Introduction

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that provides assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, and natural or human-made disasters and excluded from healthcare. We provide this assistance without discrimination, irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

About MSF Eastern Africa

MSF Eastern Africa is the regional institutional office of MSF. It focuses on representation and networking, recruiting and supporting staff from the region, communications and fundraising, as well as working on other dossiers of importance to MSF such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), mutualization, training, medical operational support and environmental health. 

MSF EA has identified key transversal areas of focus in its two-year strategic plan 2022-2023 (to be further extended to 2025). This will enable the Section to grow and provide strategic support to the operations while building its capacity for future operational ambitions.

For further information on MSF EA please visit our website: https://msf.or.ke/en

The Human Resources Department is mainly responsible for providing a conducive, diverse and inclusive environment that enables support to operations, while fostering the ambitions of the section office in all aspects, through an efficient structure and strong administrative framework.

The Director of HR & Administration will lead the development and implementation of the HR strategy for MSF Eastern Africa while contributing towards MSF´s HR global vision.

General Objectives for position

The Director of HR & Administration oversees both the Office management and Field HR area. H/she develops, manages and oversees the implementation of MSF Eastern Africa´s HR strategies, providing leadership across the board and managing the members of H/her team.

Directly accountable to the General Director, and in close collaboration with the Management Team and the Board of Directors, s/he will be responsible for leading, coordinating and executing the HR & Administrative planning and reporting while ensuring this is aligned to the Sections ambitions and strategy.

As part of the Management Team, s/he participates in the decision-making processes relating to the social mission and the evolution and positioning within the MSF movement. S/he designs, proposes, participates in and implements decisions and strategic planning adopted by MT.

As a member of the International HR community, s/he will actively participate in the reflections around the main current and future HR stakes of the Movement and to the overall international global HR policies.

Tasks & Responsibilities

General

As a member of the MSF EA leadership team, the Director of Human Resources:

• Develops HR objectives, strategies and plans in alignment with MSF EA’s vision and Strategic Plan.
• Sets long, mid, and short-term organizational and department goals. 
• Develops, promotes and integrates the MSF EA culture and organizational philosophy within the HR team and promotes integration and collaboration with other departments and colleagues in the movement. 
• Is responsible for the coherence and alignment between the HR functions and initiatives of MSF EA and cross-cutting functions and initiatives of other MSF HR actors globally, in Kenya and the East African region.
• Ensures effective and timely reporting, efficient (institutional) knowledge management and integrity of staff/HR data & information from MSF EA.
• Sets clear attainable objectives for staff, evaluates employee job performance accordingly, in accordance with established MSF procedures, and collaborates with staff to establish appropriate development paths.
• Manages/mediates and supports conflict management within MSF EA, or acts as an arbitrator to support other MSF entities with mechanisms put in place to manage conflict/safeguarding. 

• Direction of Office Human Resources & Administrative Unit

  • Provides strategic leadership and guidance through the Head of HR to oversee the Office HR & Administrative team and ensures that the unit functions optimally, providing adequate support to the EA teams and other operational support functions in the office. 
  • Ensures a safe and secure HRIS that manages all staff data and processes and is accountable towards its quality and reliability.
  • Ensures that the Section has a robust, equitable, transparent and clear rewards and compensation policy.
  • Safeguard the organization/institutional position by ensuring that MSF EA works within a clear, fair and transparent HR and administrative framework, policies and processes which adhere to and respect legal and ethical provisions for staff/people management according to international standards. 
  • Ensure MSF EA observes all aspects of duty of care as a responsible employer and upholds high standards towards staff care and safety.
  • Champions transversal initiatives to ensure integration and coherence between HR and other departments/Units in the Section teams such as DEI/Safeguarding, Data Protection & Security, and others.

  Direction of Field Human Resources Unit/team

  • Provides strategic leadership and direction through the Head of HR and the team to develop the HR objectives, strategies and plans for Field HR activities, being a key pillar of MSF EA Strategic Plan on Support to operations.
  • Ensures that the full spectrum of field human resources functional areas for MSF EA Office including team structure and capacity are in place. 
  • Is final accountable for the quality of recruitment and placement activities, including consistency with movement policies and standards of practice as an equal opportunity employer.

   Learning and Development 

  • Provide direction to the Training/development unit of MSF EA and ensure it responds to the needs of MSF EA and enhances staff mobility and retention at a local, regional and global level.
  • Validate the MSF EA L&D framework (learning needs diagnostics, strategy). 
  • Ensures through the Training/Learning Unit lead that the L&D offer (budget, learning solutions) meets the strategic objective of development of the MSF EA pool, and is aligned to global Training and development initiatives across the movement without creating redundancies.

   Staff health (Physical & mental) support

  • Ensure that MSF EA has a clear intersection framework that enables regional support for staff in/from the region and beyond.
  • Ensure that staff health activities and initiatives are well integrated with other HR and operational support components in Field HR and uphold the principles of duty of care.

   Movement-wide initiatives and interaction with the Global HR community

  • Leads the MSF EA HR strategic discussions, initiatives, negotiation or engagement at a senior level with other MSF entities, or external actors & counterparts from the region.  
  • Contributes and participates in the design and implementation of HR initiatives, strategies and policies as per partnerships agreements and practices and in the International Human Resources platform. 
  • Actively participates in relevant MSF regional, Operational Centres and international HR platforms.

  • Others 

    • Member of Crisis Management Team (CMT) and leader of CMT-HR related issues (preparedness, training, family liaison, follow up of action points). 

    Qualifications

    • University degree, Masters and/or other professional qualifications in HR or related discipline. 
    • Proven significant experience of at least 5 years in a Senior leadership role (preferably in HR). 
    • Proven significant experience of at least 2 years in the humanitarian field, preferably with MSF. 
    • Excellent command of English (oral and written). 
    • Full adherence and commitment to the principles, values and goals of MSF. 
    • Strong leadership and decision-making capacity (strong team-leading and team-working skills).
    • Strong negotiation skills.
    • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
    • Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing strategic orientations, budgeting, and planning.
    • Excellent analytical skills and ability to synthesize and effectively present information.
    • Proven experience in conflict resolution.
    • Time management and organization skills.
    • Stress management ability.
    • Cross-cultural awareness and flexibility

     Additional – Desirable (not mandatory)

    • Knowledge of EA/local culture or work experience in the context environment.

    We Offer:

    • A 3-year renewable full-time employment contract as soon as possible through MSF East Africa Section Office in Nairobi.
    • An annual salary of Euro 65,143 at Level 7A based on a full-time appointment.
    • Global benefit package: includes school fee benefit/support for dependents and other allowances ranging between Euro 679 -1,159/month based on individual & administrative status.
    • Other benefits: includes 25 days of annual leave, Employer Pension contribution, Relocation support for non-Kenyan residents etc. based on MSF EA terms/conditions.

    Application process

    For additional information and clarifications regarding this position, please send your queries to: [email protected]

    If you recognize yourself in this profile, we welcome you to apply directly via the “Apply” button. 

    Applicants are required to upload a letter of motivation + Curriculum Vitae (in English) in PDF format as one combined document.    

    The closing date for applications is 20th June 2023 

    Information

    The protection of your personal data is important to MSF. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. MSF will not use your personal data in any other way not foreseen for purposes of recruitment.

    MSF is an equal-opportunity employer and does not charge any application/ recruitment fee. Women and persons with disability are encouraged to apply

    Apply Now!