Medical Liaison Officer - Project Survivors of Torture - Palermo - #48867

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was founded in 1971 in Paris by a group of journalists and doctors.

We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, natural disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams consist of tens of thousands of healthcare professionals, logistics staff, and administrative personnel, all united by our Charter and guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence, and neutrality. We are a non-profit, self-governed organization based on an associative structure.

MSF has identified migrant and refugee survivors of torture and ill-treatment (SoT) among the most vulnerable and neglected people.

For this reason, since 2020, MSF has developed in the Palermo metropolitan area a program specifically aimed at this target population through a multidisciplinary model of care (medical, psychological, and socio-legal support).

From October 2023 two memorandum of understanding have been signed with the Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico (AOUP) "Paolo Giaccone" and the University of Palermo with the aim of strengthening the SoT program in both clinical and research components.

Reports to (Hierarchical) Project Medical Coordinator

Reports to (Functional) Project Medical Coordinator

Main Purpose

Ensure quality of care as part of a multidisciplinary team across the entire patient pathway—from initial assessment through follow-up to discharge—applying evidence-based medical practices and MSF guidelines, and integrating a trauma-informed approach throughout.

Accountabilities

• Participate in the collection and analysis of epidemiological data, checking its validity and informing the line manager or about any problem of complication of the patients illness, medical error and monitors the proper functioning of the department, equipment or material.
• Ensure ongoing training of the medical/paramedical multidisciplinary team in order to optimize the quality of care.
• Knows and ensures all MSF medical protocols are followed and implemented, checking universal precautions are followed at all times and reducing bio-hazard risks and improving infection control.
• Ensures professional confidentiality is respected.
• Ensure good communication with involved health facilities and external medical stakeholders
  
  
  

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

• Implements the strategy for identification and management of SoT cases, with the support of the Project Medical Coordinator and Mental Health Specialized Activity Manager(MSAM), in collaboration with National Health System staff and other service providers.
• Monitor the multidisciplinary medical team conducting first need assessments, according to a trauma-informed approach.
• Monitor and follows up patients’ medical safe referrals.
• Ensures MSF medical protocols are understood, followed, and implemented in line with a trauma-informed approach, while maintaining strict professional confidentiality.
• Keep updated mapping of relevant stakeholders, and establishes and strengthens the networking with the different medical specialties (AUOP, ASP, etc), with particular attention to the physiotherapy referral pathway, integrating trauma-informed care approaches. Ensure information sources accuracy and its availability on regular basis.
• Participates in coordination meetings with hospital departments and involved health facilities to strengthen referral systems. Write meeting minutes.
• Contributes to the collection of red flags within their area of responsibility and reports them for inclusion in the project logbook.
• Implements and standardizes the assessment and management of chronic pain, ensuring consistent, high-quality, and evidence-based care across the program.
• Provide health sessions as part of the patient’s engagement strategy and if the patient requires it.
• Participates in the collection and analysis of epidemiological data, recording medical database, verifying its accuracy, and reporting any complications, medical errors, or system issues to the line manager.
• Lead and follow-up the development and implementation of a hybrid data management system, ensuring clear differentiation between SoT and non-SoT interventions, promoting data quality over quantity, and enabling effective cross-departmental data analysis, while aligning with NHS systems and constraints.
• Contributes to the preparation of the monthly, quarterly and annual medical report, in coordination with the Project Medical Coordinator.
• Supports the Project Medical Coordinator in organizing trainings and provides updates on the needs of NHS staff, MSF staff, and other organizations working with survivors of torture.
• Contribute to the writing of medical case reports and/or reserches conducted at project level.
• Participates in multidisciplinary meetings and leads medical meetings in the absence of the Project Medical Coordinator.
• Attends monthly team supervision meetings and participates in case discussions and reviews.
• Ensures that first-aid kits in the office are regularly updated and compliant with applicable legal standards; monitors the availability of basic medications for staff, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.
  
  
  

Note This role does not demand direct patient case management or “prise en charge”.

Education

• Medical Doctor diploma (Essential)
• Tropical Medicine diploma (Desirable)
  
  
  

Experience

• 2 years experience minimum as Medical Doctor or in clinical work (can be within medical training) (Essential)
• Experience in tropical medicine, or post-registration experience in Public Health, obs and gynae, infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS/STDs, TB, general practice or general medicine (Desirable)
• Experience in migration contexts (Highly considered)
• Knowledge of Italian and local NHS system (Desirable)
• Experience with MSF or other NGOs (Desirable)
• Data analysis skills (Desirable)
• Epidemiology experience (Desirable)
  
  
  

Languages

• Italian C1 (Essential)
• English B2 (Desirable)
  
  
  

Knowledge

• Strong computer literacy e.g. Word, Excel (Essential)
  
  
  

Competencies

• Commitment
• Flexibility
• Adherence to MSF principles
• Willingness to achieve goals and quality
• Stress management
• Teamwork and cooperation
  
  
  

Conditions

Contract Fixed-term contract of 12 months, Full-time. Level II of CCNL. Candidates must have a valid work permit to work in Italy.

Gross Annual Salary Min €35.008,10 - Max €42.010 depending on the MSF experience of the selected candidate.

Duty Station MSF office and other health facilities in Palermo

Benefits

• Health coverage is provided through the Italian National Health Service (SSN), complemented by supplementary private health insurance (Sanimpresa) for contracts lasting 90 days or longer. This coverage includes medical expenses, illness and hospitalization, permanent disability, and death benefits.
• Staff members are entitled to a meal voucher worth €5 for each working day on which they have worked at least 4 hours, for the entire duration of the contract.
• Accommodation MSF may provide accommodation in the form of shared housing (collective accommodation). Employees are required to contribute to the accommodation costs, with the amount varying according to the duty station.
• MSF covers the cost of one round-trip ticket at the beginning and end of the contract
  
  
  

Deadline for application 01/07/2026

Desired starting date July

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

MSF Italy is an inclusive employer that fosters diversity and engages systematically to ensure that equal employment opportunities are provided without regard to age, race, creed, religion, sex, disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin or any other legally recognized status entitled to protection under applicable laws.