MSF - Director of Operations

Director of Operations December 2021

© Mariana Abdalla/MSF

About Médecins Sans Frontières Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) translates to Doctors without Borders. We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - bound together by our charter. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality. We are a non-profit, selfgoverned, member-based organisation.

MSF was founded in 1971 in Paris by a group of journalists and doctors. Today, we are a worldwide movement of nearly 65,000 people.

Médecins Sans Frontières is a private, international association. The association is made up mainly of doctors and health sector workers and is also open to all other professions which might help in achieving its aims.

MSF members all agree to honour the MSF Charter, with the following principles: • Médecins Sans Frontières provides assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict. They do so irrespective of race, religion, creed or political convictions.

• Médecins Sans Frontières observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance and claims full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions.

• Members undertake to respect their professional code of ethics and maintain complete independence from all political, economic or religious powers.

• As volunteers, members understand the risks and dangers of the missions they carry out and make no claim for themselves or their assigns for any form of compensation other than that which the association might be able to afford them.

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The Role Title:

Director of Operations

Location:

MSF Operation Centre Geneva (OCG), Geneva – Switzerland

Salary: Competitive Reports to:

© Pierre Fromentin/MSF

General Director

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Job Summary The Director of Operations plays a key strategic role to support MSF OCG’s life-saving operations. S/he is responsible for the definition of OCG’s operational vision and strategies and for the management and supervision of the operations in accordance with the MSF Charter, the OCG 2020 – 2023 Strategic Plan and medico-operational orientations.

S/he plays a leading role in the improvement of the quality and relevance of field operations, adapting medico-operational approaches to changing needs and contexts. In line with the Strategic Plan, s/he strives to deliver medical humanitarian assistance in an increasingly agile manner, securing relevant and timely access to patients and communities, and ensuring that patients and populations are included in the design of our interventions. S/he is as well responsible for the field teams’ security and safety management, as detailed in the OCG Security and Safety Policy.

As an integral part of the Senior Management Team, the DirOp also contributes to the strategic and executive steering of the organisation, participating in the definition of the overall strategy and its implementation.

S/he manages an annual budget of approximately CHF 230 million. S/he coordinates operational support to field programs, encouraging transversal and collaborative work within the operational department, but also with the rest of the organisation. Overall, the Department supports 6’200 field-based staff in 80 projects across 28 countries worldwide.

© Paul Odongo/MSF

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MSF Operations Department The Operations Department consists of five multidisciplinary operational cells (four located in Geneva and one delocalised in Dakar), to which a sixth one will be launched beginning of 2022. It also consists of alternative operational models, such as the Central America Mexico Integrated Office managing operations across Central America. Select missions are co-managed with partner sections (Greece co-managed with MSF Greece and DPRK co-managed with MSF Australia). Our medical operations are supported not only from the HQ in Geneva but also by support structures located in Dakar, Amman and Kampala.

The Directorate of Operations functions as a binome between the Director of Operations and a Deputy Director of Operations to whom tasks are delegated. A Deputy Director of Operations in charge of emergency response has recently joined this team to set up a new Emergency Unit. A third Deputy Director of Operations is in charge of developing the MSF OCG Operational Positioning and Operational Advocacy.

© Giuseppe La Rosa/MSF

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Responsibilities Upon delegation by the General Director, the Director of Operations is directly accountable for:

1. Design, implementation and accountability of operational projects • Develops and maintains a dynamic operational portfolio anchored in field realities and based on the OCG 2020-2023 Strategic Plan.

• Ensures the implementation of field programs within the approved frame and resources.

• Approves the opening and closure of all field projects, as well as the launch of exploratory missions.

• Oversees the development and improvement of policies, manuals, processes, guidelines and reference documents related to the management of operations.

• Ensures and disseminates updated critical management protocols and liaises with the General Director in order to prevent and respond to serious risk events.

• Evaluates and mitigates the level of operational risk exposure and ensures adequate capacity to manage said risk on behalf of OCG management.

• Informs the General Director of any critical incident and participates in Critical Incident Response Strategic Committee.

• Alerts the General Director and Management Team on all major risks • Launches regular evaluations and critical reviews of field projects or operational approaches.

• Ensures quality and timely reporting and updates 2. Advocacy and Representation • Participates in the definition and implementation of operational communications and global advocacy dossiers.

• Stimulates reflection on operational issues and situations, especially operational dilemmas related to improved conditions for patients and populations.

• Approves the objectives, strategy and messages proposed by the Program Managers (RP) with regards to humanitarian positioning, advocacy and public communication.

• Contributes to high-level negotiations and consults with the General Director in case of critical dilemmas impacting the organisation.

• Represents MSF externally as a spokesperson and ensures movement representation in front of key stakeholders in countries of operations or at international level.

• Participates in donor engagement activities.

• Participates actively in MSF international platforms and represents OCG at platforms and at ad hoc international meetings.

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Ensure that movement-wide policies, guidelines, recommendations and strategies are complementary to field realities.

3. Management of Operations Department and coordination of support teams • Recruits, supports and manages Program managers and staff under his/her direct supervision.

• Identifies and develops talent ensuring diversity and inclusion within the operational line.

• Validates Heads of Mission, in close collaboration with HR and RPs. • Oversees the elaboration of the Operations department annual plan of action, including resources.

• Leads and brings together the members of the Operations Department around MSF social mission and fosters a work environment where new ideas and models are encouraged.

• Ensures that OCG is set up for and capable of responding to multiple emergencies at the same time.

• Builds agency at field level, through the development of a network and ensures the good functioning between all levels (cells, delocalized cells, field).

• Ensures that efficient and relevant technical expertise is provided to field teams.

4. Play a leading role in reflection of OCG organisational evolution • Leads discussions on strategies of interventions, operational models and support functions • Contributes proactively to the broader reflection on the evolution of OCG as an organisation, its operations and the future of the MSF movement.

• Steering role in the reflection and development of the 2024 - 2027 OCG Strategic Plan and medico-operational orientations.

5. Contribute to OCG strategic stewardship • As a member of the OCG Management Team, contributes to the definition of the overall strategy of the organisation and ensures the implementation of related priorities.

• Ensures that operational priorities are incorporated into the organisation’s choices.

• Promote a collaborative, learning and associative culture within the organisation.

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Profile of the person we are looking for • Demonstrated leadership and ability to federate teams • Excellent people management, ability to lead multicultural teams.

• Clear and strong communicator and change management approach • Ability to defend positions even if not popular • Ability to analyse and understand complex situations, identifying solutions while minimizing risks • Security management and critical incident management experience • Strategic planning and organisation, project management • Aptitude for high-level external and internal representation, diplomacy and negotiation • Excellent writing skills in French and English • Innovation/out-of-the-box thinking and ability to initiate organisational reform projects

© Tadeu Andre/MSF

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© Mariana Abdalla/MSF

Requirements Experience: • 10+ years of successful experience in the field of humanitarian aid as a Programme Manager, Head of Mission or Emergency Coordinator, preferably with MSF. • Experience in an HQ function within MSF or outside is an asset.

• Proven track-record of leading Field Operations in a variety of contexts (in Africa and another region).

• Successful experience in leading a large team.

• Expertise in the analysis and management of unstable contexts and crisis situations and experience and interest in medical, social, economic and political issues in countries undergoing humanitarian crises.

Education: • A university-level diploma in the field of medicine, public health, international relations or any other relevant subject.

• Medical or para-medical profile is an asset.

Personal qualities: • Commitment to values and culture of the organisation.

• Strong interpersonal skills.

• Strong communicator.

• Empathy.

• Dynamism, flexibility and adaptability.

• Solution oriented.

• Effective stress management.

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© Kristof Vadino

How to Apply All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter in two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The document should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-122021-MSFDIROP or Pat-Jones-CoverLetter-122021MSFDIROP.

Timeline Closing Date: First stage interviews: Final interviews:

Equality Statement Equity and diversity are at the core of MSF’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

23. 01. 2022 from 01.02.2022 from 13.02.2022

Selection process All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

Queries If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email msf-dop@oxfordhr.co.uk the first instance.

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© Kristof Vadino

About Oxford HR Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our client.

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Cover Photo © Isabel Corthier/MSF

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