Health Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Cross-River Care Project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the United Kingdom (UK). The project aims to complement and support the Government of Moldova's efforts to achieve global strategic health objectives and improve the well-being of the population. Established to promote a modern and efficient health system, the project focuses on ensuring equitable access to emergency healthcare services, particularly for residents on the left bank of the Nistru River, including refugees. The overarching goal is to foster an environment of trust and cooperation across the Transnistrian conflict divide, enhancing living standards through improved healthcare access.

Job Overview:
The Health Specialist will provide strategic and technical leadership for strengthening emergency medical services (EMS) across both banks of the Nistru River. This role involves offering conceptual, methodological, and technical guidance to the project team in assessing and evaluating the EMS system on the left bank, identifying modernization needs, and aligning with international standards. The Specialist will lead a joint expert group, ensuring effective coordination and technical recommendations on EMS protocol harmonization, training program development, and the preparation of a cross-river EMS Roadmap. The position also entails guiding the identification and prioritization of EMS protocols for revision, providing strategic advice to project partners, and promoting inclusive healthcare service delivery. The Specialist will facilitate knowledge exchange among healthcare institutions and practitioners, support strategic planning, and develop a comprehensive EMS Roadmap while building partnerships with relevant authorities and stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Health Specialist is expected to perform a variety of tasks including:

• Providing strategic and technical leadership for EMS strengthening across both banks of the Nistru River.
• Offering overall conceptual, methodological, and technical guidance to the project team in assessing the left bank EMS system.
• Leading the joint expert group to ensure effective coordination and technical recommendations on EMS protocol harmonization.
• Guiding the identification and prioritization of EMS protocols for revision and ensuring quality assurance throughout the development process.
• Providing strategic advice to project partners on EMS system strengthening and institutional cooperation.
• Promoting inclusive healthcare service delivery and enhancing institutional capacities.
• Facilitating knowledge exchange among healthcare institutions and practitioners.
• Supporting strategic planning and stakeholder engagement for the development of a cross-river EMS Roadmap.
• Building and maintaining partnerships with national and local authorities, healthcare institutions, and technical experts. 1
• Monitoring progress of EMS harmonization and capacity-building activities, ensuring quality assurance and timely delivery of outputs. 1
• Documenting lessons learned and good practices to support evidence-based decision-making. 1
• Contributing to knowledge sharing and dissemination of project achievements.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Public Health Management or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the relevant areas combined with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be considered. A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience is required for those with a master’s degree, or 7 years for those with a bachelor’s degree, in providing Public Health Management advisory services, and hands-on experience in project design, monitoring, and evaluation.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Public Health Management or a related field. A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the same areas, combined with additional qualifying experience, will also be considered. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of public health systems and emergency medical services.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in providing Public Health Management advisory services. Candidates should have hands-on experience in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects, as well as leading and managing projects effectively. Experience in public health management advisory services is crucial for success in this role.

Languages:
Fluency in English, Romanian, and Russian is mandatory for this position. Additionally, working knowledge of one or more minority languages relevant to Moldova, such as Russian, Romani, Gagauzian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, and sign language, is considered an asset. Proficiency in these languages will facilitate communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders in the healthcare sector.

Additional Notes:
This position is an equal opportunity role, and UNDP values diversity in its workforce. The organization encourages qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply, ensuring that employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role. UNDP is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel can thrive and benefit from career opportunities. The organization does not tolerate harassment or discrimination and ensures that all selected candidates undergo relevant checks. UNDP reserves the right to select multiple candidates from this vacancy announcement and may retain applications for similar positions. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to read UNDP’s guidance on using AI responsibly in recruitment and selection processes. It is important to note that UNDP does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.