Integrated Emergency Surgical Officer

• Job Title: Integrated Emergency Surgical Officer
• Department: Operation
• Report to (position): Health System strengthening officer
• Location(s): Telemt
• Work Days & Hours: Monday-Saturday 48/week
• Travel: Telemt and the surrounding woredas

Medical Teams International Calling:

Daring to love like Jesus, we boldly break barriers to health and restore wholeness in a hurting world.

Provide high-quality health care, obstetric, gynecologic, and surgical services to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in North Gondar, Ethiopia, with a focus on emergency surgery, trauma management, acute abdomen, and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC).

JOB RESPONSIBITIES

Medical / Technical

• Provide consultations, diagnosis, and treatment of medical, surgical, obstetric, and gynecologic emergencies according to Ethiopian national guidelines.

Perform emergency and elective surgical procedures within the scope of IESO training, including:

• Acute abdomen surgeries: Management of appendicitis, bowel obstruction, perforated ulcer, and other urgent abdominal emergencies, including stabilization, preoperative assessment, and postoperative care, often with limited diagnostic tools.
• Trauma surgeries: Initial assessment, wound debridement, stabilization of fractures, management of soft tissue injuries, and abdominal trauma. Prioritize life-saving interventions when surgical resources or anesthesia support are limited.
• Gynecologic surgeries: Manage trauma-related genital injuries, perform speculum examinations, evacuate retained products of conception, and carry out other urgent gynecologic procedures as required.
• Other urgent surgical procedures: Life-saving interventions as required, including minor procedures and emergency stabilization before referral to higher-level facilities.

Provide Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC):

• Provide antenatal care (ANC) and perform obstetric ultrasound to assess fetal well-being, identify high-risk pregnancies, and guide management or referral in low-resource settings.
• Obstetric emergencies: Identify, triage, and manage postpartum hemorrhage, obstructed labor, eclampsia, and severe preeclampsia using available medications, blood transfusion support (if available), and emergency procedures.
• Cesarean sections: Perform cesarean sections and manage severe perineal or trauma-related injuries and major obstetric complications, providing safe pre- and post-operative care, aseptic technique, anesthesia management, and monitoring in low-resource settings, and refer cases beyond IESO scope to higher-level facilities.
• Assisted vaginal deliveries: Use vacuum extraction or forceps delivery when indicated and trained.
• Neonatal care: Resuscitate newborns using bag-mask ventilation, suctioning, and other basic neonatal resuscitation techniques. Provide thermal care, early breastfeeding support, and stabilization before referral if required.
• Postoperative and postnatal care: Monitor mothers and newborns for complications, provide appropriate medications (oxytocin, antibiotics, analgesics), and counsel families on danger signs and follow-up care.
• Ensure timely referrals to higher-level medical facilities when needed.
• Prescribe medications and provide clear instructions to patients based on guidelines
• Ensure availability of medical supplies and assist in forecasting needs.
• Provide patient education on illness prevention, nutrition, hygiene, reproductive health, and post-surgical care.
• Compile weekly and monthly reports required by the Ministry of Health and UNHCR.
• Support routine Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) sessions and health campaigns.
• Follow infection prevention and control protocols, maintain good hand hygiene, and use personal protective equipment appropriately.
• Promote safeguarding of program participants and employees by upholding Medical Teams Protection from Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Child & Vulnerable Adult protection, and harassment-free workplace policies.
• Ensure the Safeguarding of program participants and employees through promoting an environment of awareness and upholding the code of conduct provisions of Medical Teams Protection from Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Child & Vulnerable Adult protection, and harassment-free workplace policies.

Quality Management

• Ensure all patients are treated according to Ministry of Health guidelines and international standards for emergency surgery and CEmONC.
• Promote rational drug use; prescribe only essential medications.
• Provide compassionate and respectful care to all patients.
• Support colleagues in maintaining infection control practices to prevent the spread of illness within the clinic and among staff.

Additional activities

• Support other areas of the clinic as requested or needed to ensure efficiency and quality of care to all
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment, disposing of waste and sharps appropriately.
• Support safeguarding of program participants and employees through promoting an environment of awareness and upholding the code of conduct provisions of Medical Teams Protection from Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Child & Vulnerable Adult protection, and harassment-free workplace policies. Incumbents will remain alert and responsive to any child and adult safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child and adult safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS

This position requires frequent travel to health facilities located in remote areas with very basic living conditions.

NOTE: The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by staff assigned to this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of staff in this position. Duties, responsibilities, and skills are also subject to change based on the changing needs of the job, department, or organization. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by Medical Teams International as the requirements of the job change.

EDUCATION, LICENSES, & CERTFICATION

• Health Officer, Nurse, or Midwife who has completed IESO training.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience after completing IESO training.
• Demonstrated experience in emergency, obstetric, gynecologic, and surgical care, including management of trauma, acute abdomen, and CEmONC cases within the scope of IESO training.
• Experience working in resource-limited, remote, or humanitarian settings is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality care under challenging conditions, including limited infrastructure, supply constraints, and high patient loads.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of development & humanitarian issues and concepts
• Fluent spoken and written Amharic and English.
• Strong interpersonal and team skills
• Proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations
• Excellent communicator
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment
• Negotiation and representation skills
• Analytical and problem-solving Computer literate, able to work efficiently in Microsoft office on standard or mobile platforms.

SKILLS:

• Humanitarian motivation
• Emotionally and spiritually mature
• Team player – practical, desire to support the field teams.
• Willingness to pitch in and get the job done
• Understanding and sensitivity to cross cultural issues
• Flexible and adaptable to ever changing environments
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Able to build new relationships and gain people’s trust quickly
• Integrity in representing Medical Teams Willing to travel to insecure environments

ABILITIES:

• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment
• Ability to prioritize tasks
• Ability to embrace and promote Medical Teams International mission and vision
• Ability to uphold and exemplify the organization’s core values
• Ability to represent the organization in a professional manner to donors, volunteers, and the public