and confidential medical records, with access restricted to authorised personnel; provide anonymised service-utilisation, health-trend and resource reports to inform planning without disclosing individual medical information.

• Supervise the local doctor and nurses in JMAT clinic, define responsibilities and work priorities, organise duty rosters and leave coverage, and provide clinical guidance, mentoring and continuing professional development to maintain appropriate service coverage, including during field missions and absences.

2. Staff Medical Services, Occupational Health and Healthcare Providers

• Contribute to the design and coordination of the delivery of medical services in the country for efficient and effective promotion, prevention and protection of the health and safety of WFP staff following the Wellness Strategy and the Regional Strategic objective.
• Provide medical services for staff on official travel, incorporating destination specific health advice, facilitating access to immunization, prophylactic medications and travel medical kits.
• Provide technical expertise, advice and solutions that support strategic results, and contribute to the formulation of country strategies and approaches where appropriate.
• Manage, advise, and report on all health matters related to staff including.
  • Identifying health hazards for staff and/or dependents (work-related and/or environmental). Ensuring compliance to all UN medical protocols and recommendations (WHO recommended vaccinations, HIV/AIDS, and PEP kit country specific protocols including PICT and VCCT) and first-aid/IFAK trainings
  • Support WFP Country Offices in the management and monitoring of the implementation of the Memoranda of Understanding regarding Third Party medical provider or the joint UN medical services to WFP staff.
  • Assistance with follow-up of chronic medical conditions diagnosed and for which treatment has already started etc.
  • Performing and assessing medical examinations and clearances for international and national staff related to recruitment, periodic medical examination, pre-departure briefing for missions to the field.
  • Access and liaise with local medical facilities to ascertain proper medical care rendered and establish a referral list and updated list of reasonable and customary costs, whilst monitoring and verifying appropriateness, reasonableness and customary nature of major medical bills / treatment as required.
• Sick-leave monitoring: Maintain an up-to-date weekly list of South Sudan employees on emergency or prolonged sick leave.
• Fitness-for-duty advice and confidentiality: Provide confidential medical advice on fitness for duty, work-related health limitations and return-to-work arrangements, in coordination with the Regional Medical Officer and HR and with delegated medical authority. Communicate or report only necessary functional recommendations to management, without disclosing confidential medical information.

3. Medical Emergencies, Referrals and Evacuation Preparedness and response

• Provide capacity to the corporate and WFP system emergency response capacity including mass casualty incident in collaboration with security unit and other UN health partners.
• Maintain, test and conduct medical emergency, referral and evacuation arrangements for Juba and field locations
• Coordinate referrals and medical evacuations in consultation with the Regional Medical Officer, ensuring timely specialist care, continuity of treatment, confidential medical records and regular clinical case reviews.
• Organise medical emergencies, check emergency supplies and equipment, and incorporate lessons learned into clinic and field response arrangements.
• While the medical officer is not the principal primary care physician for WFP staff, s/he provides first aid and emergency services in response to incidents occurring in the workplace or referral to appropriate medical specialist.

4. Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Staff Wellbeing

• Implement staff health training (e.g., ongoing Ebola/Cholera awareness, malaria prevention measures, first aid training).
• Implement health and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) training with Cooperating Partners in relation to aspects of WFPs operations where WFP staff and CPs could be at risk of infectious diseases (Cholera, Ebola, Yellow fever, etc.).
• Participate in pre planning of WFPs Emergency response operations (eg. food distributions) to ensure discussions filter planning through a health lens alongside logistics etc. to ensure WFP staff have appropriate protection measures in place.
• Propose, assess, update as needed SOPs for staff protection, in specific higher risk occupational settings (e.g. food distributions, ports and warehouses with casual laborers, drivers and cleaners).
• Coordinate with health sector colleagues on the Inter-agency United Nations Country Team (UNCTs) and other health partners to improve healthcare access for WFP staff and family members.
• Assess and respond to disease incidents among WFP staff (e.g., high incidence of malaria in sub offices).
• Assess disease outbreaks or other environmental hazards that could have impact on WFP's operations and recommend mitigating measures.
• Identify (confidentially) staff with stress or other psychological concerns and coordinate assistance as appropriate with Staff Counsellor and the regional Wellness Unit.

5. Field Office Medical Support and Service Continuity

• Plan and undertake medical missions to field offices and frontline locations, conduct workplace and health-facility risk assessments, and translate findings into practical mitigation and preparedness measures.

• Following field missions, document findings and agreed actions, advise Heads of Field Offices on practical health-risk mitigation, and monitor follow-up; maintain remote clinical advice and referral coordination between visits, within the limitations of remote assessment.

• Maintain continuity arrangements for essential clinic services and staff access to medical support during outbreaks, insecurity, movement restrictions or supply interruptions, including alternative referral options, staffing coverage and replenishment priorities.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

To provide operational support to meet the objectives of the Wellness Unit in the region.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

• Medical degree (MBBS, MD or equivalent) from a recognized institution, with current and unrestricted registration/licence to practise medicine in the country of registration or another UN Member State.
• Postgraduate medical qualification in public health, occupational health and safety, emergency medicine, internal medicine, or a related discipline is desirable.
• Valid certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), or equivalent emergency-care certification, is highly desirable

Required Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of progressive professional experience in healthcare.
• At least five 5 years progressive experience and practice in general medicine in developing countries or countries in conflict. Operational experience in a large-scale, complex, emergency, and/or conflict-affected environment comparable to South Sudan is required.
• Experience in occupational health and safety and/or travel medicine and/or tropical and infectious disease, and /or emergency medicine is required.
• Practical experience providing medical support in remote field locations and frontline or high-risk operational settings is essential.
• Experience assessing health risks and healthcare capacity in field offices and recommending context-appropriate preventive, occupational health and emergency-readiness measures.

Desirable experiences

• Experience within the UN system, or international NGO would be an asset.
• Experience coordinating with UN agencies, international organizations and external healthcare providers.
• Experience managing or providing technical oversight of staff clinics, including clinical governance, duty rosters, medical supplies and equipment, patient referral pathways, confidential medical records and quality assurance is highly desirable.
• Experience operating in settings with limited specialist care, constrained referral options, infectious-disease risks and complex medical-evacuation arrangements is an advantage.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Formal training in CPR and, preferably in BLS and ACLS or equivalent emergency medical care.
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with diverse stakeholders (e.g. UN medical services, agency health focal points, hospitals, clinics and third-party providers)
• Sound judgement and the ability to remain effective during critical incidents, work with a high degree of independence, and communicate clear medical advice to staff and senior management while maintaining medical ethics and confidentiality.
• Excellent communication, presentation and drafting skills. Knowledge of addressing the psychosocial needs of humanitarian workers.
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges.
• Remains calm in stressful situations.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English. Working knowledge of another official UN language and/or a relevant local language is an asset.

Remarks

•            The position is based in Juba and will require the incumbent to travel to WFP field offices and operational locations in South Sudan, subject to operational and security requirements.

•            The recruitment process may also be used to establish a roster for the same or lower grade level and for possible placement at different duty stations, subject to future operational needs.

•            Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  [email protected]

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at [email protected]. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.