Senior Biomedical Engineer

IR/INT/EXT/VN/029.24

            June 10, 2024

Job Title:                       Senior Biomedical Engineer  

Reports to:                   Health & Nutrition Program Coordinator                         

Duty Station:                Country Office, Addis Ababa with frequent travel field offices  

Required:                       One 

Duration:                       One year with possible extension 

Salary:                             As per the organizations scale

Introduction: 

Islamic Relief is an international relief and development charity founded in 1984 with its headquarters in Birmingham, UK. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities - regardless of race, religion or gender. The office officially started operation in Ethiopia in 2004. Islamic Relief Ethiopia (IRE) is operational in the Somali Regional State with a base office in Jigjiga, Hargelle, Elkere, Bare, GG and Dekasuftu, Afar Regional State; Ewa, Awra and Gulina; Oromia regional State, West Harergeye, Chiro and Meayso Woredas, Borena zone, Yabello, Dubluk, Dire and Elewaye woredas  and an additional operational office in Addis Ababa. For more information please visit our website: http://www.islamic-relief.org/work-with-us

Job-Purpose: 

The Senior Biomedical Engineer oversees the coordination and is responsible for a crucial role in ensuring the effective utilization and maintenance of donated medical equipment, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of healthcare services in underserved communities. This role entails closely working with healthcare facilities, woreda health offices, and regional health bureaus of Oromia to ensure that donated equipment meets quality and safety standards and effectively addresses the needs of recipient facilities. 

Responsibilities also include evaluating the functionality and suitability of donated equipment, coordinating logistics for installation, and providing technical support and training to end-users. Additionally, collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop protocols, documentation, and processes for donation management, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices. This position demands strong communication skills, technical expertise in biomedical engineering, and a commitment to improving healthcare access and quality in underserved communities. The Senior Biomedical Engineer will be based in Addis Ababa, with significant travel to 50 health facilities across the Oromia Regional States of Ethiopia.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Assessment and Planning:

   • Conduct thorough assessments of healthcare facilities receiving medical equipment donations to understand their specific needs and requirements.

   • Collaborate with healthcare professionals and stakeholders to ensure donated medical equipment meets the needs of health facilities, including researching, evaluating, and recording the impact of donated medical equipment.

   • Perform planned preventive maintenance based on approved procedures.

   • Maintain all medical equipment and inspect electrical installations.

   • Troubleshoot technical problems associated with laboratory equipment and peripheral services.

2. Installation and Maintenance:

   • Oversee the installation, setup, and configuration of donated medical equipment at recipient facilities in Oromia.

   • Provide technical expertise and training to health staff on the proper use, maintenance, and troubleshooting of the equipment.

3. Documentation and Reporting:

   • Maintain detailed records of donated equipment, including specifications, maintenance schedules, and service history.

   • Generate reports to track project progress, including equipment distribution, installation status, and any issues encountered.

   • Keep accurate and up-to-date medical equipment maintenance logs.

   • Prepare life history of each equipment and parts inventory of the donated medical equipment.

4. Capacity Building, Collaboration, and Support:

   • Support capacity-building initiatives by conducting workshops, training sessions, and educational programs for  healthcare workers on biomedical equipment management, maintenance, and repair including safety procedures  

   • Conduct safety checks on medical equipment utilization.

   • Prepare troubleshooting standard operating procedures for preventive maintenance.

   • Provide training to end-users on the safe and proper use of medical equipment donated to health facilities.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation:

   • Establish monitoring mechanisms to assess the impact of donated equipment on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

   • Collect feedback from healthcare providers and community members to identify areas for improvement and sustainability.

6. Logistics and Supply Chain Management:

   • Coordinate the transportation, storage, and distribution of donated medical equipment to ensure timely delivery to intended recipients.

   • Manage inventory levels and optimize supply chain processes to minimize delays and maximize efficiency.

7. Advocacy and Awareness:

   • Advocate for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure and medical equipment provision for underserved communities at local, regional, and national levels.

   • Raise awareness about the importance of equitable access to healthcare resources and the role of biomedical engineering in addressing healthcare disparities.

     Additional Responsibilities:

• This job description is not exhaustive, and the employee will perform other related tasks as required and be responsible for reporting and communicating progress and achievement of the specific assigned tasks.

• Inform the Health and Nutrition program coordinator of any professional problems encountered.

• Conduct all duties in a professional manner following Islamic Relief staff regulations and charter.

• Ability to handle multiple tasks on an ongoing basis and adapt to a shift or change in priorities, including the ability to work a flexible work schedule as needed to meet deliverable deadlines.

• By taking on these additional roles, the Senior Biomedical Engineer contributes to the overall success and sustainability of the project, while also promoting the long-term health and well-being of the communities served.

Personal Specification 

Formal Education/Qualification and Work Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with at least 5 years of relevant work experience. 

• Excellent report writing, communication, and negotiation skills.

• Ability to use computers and standard Microsoft Office packages.

• Ability to plan and organize work independently with appropriate follow-through, paying close attention to detail, and showing initiative in completing tasks and projects in a timely manner.

• Knowledge of health data collection and the ability to analyze and interpret data to contribute to program implementation.

• Training provision and teamwork abilities.

• Proficiency in written and spoken English, Amharic, and Afaan Oromo is mandatory.

Skills and Competences

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunity

Islamic Relief and Islamic Relief staff considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and people at risk to be paramount to the organization. And must adhere the principle of ‘do no harm and leave no one behind.’ It is critical we do not expose communities or staff we work with to the risk of harm through our interventions.  Islamic Relief have a number of related policies which also describe standards in behavior expected from the organization, its staff and representatives towards each other and those we serve. Islamic Relief is committed to responding swiftly, appropriately and constructively to any and all information children, young people and people at risk have disclosed.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. We participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and child abuse during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment before signing the contract agreement.

Islamic Relief believes everyone has the right to be safe, respected and valued regardless of who they are or their circumstances, and an equal employment opportunity to all candidates and qualified applicants, we do not discriminate on the base of age, sex, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability status and diversity. 

Islamic Relief has a zero tolerance towards all forms of violence, sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

IRE highly encourage female applicants to apply for this position. Our organization is committed to promoting gender equality and diversity in the workplace. IRE believe in creating an inclusive working environment where all individuals, regardless of their gender, have equal opportunities for professional growth and development.

IRE value the contributions and unique perspectives that women and persons with disability bring to our organization and are committed to providing a supportive, working environment. IRE believe that by promoting gender equality, we can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of our programs.

If you are a qualified female candidate with a passion to join our team, we encourage you to submit your application. IRE look forward to considering your candidacy and working together to make a difference in the lives of those in need.

How To Apply

Application Procedures

• Interested candidates are required to submit a complete Job application form stated with the duty station that you are applying for with all required supporting documents (updated CV, copy of credentials and testimonials) through eth.recruitment1@islamic-relief.org.et 

• You can access the Job Application Form with this link: http://www.islamic-relief.org.et/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Employment-Application-form-1.docx. Failure to follow the instructions will invalidate your application.

• Closing date for the application is June 24, 2024.

• Due to the high volume of application, we regret that we will be able to contact only the shortlisted candidates.

Disclaimers: The Islamic relief does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including the application, interview, offer and contract stages.