Health infrastructure specialist

La Chaine de l’Espoir is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in 1994. Its mission is to strengthen health systems to give everyone, especially children, the same chances of survival and development.

We work in 28 countries with a comprehensive approach, focusing on children, mothers and disadvantaged communities:

· Prevention and screening from an early age, particularly through school health programs.

· Care and surgery, to meet the most urgent needs of children and their mothers.

· Strengthening the medical and surgical workforce thanks to our international network of experts.

· Construction and equipment of hospital structures adapted to local needs.

Since March 2022, La Chaine de l’Espoir (CDE) has been implementing a project to support the Ukrainian health system to improve medical and surgical care for victims of the war and patients in general, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Health Cluster co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the health authorities at oblast levels. The initiative, co-funded by the Centre de Crise et de Soutien (CDCS) of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, is a response to assessments conducted by CDE's medical and biomedical team in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

CDE mainly focused its activities in areas close to the frontline and newly accessible areas (Mykolaivska, Kharkivska, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhska) on the delivery of medical supplies including emergency traumatology kits, medicines and consumables, biomedical equipment (for endoscopy, intensive care, orthopaedics surgeries, radiology, operating theatre...), and war medicine training (more than 1200 health medical and paramedical staff trained).

Since 2024, CDE has developed a comprehensive strategy to enhance the quality of specialized medical care in orthopaedics, traumatology, and paediatric cardiology. This program aims to address the identified gaps in medical services, focusing on improving access to surgical materials and biomedical equipment, providing advanced training for medical professionals in orthopaedic advanced techniques and severe trauma cases management, and leveraging telemedicine for remote cardiology diagnostics and consultations.

In 2025-2026, CDE plans to continue its existing activities, expanding its medical staff capacity-building component (other modules on war medicine, support for operating theatre nurses, etc.), and its surgical support and support for the detection and management of paediatric heart disease to other regions. CDE also plans to assess support needs in terms of hospital rehabilitation and infrastructure.

POSITION AND MISSION

The Health infrastructure specialist is expected to lead on CDE efforts to understand and contribute to the Strategy for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Medical Facilities in Ukraine. CDE is looking to invest our efforts here to understand the bigger picture in terms of needs and priorities of Ukrainian government and from perspective of international partners and donors. The needs across the country are immense with medical facilities damaged since 2022 to varying degrees. 

The Health infrastructure specialist works under the management of the Head of Mission and very closely with our medical programmes team.

The Health infrastructure specialist works under the technical supervision of HQ infrastructure team and at times in close collaboration with our biomedical engineer.

The healthcare infrastructure specialist may be engaged in hospital planning and design as a secondary objective, depending on opportunities and context. Their expertise in healthcare facility development can be utilized to ensure projects are both functional and compliant with regulatory standards.

The Health infrastructure specialist handles the following activities. 

 

MAIN ACTIVITIES 

Study on the Strategy for the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Medical Facilities in Ukraine. 

1. Objectives

To enhance the understanding of Ukraine’s reconstruction framework and support informed decision-making for potential partnerships or interventions in the field of medical infrastructure. The Health infrastructure specialist  will be responsible for analyzing and documenting the Ukrainian government's strategy for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of medical facilities. The key objectives are to:

• Identify and understand the national strategy for reconstruction and rehabilitation of healthcare infrastructure.
• Analyse the applicable national technical standards and their implementation, comparing them with European Union or International standards, especially for healthcare centers requirements.
• Map decision-making processes within relevant ministries, particularly the Ministry of Health (MoH).
• Determine whether technical studies and infrastructure maintenance are outsourced or managed internally by government agencies. 
• Market assessments about construction actors and references: identify key resource actors (engineering firms, architectural firms, consulting agencies, specialized companies, international organizations, construction company etc.) involved in the planning, assessment, and implementation of reconstruction projects. Collect and share data on construction cost in the country. 
• Assess different hospitals or care centres to support the data collected and reports given, as well on legal or technical structuration.
• Participate to CDE action plans work: give recommendations about next possible activities in terms of healthcare structures rehabilitation or any other relevant support (maintenance, training,…).

2. Activities

To achieve these objectives, he/she will undertake the following activities:

1. Document Review/ secondary data’s review. 

Analyse government policies, regulations, and strategic documents related to the reconstruction of medical infrastructure. Compare it with EU and international standards applicable to healthcare infrastructure, in close coordination with HQ team and feedbacks on previous CDE experiences.

2. Interviews and Surveys:

• Conduct interviews with representatives from the MoH, reconstruction agencies, biomedical suppliers and other key institutions, in close coordination with HQ team and tools already developed on previous CDE experiences.
• Consult technical experts at the national and international levels.
• Identify companies and consulting firms specializing in planning, design, construction and rehabilitation of healthcare infrastructure.
• Takes part in field visits to health facilities, regional locations as identified as potential areas of needs including mapping of the facilities and area of interventions in close coordination with CDE team in Ukrain and HQ team with tools already developed on previous CDE experiences. 
• Participate actively in coordination meetings and thematic working groups where relevant, for example shelter and health clusters.
• Organizes bilateral meetings with other shelter actors, for example ICRC, NRC.

3. Mapping of Stakeholders and Decision-Making Processes:

• Network with potential donors for infrastructure projects.
• Work with programmes teams to identify potential projects/ partners that require infrastructure/ rehabilitation support.
• Identify ministries, agencies, and key stakeholders involved in the process.
• Analyse decision-making structures and the roles of different entities.
• Compile a list of engineering firms, architectural firms, construction companies, and other actors engaged in the reconstruction of medical infrastructure.

4. Analysis of Hospital Management Models:

• Assess the legal structuration of hospitals defining technical HR and budget allocated, compared to surfaces and number of beds.
• Assess whether technical studies, purchases and maintenance are outsourced, managed internally or directed by national entities.
• Assess the models of tools or data already used by the technical teams.
• Compare these practices with European models and identify best practices, in close coordination with HQ team and tools already developed on previous CDE experiences.

 2. Deliverables

Upon completion of the assignment, the engineer will provide:

1) A detailed report, including:

• An overview of the government’s reconstruction strategy and regulatory framework.
• Key points showing comparisons between Ukrainian and EU standards, especially for healthcare centers requirements.
• A mapping of stakeholders, engineering firms, and decision-making processes.
• An analysis of hospital management models.
• Precise assessments of the visited healthcare infrastructures, with a focus on their condition and maintenance status. Clear mapping of donors and NGO actors involved in healthcare rehabilitation across Ukraine including key contact information.
• Schedule of upcoming events, workshops, proposal deadlines related to health infrastructure.
• List of recommendations (technical feasabilities with estimated budget, timing and HR propositions) and initial discussions with potential partner health facilities that have significant needs for rehabilitation and construction support.

2) A summary briefing note (5-10 pages) highlighting key findings and recommendations.

3) A guide /data base on applicable standards including building regulations, healthcare facility requirements, safety protocols, and maintenance procedures. If referred to construction process such as building permits, initial activity declarations, etc... referred to the country. 

4) Assist in project design and proposal development, including planning facility layouts, selecting appropriate technologies, and ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations.

 

Qualifications & Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in Healthcare Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.

• A Bachelor’s degree in the above fields, combined with 8+ years of relevant experience in the healthcare sector, may be considered equivalent.

 Professional Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in hospital construction, renovation, or infrastructure project management.

• Strong understanding of technical and regulatory standards for healthcare facilities.

• Expertise in program and project design, feasibility studies, and technical assessments.

• Experience in international NGOs and diverse work environments is a plus.

• Ability to collaborate and negotiate with local health authorities and stakeholders.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in AutoCAD and knowledge of BIM (Building Information Modeling) is an advantage.

• Strong command of Microsoft Office Suite.

• Familiarity with biomedical equipment and associated technical constraints is a plus.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential.

Location: Full-time position based in Kyiv, Ukraine
Salary: 110,000 UAH/month
Contract: Initial 3-month contract (with potential extension)
Application Deadline: April 18th
Start Date: May 1st