Deputy to the International Medical Secretary

Reports to: International Medical Secretary

Area: Medical

Contract: Fixed-term at 80%

Duration: 3 years mandate, renewable – max 6 years

Location: Any MSF Office*

Deadline to apply:

Start date: ASAP

Compensation and benefits: MSF practice is to offer the C&B package current in the MSF entity establishing the contract.

*By default, the successful candidate will be offered a contract in the MSF office of their country of residence at the time of application.

MSF International

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural disasters. MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. MSF International is the legal entity that binds MSF's 24 sections, 28 associations and 19 branch offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested.

Main Purpose of the Role

Facilitate the work of the International Medical Secretary (IMS) and drive the strategic development and implementation of MSF's international medical and operational agenda. This includes actively contributing across multiple workstreams such as medical leadership and strategic vision, external medical positioning and representation, medical-operational integration, intersectional collaboration, and fostering mutual accountability.

They will act as the IMS substitute when required.

Main responsibilities

• Actively shape/ drive the definition of medical-operational priorities to defining medical-operational priorities.

• Build and maintain MSF's medical reputation and advocacy positioning with key global health and humanitarian actors.

• Advise and oversee MSF Medical Positioning: as delegated by the IMS, and in coordination with IMC, IOHRC/HRT, MSF-Access, GHAN, and the Climate Smart team, provide strategic advice and oversight in promoting MSF's positions to external actors, ensuring alignment with internationally agreed priorities, policies, and guidelines.

• Drive mutual accountability by supporting the monitoring and reporting of SPARC priorities and lead the development of the mutual accountability report.

• Represent the IMS in internal meetings across executive and social mission platforms during planned or unforeseen absences, ensuring continuity and coordination.

Other accountabilities:

• Provide support to the International Medical Coordinator (IMC) in executing work under IMC purview, ensuring seamless coordination.

• Foster intersectional collaboration, promoting shared objectives and mutual accountability across sections and ODs

Education Experience

• Medical Doctor, preferable

• Public health specialist or skilled health professional with relevant master's degree on public/global/international health

• Solid or >5 years' experience in field medical–humanitarian projects and understanding of wider humanitarian context

• Significant MSF field experience, ideally with more than one Operational Centre + HQ experience an asset

Languages

• Good verbal and written communication skills in English; also working language skills in French, Spanish, Arabic or others are an asset.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of public health and management of medical humanitarian projects

Competencies

• Identifies with MSF's principle and core values

• Cross-cultural awareness, open-mindedness and flexibility

• Ability to identify and develop improvement related to quality of care and patient centred approaches to medical humanitarian action.

• Strategic vision

• Ability to analyze, understand and respond to local and global health contexts

• Strong communication skills and ability to convey multiple perspectives

• People management and conflict resolution

• Diplomacy and self-control

• Strong negotiation skills

• Team player

• A demonstrated commitment to the Charter of MSF

• A commitment to building the medical leadership of the MSF movement

• Willingness and ability to travel for meetings and for visits to field projects (up to 40 % as needed)

• Commitment of minimum 3 years is required. Maximum 2 x 3-year mandates.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

At MSF, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF is committed to preventing abuse, inappropriate behavior, lack of integrity and financial misconduct in its work and care spaces. MSF expects all staff to share this commitment and promote an environment where abuse and misconduct is not tolerated.

We are committed to removing barriers for people with specific accessibility needs. If you need an adjustment to the recruitment process to be considered for the role, please let us know from the beginning of the selection process.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to reference checks and to appropriate screening checks. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her/their understanding of these recruitment procedures.