PIHOA E-Blast: Vacancy Announcements for Medical and Public Health Surge Responders for the Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services – FULL ANNOUNCEMENT

Background: The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is one of the world’s smallest, most isolated, and vulnerable nations. The country consists of 29 atolls and 5 isolated islands (24 of which are inhabited) and has a total landmass of just 181 km2 set in an area of over 1.9 million km2 in the northern, central Pacific Ocean. The population of the RMI is estimated at 53,066, of which the two largest urban centers, Majuro (the nation’s capital) and Ebeye, have populations of 28,000 and 9,614, respectively. 
 
Early in the pandemic the RMI, along with several other Pacific Island countries and territories, closed its borders and severely restricted all commercial and non-commercial sea and air trade to the RMI. Given the RMI’s existing health system challenges and limited resources, this has and continues to give the RMI needed time to mobilize resources and prepare accordingly in the event the RMI government decides to fully, or partially, re-open its borders. As a result of the immediate effect of its border closure, many RMI citizens and residents were left stranded in various locations outside of the RMI, unable to return. Nearly eight months on since the RMI closed its borders in early March 2020, the RMI government is now planning to lift some of its border and travel restrictions to repatriate some of its stranded citizens and residents, as well as to bring in essential workers. This process will include strict pre-departure and on-site testing and quarantine measures.  
 
Since allowing very limited entry for essential workers and repatriated citizens, RMI has confirmed only 2 positive cases to date, both US military personnel identified during arrival quarantine. There is currently no evidence of transmission outside of the quarantine site on the US military base on Kwajalein, nor any evidence of community transmission, at this time. 
 
COVID-19 Surge Responder Vacancies: In line with its National COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan, and in recognition of its limited resources to staff an effective response to COVID-19, the RMI MOHHS has requested assistance from the Pacific Island Health Officers’ Association (PIHOA) to recruit qualified and experienced medical and public health personnel to support its on-going COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts. Successful candidates will be hired under contract with PIHOA, a US non-profit 501(c)3, operating out of Honolulu, Hawaii.    
 
Temporary medical and public health surge responders are to be recruited and deployed to two of the RMI’s main health service delivery centers in Delap on Majuro Atoll and Ebeye on Kwajalein Atoll. Unless otherwise stated, position deployments will be for a minimum of twelve calendar months from time of hire, with possible extension for another twelve months, if circumstances deem this to be necessary. Applicable positions will be subject to RMI MOHHS’ medical practice and licensure requirements prior to employment. All positions will also be subject to the RMI’s immigration rules and regulations depending on the country of origin, including adherence to the RMI’s COVID-19 pre-departure and on-site COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements. 
 
All travels and related expenses using the most direct and economical routes (coach class only) between home base and the RMI will be arranged and covered by PIHOA at commencement and completion of the contracted period, including limited relocation expenses for accompanied excess and overweight baggage only and required transits. Eligible travel expenses will be in adherence to PIHOA’s Travel Policy and approved budgets.
 
Compensation will be provided on a monthly basis commensurate with qualifications and experience, and pending approval of satisfactory work performed by assigned, on-site RMI MOHHS supervisor. In addition, housing allowance and eligible communication expenses, up to a designated ceiling, will be provided in addition to the monthly compensation. The RMI MOHHS will coordinate and assist with required COVID-19 pre-departure and on-site testing and quarantine requirements, and identifying local accommodation options. A limited set of office equipment and supplies will be provided by PIHOA at the commencement of the contract, while office space will be provided by the RMI MOHHS. Aside from the benefits indicated above, no other benefits will be provided by PIHOA. All other benefits, including applicable home base and local tax obligations, will be out-of-pocket and at the discretion of the contractor.   
 
This recruitment process is effective immediately for the following temporary vacancies:
  1. Epidemiologists x 2 – Master’s level or above from the US or other internationally-accredited tertiary institution; 1 to be deployed to Majuro and 1 to Ebeye
  2. Molecular Technologists/Laboratory Technicians x 3 – Bachelor’s level or above from the US or other internationally-accredited tertiary institution; must have a current certificate of practice; 2 to be deployed to Majuro and 1 to Ebeye
  3. Biomedical Technicians x 2 – Associate’s level or above from the US or other internationally-accredited tertiary institution; must have a current certificate of practice; 1 to be deployed to Majuro and 1 to Ebeye
  4. Infection Prevention and Control Specialist x 2 – Bachelor’s level or above from the US or other internationally-accredited tertiary institution; must have a current certificate of practice; 1 to be deployed to Majuro and 1 to Ebeye
  5. Respiratory Therapist x 3 – Bachelor’s level or above from the US or other internationally-accredited tertiary institution; must have a current certificate of practice; 2 to be deployed to Majuro and 1 to Ebeye
  6. Internist x 6 – Medical degree with a specialty in internal medicine from the US or other internationally-accredited tertiary institution; must have a current license to practice; 4 to be deployed to Majuro and 2 to Ebeye
  7. Radiographer/Radiology Technician x 2 – Bachelor’s level or above from the US or other internationally-accredited tertiary institution; must have a current certificate of practice; 1 to be deployed to Majuro and 1 to Ebeye
  8. Radiologist x 2 – Medical degree with a specialty in radiology from the US or other internationally-accredited tertiary institution; must have current license to practice; 1 to be deployed to Majuro and 1 to Ebeye
  9. Anesthesiologist x 2 – Medical degree with a specialty in anesthesiology from the US or other internationally-accredited tertiary institution; must have current license to practice; 1 to be deployed to Majuro and 1 to Ebeye
  10. Public Health Nurse x 4 – Bachelor’s level or above from the US or other internationally-accredited tertiary institution; must have a current license to practice; 3 to be deployed to Majuro and 1 to Ebeye
Enquiries/Application: Detailed job descriptions, expected contract deliverables, and other information will be available shortly on the PIHOA website regarding each posted position vacancies.  For initial enquiries, please direct these to Emi Chutaro (emic@pihoa.org) and Janet Camacho (janetc@pihoa.org).     
 
For interested applicants, please submit the following to Emi Chutaro and Regie Tolentino (regiet@pihoa.org):
  1. Letter of Interest that outlines your overall qualifications and professional experience pertinent to the position with respect to COVID-19, or other infectious diseases, emergency response work. When possible, the letter should also outline demonstrated experience working in health emergency response situations in limited-resource settings;
  2. Curriculum Vitae or Resume; and
  3. Minimum of three (3) work references from most current work supervisors within the last 8 years of work.
 
About PIHOA
 
Established in 1986 by the chief health officials of the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) of American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau, the Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA) is a 501(c)3 headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, with a field office in Hagatna, Guam.  PIHOA’s mission is to provide, through collective action and decision-making, a credible regional voice for health advocacy in and for the Pacific.   
 
Today, PIHOA’s membership is comprised of the ministers/directors/secretaries of health (executive governing board) of the six USAPIs, their deputies and Chief Executive Officers of local public hospitals (associates), and Pacific regional professional associations (affiliates).  PIHOA’s Secretariat, comprised of ten executive, administrative and technical staff and a number of short and long-term consultants, have been tasked to provide technical assistance to the USAPI health ministries and departments in the following health systems strengthening areas: 1) health workforce development/human resources for health; 2) epidemiology and surveillance; 3) performance improvement; 4) laboratory services; 5) regional health policy and advocacy; 6) health security, and 7) leadership development.