Background
The Registered Nurse is responsible for supporting the delivery of primary healthcare, immunisation services, nutrition, health systems strengthening activities, and emergency medical response through HELPR-1’s integrated outreach program. The role contributes to improving access to essential health services for remote and underserved communities while supporting the Ministry of Health to strengthen health service delivery, data systems, workforce capacity, and community health outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
1. Clinical Service Delivery
– Coordinate with Ministry of Health public health programs such as VDI, NTD and Nutrition to ensure delivery of these services in remote communities during all provincial deployments.
– Support integrated outreach activities including maternal and child health, communicable disease control, non-communicable diseases, mental health, and neglected tropical disease programs.
– Conduct patient assessments, triage, treatment, health education, and referrals in accordance with Ministry of Health protocols.
– Provide follow-up support to remote health facilities as required.
– Manage nursing activities onboard HELPR-1.
2. Immunisation Services
– Deliver routine childhood immunisations, supplementary immunisation activities, and vaccination campaigns.
– Maintain vaccine cold chain requirements during transport, storage, and administration.
– Monitor vaccine stock levels and consumables onboard HELPR-1.
– Support vaccine forecasting, stock management, and wastage reduction initiatives.
– Assist with implementation of the National Electronic Immunisation Register (NEIR).
– Conduct community mobilisation and health promotion activities to improve vaccine uptake.
3. Health Systems Strengthening
– Participate in health facility assessments using approved Ministry of Health tools.
– Identify service delivery gaps and provide recommendations to strengthen remote health services.
– Support mentoring and capacity-building activities for nurses and healthcare workers in remote clinics.
– Assist with training and coaching related to: Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), Infection Prevention and Control, Clinical documentation and reporting
– Support provincial health teams to strengthen stock management and cold chain systems.
– Assist with distribution of medical equipment, medicines, and clinical supplies to remote facilities.
4. Health Information and Data Management
– Ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation using Ministry of Health and HELPR-1 reporting tools.
– Support collection, verification, and submission of patient and service delivery data.
– Assist clinics to strengthen health information management and reporting systems.
– Support integration of data into DHIS2 and other Ministry of Health systems where required.
– Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, learning, and operational research activities
5. Emergency Preparedness and Response
– Provide emergency clinical care and stabilisation of patients onboard HELPR-1 and during community outreach activities.
– Participate in medical evacuations and emergency response activities as directed.
– Maintain readiness of emergency medical equipment and supplies.
– Participate in emergency preparedness exercises, drills, and training.
– Support disaster response operations when activated by Respond Global and the Ministry of Health
6. Infection Prevention, Safety and Quality
– Maintain high standards of infection prevention and control
– Ensure safe clinical practice in accordance with national guidelines and professional standards
– Report clinical incidents, adverse events, and safety concerns promptly
– Participate in quality improvement activities and clinical audits
– Maintain cleanliness and organisation of clinical spaces onboard HELPR-1.
7. Logistics and Operational Support
– Assist with mobilisation and demobilisation of clinical outreach activities
– Coordinate movement of medical equipment and supplies between HELPR-1 and shore-based facilities
– Conduct stocktakes and maintains inventory records for clinical equipment and consumables
– Support efficient use of resources to minimise waste and maximise service delivery
– Follow all marine safety procedures and directions provided by the captain.
Selection Criteria
Essential
– Registered Nurse qualification recognised in Vanuatu or an equivalent internationally recognised nursing qualification.
– Current nursing registration and licence to practice in Vanuatu.
– Minimum three years of clinical nursing experience.
– Experience working in primary healthcare, rural health, outreach services, emergency care, or public health programs.
– Demonstrated experience in immunisation service delivery.
– Strong clinical assessment and patient management skills.
– Experience in health data collection, reporting, and documentation
– Ability to work independently in remote and resource-constrained environments.
– Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
– Commitment to community-centred healthcare and health equity.
– Knows how to use Microsoft word, excel, power point, computer literate, able to use emails (outlook) and other computer related tasks.
Desirable
– Qualifications or training in public health, emergency care, disaster response, or tropical medicine.
– Experience supporting health systems strengthening initiatives.
– Experience with DHIS2, Kobo, or electronic health information systems.
– Current certification in Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support.
– Has experience writing reports.
Core Competencies
– Clinical excellence
– Cultural sensitivity
– Teamwork and collaboration
– Adaptability and resilience
– Problem solving and initiative
– Data and information management
– Commitment to quality and patient safety
– Leadership and mentoring
Conditions
The position requires extended periods living and working onboard HELPR-1 and frequent travel to remote and isolated communities throughout Vanuatu. The role may involve irregular hours, challenging environmental conditions, and participation in emergency response operations. HELPR-1’s home port is Port Vila.
Salary
188,273VUV (inc.6% VNPF) + 6% VNPF per month, equivalent to 2,259,276VUV per year.
Start date
Monday July 6th 2026.
You will be provided with food and comfortable lodgings onboard HELPR-1. All persons on board HELPR-1 must abide by the Respond Global HELPR-1 Code of Conduct, including a zero-tolerance ban on alcohol, kava and drugs.
How to apply
To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter to helpr@respondglobal.com.
Closing date for applications is Tuesday June 30th at 5pm.
