Deputy to the Secretary General

Job Posting Organization:
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that provides emergency aid to individuals affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion, and natural disasters. Founded in 1971, MSF operates in over 70 countries, delivering assistance based solely on need, without regard to race, religion, gender, or political affiliation. MSF International serves as the legal entity that unites MSF's 24 sections, 26 associations, and 18 branch offices, providing coordination, information, and support to the MSF Movement. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International also implements international projects and initiatives as requested, ensuring that the organization can respond effectively to crises worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Deputy to the Secretary General (Deputy to the SG) plays a pivotal role in enhancing the strategic governance and collective capacity of the MSF Movement. This position acts as a senior partner to the Secretary General, providing leadership and alignment across various international support platforms, including Finance, Human Resources, Fundraising, Logistics, Supply Chain, and Information Systems. The Deputy to the SG is responsible for reinforcing decision-making processes, ensuring accountability, and managing institutional risks while delivering strategic transformation in a complex and decentralized environment. This role is essential for aligning MSF's strategic ambitions with realistic resource planning and institutional capacity, thereby enabling the organization to effectively respond to humanitarian needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & Resource Alignment: Provide strategic leadership across international support functions, overseeing significant revenue and procurement spend. Lead and support Movement-wide strategic and resource planning processes, ensuring alignment with shared priorities. Collaborate with International Coordinators on strategy and resource allocation.
• Governance, Risk & Accountability: Serve as the focal point for organizational risk management, partnering with the Secretary General and Executive Committee on risk mitigation strategies. Contribute to governance of large international projects and steering committees.
• Platform Governance & Executive Decision-Making: Strengthen platform governance by ensuring appropriate decision-making levels and preparing executive dossiers. Steer strategic alignment and change processes across platforms.
• Collaboration, Learning & Project Governance: Foster cooperation and resource-sharing across support platforms, manage international projects, and support change management initiatives.
• Safeguarding: Promote a safe and inclusive workplace, ensuring staff understand their responsibilities regarding behavior and reporting mechanisms.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong leadership skills, with a proven ability to manage complex organizational structures and drive strategic initiatives. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, along with a deep understanding of humanitarian principles and MSF's mission. Candidates should demonstrate a capacity for critical thinking and problem-solving in high-pressure environments, as well as the ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams and cultures.

Educational Background:
A relevant advanced degree in management, international relations, public health, or a related field is required. Additional training or certifications in humanitarian aid, governance, or risk management would be advantageous.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of experience in senior management roles within international organizations, preferably in the humanitarian sector. Experience in strategic planning, governance, and resource management is essential, along with a track record of successful leadership in complex, decentralized environments.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in French or Spanish is highly desirable. Knowledge of additional languages relevant to MSF's operational contexts would be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is a full-time role with a contract duration subject to two terms limitation (3 years renewable once). The starting date for this position is set for November 1, 202

• The successful candidate will be offered a contract in the MSF office of their country of residence at the time of application, with a preference for locations within a 6-hour time zone difference from Central European Summer Time (CEST). MSF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package in line with the entity establishing the contract.