Humanitarian Program Manager
RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Humanitarian Program Manager with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), you plan, manage and develop our medical projects by ensuring all departments work together to provide high-quality care. Your responsibilities include operational management, human resources management, financial management, communications and representing MSF when liaising with local actors and authorities.
In emergency and conflict settings, Humanitarian Program Managers provide strategic leadership to hundreds of staff during the operational phase of our humanitarian medical interventions. They hold overall responsibility for program implementation and outcomes, as well as for the safety and security of all staff and beneficiaries. In often volatile and high-risk environments, they are the MSF representative on site.
The nature of MSF work involves inherent risk due to our commitment to people affected by conflict or in precarious situations. As HPM, you hold the responsibility for the safety and security of everyone at the project level – including international and local team members, patients, and their caretakers – and for ensuring that MSF’s activities can continue safely in volatile environments.
You will play a key role in ensuring the quality and relevancy of project activities and the implementation of MSF programs in-country. From conducting explorations to develop and broaden accessibility to MSF’s medical care for remote communities, to overseeing teams of hundreds of staff, the role of HPM’s is incredibly varied and challenging.
Note: Internally within MSF, Humanitarian Program Managers are referred to as Project Coordinators.
REQUIREMENTS
Significant professional experience in team and project management with humanitarian emergency organizations, in contexts comparable to those where MSF operates.
Demonstrated experience in supervising and coaching large teams (50-200 staff) in multicultural and multidisciplinary contexts.
Experience in security management, conflict zones or emergency settings.
Excellent problem-solving skills and demonstrated negotiation and diplomacy skills with stakeholders who are of influence on MSF’s local operations or staff.
Flexibility and ability to work under stress in unstable international environments.
Professional fluency in English and French (minimum C1 in both). Refer to this evaluation grid. Other languages such as Spanish, Arabic, and Portuguese are valued, but not required.
Availability of 9 to 12 months and willingness to commit to MSF for several assignments.
ASSETS
Relevant diploma, preferably a university degree
International humanitarian or healthcare/medical management experience
MSF CORE COMPETENCIES
Behavioural flexibility: Level 2, Adapts behaviour to the needs of the situation
Teamwork and cooperation: Level 2, Shares information and coordinates with team and others
Result and quality orientation: Level 2, Works towards objectives, preserving established standards
Commitment to MSF principles: Level 1, Demonstrates knowledge of and accepts MSF’s principles
People management: Level 2, Gives feedback and sets limits
Cross-cultural awareness: Level 3, Demonstrates an integrating attitude
Stress management: Level 2, Manages own stress
Understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI): Level 1, Familiarity with EDI concepts and their application in a humanitarian context.
To find out more about MSF core competencies, please look here.
You can find a comprehensive view of MSF career paths here.