Fresh Jobs at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

Main purpose

• The Project Coordinator (PC) delegates ad hoc responsibilities to the Deputy Project Coordinator according to operational needs and objective criteria, while ensuring continuity and sustainability in the management of different dossiers. 
• In general terms, the Deputy Project Coordinator supports the PC in defining project objectives and priorities by identifying the population’s health needs, analysing the context, risks and constraints, and estimating the human and financial resources required. 
• He/she contributes, together with the PC, to the supervision, monitoring and follow-up of all project activities to ensure their efficient and smooth implementation and functioning. 
• The Deputy Project Coordinator replaces the Project Coordinator in his/her absence. 

Accountabilities

Among the DPCs accountability are: 

• Contribute to the analysis of the political, humanitarian, economic and social context in the project area to ensure that MSF’s charter, policies and image are respected by national staff, local communities, authorities and partners. 
• Support the Project Coordinator (PC) in the planning, implementation, monitoring and follow-up of all project activities in line with the project objectives, MSF operational policies and strategic priorities. 
• Participate in project security management, including the regular review and update of security guidelines and procedures. 
• Upon delegation from the PC, represent MSF at project level with local authorities, media, governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, and support the negotiation of collaboration agreements. Legal representation may only be delegated through formal authorization where applicable. 
• Support the PC in the planning, organization and day-to-day management of project human resources, including staff induction, supervision, performance evaluation and identification of training and development needs. 
• Participate in exploratory and assessment missions as requested by the PC to better understand the context, priorities, operational constraints and population needs. 

MSF operates in a complex and unpredictable environment affected by insecurity linked to elements operating from Somalia. The project is in a remote area near the porus Somali border and provides services to both refugee and host communities.  

In this context, the successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the safe and effective management of project activities. 

Context-specific accountabilities include: 

• Monitoring and analysing contextual and security developments and supporting the implementation of appropriate safety and security measures for staff and operations. 
• Maintaining regular engagement with local stakeholders, authorities and community representatives. 
• Developing, maintaining and following up on key contacts and networks relevant to project implementation and acceptance. 
• Ensuring adherence to MSF policies, protocols and operational standards. 
• Promoting and safeguarding MSF’s principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality at all times. 
• Acting as a liaison between MSF, local communities and beneficiaries to support acceptance and communication. 
• Remaining flexible and responsive to operational needs that may arise outside regular working hours. 
• Demonstrating a strong understanding of the context in North-Eastern Kenya, including local dynamics, clan structures and cultural practices. 

Requirements

Education

• Preferably a medical or paramedical qualification or university-level studies.

Experience

• Previous experience of at least two years in humanitarian aid with MSF or another international NGO.
• Working in developing countries and/or remote or hardship locations.
• Security management and context analysis in volatile or insecure environments.
• Stakeholder management and community engagement, including collaboration with local authorities, community leaders, and humanitarian actors.
• Supervision or manager experience.

Languages

• English, Swahili and Somali

Knowledge

• Essential computer literacy (Word, Excel and internet)

Competencies

• Strategic vision.
• Leadership.
• Representation.
• Networking with stakeholders.
• People Management.
• Planning and teamwork.

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Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Emergency Preparedness

• Define and lead MSF Ubuntu’s emergency preparedness and response strategy (applying a ‘disaster management cycle’ approach) in alignment with MSF Ubuntu principles and operational priorities.
• Ensure MSF Ubuntu’s emergency preparedness and responses incorporate a strong community involvement and people centeredness, and climate scanning and adaptation in all stages of emergency response.
• Ensure emergency preparedness and response policies, systems, tools are in place (including surveillance, anticipatory action, early warning and action protocols, contingency planning, and surge capacity etc).
• Define emergency scenario stocks and supplies required in close collaboration and working with the medical and logistics departments.
• Identify and lead building strong capacity on specific areas (for e.g. nutrition, vaccination, community WASH etc) benefitting MSF Ubuntu and MSF movement.
• Contribute towards wider development of MSF Ubuntu’s strategic planning through critical reflections and learning.
• In conjunction with the DirMed and DirOp, set up the e-team unit, hiring appropriate staff and developing MSF Ubuntu specific capacities.
• Promote interdepartmental collaborations and coherence including Safeguarding, DEI domains

Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Management

• Lead exploratory assignment in identified locations and support opening and closing programs (includes stable settings).
• Continuous scanning and monitoring of contexts and identify potential emergency intervention as per MSF Ubuntu’s strategic plan and priorities.
• Lead and coordinate responses to emergencies, epidemics, conflicts, and other crises.
• Provide strategic and technical guidance to emergency team members, country program teams during preparedness and response (including Emergency preparedness plans in country programs).
• Support decision-making on activation, scale-up, adaptation, or exit of emergency interventions closely working with DirOps and Med-Ops strategic circle.
• Develop a “vulnerability” approach to emergency response that leaves communities better prepared to future disasters, reducing their vulnerability to chronic, recurring crises in particular.

Quality, Standards, and Medical-Operational Oversight

• Ensure emergency responses meet MSF medical, operational, ethical, safeguarding standards.
• Promote integration of medical, logistical, human resources, and security considerations in emergency preparedness and during responses.
• Embed a strong learning culture as part of monitoring and evaluation of the responses via conducting AAR (After Action Reviews) and post intervention evaluations etc

Team Leadership and Capacity Building

• Line-manage and support Emergency team members.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and learning within the team and other departments.
• Identify training and development needs related to emergency prevention, preparedness and response.
• Contribute to the development of emergency pool (an emergency roaster) and surge mechanisms emphasizing strengthening local and regional collaboration and capacities.
• Build a new way of working for MSF in the emergency team that recognises communities as first responders themselves and ensure their vulnerability to future, chronic and/or recurring crises are reduced.

Coordination and Representation

• Coordinate closely with other MSF entities, operational centres, and departments.
• Represent MSF Ubuntu in internal emergency coordination platforms and, when appropriate, external humanitarian forums.
• Support alignment and collaboration with medical, operational, and support departments.

Learning, Evaluation, and Innovation

• Promote systematic learning from emergency responses, including after-action reviews.
• Support evaluations, documentation, and dissemination of lessons learned.
• Encourage innovation and adaptation to improve emergency response effectiveness.

Organisational Positioning

• Sits within the Ops Department, reporting directly to the DirOp.
• Ad hoc meetings and discussions with the MedOps Strategic Baraza may be requested.
• Ad hoc meetings with the MT and/or the Council may be requested. 

Qualifications

Education

• A master’s degree in social or political sciences or public health, (or) in logistics, business administration, or similar field is desirable, but not essential. 
• Fluency/excellent level of written and spoken English. Knowledge of French, Swahili and/or Arabic is an advantage.
• Excellent knowledge and experience in Policy formulation, security management, human resource and financial management, cross/multicultural communication and collaboration.

Experience

• At least 8+ years of field/programs experience in medical humanitarian aid and working in senior management role.
• MSF experience as Emergency coordinator/Emergency Manager desirable
• Commitment to and experience of advancing multicultural collaboration, learning, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Excellent skills in Office Suite (advanced MS Excel and others)
• Solid knowledge of MSF tools (HR, Budgeting etc) is an asset.
• Excellent written and presentation skills across audiences of diverse backgrounds.

Behavioral/General Competencies​​​​​​​

• Commitment to MSF’s Principles 
• Cross-cultural Awareness 
• Strategic Vision 
• Results and Quality Orientation 
• Service Orientation 
• Planning and Organizing 
• Initiative and Innovation 
• Teamwork and Cooperation 
• People Management and Development 
• Networking and Building Relationships
• Security awareness and Management
• Willingness to be mobile, with more than 50% of the year expected to be travelling from their home base.

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Rationale/Objective for Position

The MedOps Cell Manager is responsible for translating MSF Ubuntu’s operational vision into high-quality, principled, accountable and community-centred medical-humanitarian operations.

Reporting to the MSF Ubuntu Director of Operations, the MedOps Cell Manager leads the strategic direction, operational oversight and performance of an assigned portfolio of countries, projects or thematic operational priorities. The role ensures that MSF Ubuntu’s operations are grounded in the lived realities of patients and communities, responsive to urgent humanitarian needs, and aligned with MSF’s social mission to save lives, alleviate suffering and protect human dignity.

The MedOps Cell Manager will play a central role in building MSF Ubuntu as a new Operational Directorate with a distinct operational identity: rooted locally and acting globally; driven by people-centred care; committed to community leadership; shaped by interdependence with communities, partners and the wider MSF movement; and focused on leaving positive outcomes beyond the duration of MSF’s direct intervention.

This position will be hierarchically and functionally accountable to Director of Operations, MSF Ubuntu.

The MedOps Cell Manager is a senior operational leader within MSF Ubuntu’s Operations Department and works under the authority of the Director of Operations.

The role works closely with:

• Heads of Programmes, Project Coordinators and country coordination teams.
• Medical, logistics, supply, HR, finance, advocacy, communications, security, analysis and community engagement functions.
• MSF Ubuntu leadership circles and operational decision-making platforms.
• Local communities, patient groups, civil society actors, academia, local institutions and other relevant actors.
• Other MSF Operational Directorates, regional hubs and international platforms.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Main Responsibilities

Lead operational strategy for the assigned portfolio

• ​ ​Leads the development, implementation and review of country, regional and thematic strategies within the assigned portfolio.

Embed community leadership and people-centred care

• ​ ​Ensures that community leadership and people-centred care are not treated as separate activities, but as core operational principles and priorities.

Ensure quality, relevance and accountability of operations

• ​ ​Accountable for ensuring that operations within the portfolio are relevant, high-quality, ethical and accountable.

Support Heads of Programmes, Project Coordinators and country leadership teams

• ​ ​Provides strategic supervision, guidance and support to senior field leadership.

Lead and manage the operational cell

• ​ ​Leads a multidisciplinary operational cell and is responsible for its performance, coherence and working culture.

Strengthen emergency preparedness and response

• ​ ​Ensures that emergency response remains central to MSF Ubuntu’s operational identity.

Oversee security, access and risk management

• ​ ​Ensures that safety, security and access management are adapted to operational realities and grounded in MSF Ubuntu’s community acceptance-based approach.

Drive advocacy, analysis, representation and networking

• ​ ​Ensures that advocacy and analysis are linked to operational priorities and community realities.

Integrate communications and public positioning into operations

• ​ ​Ensures that communications and public positioning reflect MSF Ubuntu’s commitment to speaking out in solidarity with patients and communities.

Ensure financial stewardship and responsible resource management

• ​ ​Oversees responsible planning, budgeting and resource use within the portfolio.

Promote interdependence and operational collaboration

• ​ ​Responsible for putting interdependence into practice across the portfolio.

Promote learning, reflection and knowledge management

• ​ ​Contributes to MSF Ubuntu as a humble, learning-oriented Operational Directorate.

Support environmental responsibility and climate-aware operations

• ​ ​Ensures that operations consider the health and humanitarian consequences of the climate crisis, as well as MSF Ubuntu’s environmental commitments.

Decision-Making Authority for Programmes

Within delegated authority from the Director of Operations, the MedOps Cell Manager may:

• Approve or recommend country strategies, multi-year plans and major operational adjustments.
• Recommend opening, scaling, adapting, suspending, handing over or closing interventions.
• Validate operational priorities, staffing proposals, budgetary decisions and resource allocations within agreed thresholds.
• Provide arbitration on operational dilemmas, security thresholds and interdepartmental priorities.
• Be ready to act as interim in leading crisis management processes within the portfolio, in coordination with the Director of Operations, if required.
• Represent MSF Ubuntu internally and externally on assigned operational matters.
• Escalate matters requiring Director of Operations, General Director, Council or critical incident decision-making authority.

Qualifications

Education

• Degree in medical, public health, humanitarian affairs, anthropology, political science, international relations or operational management fields essential.  A Masters degree in the same fields would be desirable.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience.
• Significant senior operational management experience in MSF or another medical-humanitarian organisation.
• Previous experience as Head of Mission, Country Director, Operations Manager, Emergency Coordinator, Medical Coordinator or equivalent senior programme leadership role.
• Strong understanding of medical-humanitarian operations, emergency response, security management and principled humanitarian action.
• Proven capacity to develop operational strategies and translate them into effective implementation.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and supporting senior field leaders.
• Strong financial, HR, security and operational planning literacy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex humanitarian, political, security, access and ethical dilemmas.
• Proven commitment to people-centred care, accountability, safeguarding and inclusive leadership.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Experience in community engagement, community-led programming or accountability to affected populations.
• Medical, public health, humanitarian affairs, anthropology, political science, international relations or operational management background.
• French, Swahili, Arabic or other languages relevant to MSF Ubuntu’s operational ambitions.
• Experience with advocacy, analysis, access negotiation, public positioning or community-led advocacy.
• Experience contributing to the start-up, transformation or progressive growth of an operational entity.
• Experience working in interdependent or multi-partner organisational models.

Competencies

• Commitment to MSF’s principles and social mission.
• Strategic vision and operational judgement.
• People-centred and community-informed decision-making.
• Leadership, people management and team development.
• Security awareness and risk management.
• Analytical capacity and critical thinking.
• Quality and results orientation.
• Capacity to negotiate, influence and build trust.
• Cross-cultural awareness and humility.
• Collaboration and interdependence.
• Accountability, integrity and transparency.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage ambiguity.
• Learning mindset and openness to constructive challenge.
• Willingness to bear witness.