Humanitarian Representative Network Coordinator and Information Manager at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

Position Background and Purpose

• The Humanitarian Representation Team (HRT) works to enhance MSF’s ability to understand, inform, and where possible, influence the actions and decisions of external stakeholders for the purposes of protecting MSF’s operational space, advocating for needs-based humanitarian action and, when requested, conveying MSF’s témoignage. The HRT supports MSF operations through linkages and actions to and from a wide array of external networks that include governments, multilateral institutions and agencies, humanitarian and civil society organisations, medical associations, think tanks, research centres, and other influential interlocutors. The HRT is comprised of a full-time secretariat covering multilateral bodies (UN, EU-NATO, AU), permanent UNSC members (US, UK, China, Russia), and other key regions (East Africa, West Africa, Gulf, Levant, Türkiye, South-East Asia). The HRT Secretariat’s work is supported by a global network including more than 20 representatives linked to MSF home society offices worldwide.
• Working under the leadership of the IOHRC and alongside the RIOD Advisor and Deputy Head of the HRT, the position holder will be responsible for enhancing and maintaining internal coherence, coordination, operational functionality, and strategic alignment of the HRT team with the RIOD engagement priorities.
• As a member of the HRT secretariat, the holder of the position should be available for deployments in support to country programs, and on-the-ground engagement support as requested by operational teams or HRT network members, and in agreement with the IOHRC.

Main Functions and Responsibilities

HRT Network Coordination & Coherence

• Overall coordination and organisation: Under the guidance of the IOHRC, act as focal point for the HRT network, managing and supporting the organisation and coherence of the network in alignment with HRT’s overall strategic direction. Help maintain structured engagement among HRT network members and other HRT secretariat context-specific focal points.
• Enhance collaboration between HRT members: Ensure effective information flow, support, and coordinated actions between HRT representatives, facilitating the interaction between the HRT secretariat and the HRT network in order to improve the efficiency of escalation strategies, thereby amplifying and structuring MSF’s representation. With relevant colleagues in the HRT, advocacy, legal and other departments, organise and facilitate relevant briefings, information sessions, and discussions to foster coordinated and informed efforts.
• Network Monitoring and Awareness Building: Ensure timely and detailed monitoring and awareness raising of all HRT network profiles, setups, initiatives, and expertise and focus areas, thereby promoting synergies between individual network and secretariat members, and between different regional working groups and context-specific groups.
• Liaise between HRT and MSF Access: Establish and maintain a setup for effective collaboration between the HRT and MSF Access teams, identifying shared priorities and facilitating the exchange of relevant information and advocacy positioning.
• Advice and Support: Provide day-to-day support, guidance, and advice to network members on key developments when requested and in agreement with the IOHRC.

Information and Knowledge Management

• Reporting Systems and Platforms Management: Manage, coordinate and harmonize internal reporting processes and platforms, helping to consolidate updates and reporting across the HRT secretariat and network. Provide quality assurance and organized documentation to support institutional memory and facilitate knowledge transfer.
• Analysis and Information Sharing: Draft high-quality reports, internal updates, and policy briefs that support strategic reflection, promote evidence-based decision-making, and enhance operational transparency. This further includes supporting the creation and dissemination of relevant updates and resources to enhance visibility, awareness, and acceptance of ongoing HRT work and key information.
• Information and Knowledge Management: Maintaining internal communications tools such as SharePoint, the HRT Library, and the HRT Engagement Tracker and Dashboard.
• Awareness and Adoption of Reporting Systems: Brief, guide and support HRT secretariat and network members on relevant reporting and information tools and platforms, ensuring best practices and adoption of most relevant use-cases.

Team Support

• Human Resources and Administrative Management Support: Provide support for HR-related follow-up, onboarding and integration of new staff and supporting the HRT assistant on the administrative aspects of this follow up.
• Budget management support: Provide support for budget follow up, particularly monitoring the travel and representation expenditures of the HRT Secretariat.
• Support to the RIOD Advisor (RA) in supporting daily functioning RIOD platforms (with meetings, agenda, outcomes) etc. when RA is absent or requests priority support.
• Back-up Support: Provide back-up engagement support for secretariat and/or network members when priority issues arise or in case of absence, including preparation, attendance and participation in key meetings, conferences or events or interdesk facilitation.

Experience and Qualifications

• A minimum eight to ten years’ related experience in humanitarian settings, including in management, coordination, or representation roles.
• Prior experience in coordinating and managing multiple internal or external stakeholders with sometimes diverging interests, priorities, and reporting lines.
• Prior experience in high-level representation and correspondence with senior stakeholders, including government officials, diplomats, military or armed groups, donors, and multilateral organisations.
• Strong experience in reporting, internal information flow, and advocacy in the humanitarian sector. Ability to synthesize complex and sensitive material and analyse and report on it to colleagues.
• Familiarity and ease-of-use in SharePoint, Teams, Microsoft Lists and ability to liaise with technical and IT/IKM referents to ensure appropriate setups, use-cases, and best practices.
• Familiarity with MSF’s structure and representation work is required. Prior experience in MSF operations (PC/HOM) or representation (HRT) is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge of international humanitarian affairs and strong geopolitical understanding of current humanitarian contexts/countries. Diplomatic networks and contacts in relevant contexts are an asset.

General aptitudes

• Strategic vision and creativity in problem solving.
• Strong organizational, administrative, and leadership skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, written and oral communications skills.
• Excellent judgment and diplomatic skills. Strong ability to navigate politically sensitive contexts and ambiguity with diplomacy and tact.
• Ability to travel on short notice and when required.
• Ability to set priorities and organise his/her own work, and mobilise diverse networks around given agendas and objectives.
• Written and spoken English required, another language (Arabic, French, Spain) is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to the humanitarian action and principles of MSF
• Proven ability to manage and streamline communication processes across diverse teams.