Latest Recruitment at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

Rationale/Objective for Position

The Director of Communications and Fundraising is responsible for leading a multidisciplinary team to develop impactful communications and fundraising strategies that support the populations we exist to serve and raise the awareness, trust and influence of MSF.

As well as overseeing home society communications activities, this role includes overseeing and  directly contributing to significant support to the organisation’s social mission by strengthening efforts to communicate and bear witness from MSF’s medical humanitarian programs in Eastern Africa 

Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategic Responsibilities

• Leads the development, management and implementation of MSF Eastern Africa´s communication and fundraising strategies, in line with the section’s strategic and annual plans, ensuring solid support is provided to MSF´s global social mission.
• Ensures awareness, engagement and income generation with key target audiences is raised in line with expectations, supporting the growth of MSF’s human, financial and civil base, as well as MSF’s capacity for influence and mobilization.
• Takes overall responsibility for regular reviews and refinements to the department’s strategy, and for defining and reporting on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Technical and Operational Responsibilities

Home Society Communications

• Has overall responsibility for the section’s branding guidelines and visual identity.
• Provides communications support for brand and reputational management issues and crises, taking the lead on providing guidance on public messaging around sensitive issues to MSF EA, and to the region as needed. 
• Has sign off for all major communications initiatives for the section, and for defining the section´s editorial line on specific topics.
• Anticipates how MSF EA´s public communication, especially on politically sensitive issues, may impact the organisation’s public image.
• Oversees regular reflections on MSF’s public positioning from the region, in collaboration with senior colleagues across the organisation.

Operational support

• Follows regional contexts and provides strategic advice and support for communication matters to the section and to operational and communications staff covering the region as needed.
• Oversees a solid package of support to strengthen the impact and quality of operational communications in Eastern Africa, contributing directly to emergency and crisis response as needed.
• Takes overall responsibility for the coherence and alignment between the communication and fundraising functions and initiatives of MSF EA and those from other MSF communicators in Kenya and East Africa. 
• Oversees the development and implementation of framework agreements to strengthen collaboration processes with internal stakeholders as needed.

Fundraising

• Oversees the work of the fundraising team to ensures engagement and income generation with key target audiences is raised in line with expectations.
• Provides support for external networking for fundraising as needed.

Collaboration and Engagement

• Represents MSF EA on global internal communications and fundraising platforms, actively engaging, and coordinating closely with heads of both specialisms on the African continent.
• Establishes and maintains external relationships with relevant stakeholders, including international and national media, and humanitarian communications and fundraising leaders in Eastern Africa.

Crosscutting Departmental Responsibilities

• Takes the lead in the department’s accountability, overseeing the analysis and reporting of communications and fundraising activities, reporting to the MSF EA General Director, Management Team, and Board and wider movement on a regular basis.
• Takes the lead in major initiatives to track progress, such as perception studies.
• Ensures that all communications and fundraising material reflects and aligns with MSF principles, ethical guidelines, and unique identity, following all appropriate validation procedures.
• Responsible for the development, implementation and control of the department´s budget.
• Oversees relationships with departmental vendors and external service providers as needed, delegating responsibility as required.
• Leads, mentors and coaches staff in the department and region as needed.
• Plans, directs, supervises, and coordinates work activities of the staff in the department.

Other Responsibilities

• As part of the MSF EA MT, helps to define the general direction and overall strategy of the section, ensuring that the communications department´s perspective and input is adequately reflected in the discussions and decisions of the MT and of other departments.
• Contributes to and at times takes the lead in additional dossiers and strategic projects as necessary, including to internal communications, and supports the work of other departments.
• When delegated by the General Director, on a case-by-case basis, act as a media spokesperson on international and institutional topics.

Qualifications

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent qualification from a recognised institution.
• A good knowledge of world affairs, with knowledge of the Eastern African context an advantage.
• Knowledge and understanding of the latest trends and developments in communications and media.
• Interest in humanitarian work with direct experience an advantage.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Experience

• At least ten (10) years’ experience in communications and a solid understanding of developments within the communications field, with at least (five) years’ experience in senior leadership.
• Proven experience developing communications strategies and leading a team of communications professionals to implement them.
• Demonstrable experience managing budgets.
• International experience is an added advantage.

Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Proven leadership skills and management skills including an interest and ability to empower and inspire staff. 
• Excellent communication skills.
• Financial acumen.
• Excellent writing and editing skills in English, Swahili and advantage.
• Strong technical skills and knowledge of IT management.

Behavioral/General Competencies

• Strong organizational skills with experience managing multiple and conflicting priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills with the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel to MSF projects and other MSF offices as needed.
• Commitment to the work and values of the organization, and to equity, diversity and inclusion.

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Rationale/Objective for Position

The Head of Communications is responsible for leading and overseeing the work of the media, digital, production and public events functions to increase the awareness and understanding of MSF in Kenya and Eastern Africa, as well as support for the humanitarian issues we respond to, bringing the team together to maximize synergies, align efforts and achieve excellence.

As well as supporting home society communications, the post holder is responsible for overseeing the services the department provides as support to MSF´s operational and communications colleagues in the region and developing that support according to the demands of the region.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategic Responsibilities

• Working in close collaboration with the department director to define the home society communications strategy for MSF in Kenya and the wider region as needed, according to the section´s overall strategy.
• Ensuring alignment and synergies across the media, digital, productions and events functions to create shared strategies.
• Providing strategic direction to the support provided to the social mission by the communications team.

Technical and Operational Responsibilities

Home Society Communications 

• Manages the Media Manager, Digital Manager, Multimedia Producer and Engagement Officer (50%) overseeing their work to increase the awareness, engagement, trust and influence of MSF in Kenya and across Eastern Africa as needed. 
• Oversees the work of the team on emergencies and campaigns, ensuring alignment, constant innovation and a 360 approach to maximize impact, working in close collaboration with the Head of Fundraising.
• Responsible for overseeing and refining workflow processes and reporting on emergencies and campaigns, and for activating the emergency communications plan.
• Ensures all communications aligns with the visual identity and branding guidelines for MSF Eastern Africa, as defined by the department’s director.

Operational support

• Oversees the support provided to operational communications in the region by the team and closely follows regional humanitarian crises.
• Develops strong links and maintains ongoing dialogue with communications staff in the region, including hosting regular calls, to ensure the support provided is timely, responsive, effective, anticipates additional needs and meets expectations – supporting MSF’s social mission.
• Develops frameworks and MOUs for our collaboration with communications colleagues, such as the Kenya Field Comms Manager, as needed, under the guidance of the department director.
• Links with the Field Communications Training Officer on opportunities and support for training. 

Other Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, supervises, and coordinates work activities of the communications team.
• Mentors and provides coaching to staff in the communications team.
• Regularly deputizes for the Director of Communications and Fundraising when needed.
• Oversees the budget allocated to the media, digital, events and production specialisms.
• Completes quarterly reports and refines team activity as needed.
• Provides regular feedback to the MSF network on communications initiatives and potential strategies.
• Works in close collaboration with the Head of Fundraising, and with the network of communications staff covering Eastern Africa. 

Qualifications

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognised institution – a relevant masters is an advantage. 
• Solid understanding of developments within the communications field, with experience in the regional communications and media context an advantage.
• Good knowledge of world affairs, with knowledge of the Eastern African region an advantage. 

Experience

• At least five (5) years of experience in communications management, with strong knowledge of media and digital communications tools.
• Proven experience developing communications strategies and leading a team to implement them.
• Project management experience.
• Experience managing budgets.

Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Excellent writing and editing skills in English, Swahili and advantage.
• Proven leadership skills and management skills including the ability to empower, inspire and develop staff.
• Ability to communicate and problem-solve effectively across diverse cultures with sensitivity.
• Strong technical skills and knowledge of IT management.

Behavioral/General Competencies

• Proven leadership skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to negotiate.
• Strong organisational skills with experience managing multiple and conflicting priorities. 
• Commitment to MSF's principles.

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Main Purpose

Supporting the Finance Coordinator through delegated tasks and responsibilities, replacing him/her in his/her absence and participating in the implementation and management of finance strategies, policies, the internal control system and all financial administrative and legal issues in the mission, according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures, in order to provide accurate, transparent, timely and reliable financial information to the organization and third parties on the allocation of resources in the projects

Accountabilities

• Participating actively in the definition and monitoring of the financial operational and budget needs and the financial strategy of the mission, providing support in the assessment and mitigation of the financial risks of the mission and in the implementation of the relevant organizational setup in order to meet all financial obligations while keeping financial ethics respected at all times.
• Supporting the Finance Coordinator in the implementation and respect of MSF policies and guidelines, ensuring they are aligned with legal requirements and within the national legal framework, and designing or adapting relevant local policies, procedures and tools for optimized management of the mission's financial resources.
• Supporting the Finance Manager in the management of the treasury, including the whole accounting of the mission in order to ensure the smooth running of operations at all times and maintaining as much  control as possible on financial risks.
• Participating in the management of funding agreements with donors and in providing regular and adequate indicators to monitor the financial health of the mission, providing relevant cost analysis, regularly monitoring of expenses vs budget, analyzing variances and suggesting corrective actions when needed. Assisting in the collection of information on resources and  translating them into a budget.
• Supporting the Finance Coordinator in ensuring the proper application of HR policies and associated processes (recruitment, training, briefing/debriefing, evaluation, potential, detection, staff's development and internal communication) in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required for the finance activities.
• Participating in the coordination and supervision of the monthly and yearly closing of accounts with the aim that the statement reflects the financial reality of the mission
• Performing tasks delegated by the Finance Coordinator and replacing him/her in his/her absence.
• When requested replacing other members of the capital or project finance teams during their absence
• Organisational evolution/mutualisation dossiers are a major intersection priority in Kenya as Nairobi is the humanitarian hub in the EA Region. Total budget of the mission in 2024: approx. 11 million CHF. Donors to follow-up in 2024 (grant for Mombasa and Dagahaley projects).
• Supporting the projects and their respective team, and conducting field visits to the projects/emergencies/explo when required
• Participating in the coordination and the support during local audits
• Technical supervision of the ACMA and the Field Admin (FIN/HR Managers), although the Finance Coordinator remains their main supervisor.

Requirements

Education: Essential Degree in Finance/ Economics

Experience:

• Experience in budget management,experience in team management
• Desirable working experience in MSF or other NGOs

Languages: 

• English and Swahili 
• Knowledge of Somali language will be an advantage

Knowledge: Essential computer literacy (word, excel, ERP and internet)

Competencies:

• Strategic Vision
• Leadership
• People Management and Development
• Service Orientation
• Teamwork and Cooperation

If you meet the above requirements, Please submit your application and Curriculum Vitae by 26th February 2024