MedOps Cell Manager – MSF Ubuntu

The MedOps Cell Manager is responsible for translating MSF Ubuntu’s operational vision into high-quality, principled, accountable and community-centred medical-humanitarian operations. The role leads strategic direction, operational oversight and performance of an assigned portfolio, ensuring operations are responsive to urgent humanitarian needs and aligned with MSF’s social mission.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational strategy for the assigned portfolio including development, implementation and review of country, regional and thematic strategies.
• Embed community leadership and people-centred care as core operational principles and priorities.
• Ensure quality, relevance and accountability of operations within the portfolio.
• Provide strategic supervision, guidance and support to senior field leadership.
• Lead a multidisciplinary operational cell and manage its performance, coherence and working culture.
• Strengthen emergency preparedness and response as central to MSF Ubuntu’s operational identity.
• Oversee security, access and risk management adapted to operational realities and community acceptance-based approach.
• Drive advocacy, analysis, representation and networking linked to operational priorities and community realities.
• Integrate communications and public positioning into operations reflecting MSF Ubuntu’s commitment to solidarity with patients and communities.
• Ensure financial stewardship and responsible resource management within the portfolio.
• Promote interdependence and operational collaboration across the portfolio.
• Promote learning, reflection and knowledge management within MSF Ubuntu.
• Support environmental responsibility and climate-aware operations considering health and humanitarian consequences of the climate crisis.
• Approve or recommend country strategies, multi-year plans and major operational adjustments within delegated authority.
• Recommend opening, scaling, adapting, suspending, handing over or closing interventions.
• Validate operational priorities, staffing proposals, budgetary decisions and resource allocations within agreed thresholds.
• Provide arbitration on operational dilemmas, security thresholds and interdepartmental priorities.
• Act as interim in leading crisis management processes within the portfolio if required.
• Represent MSF Ubuntu internally and externally on assigned operational matters.
• Escalate matters requiring higher decision-making authority.

Requirements

• Degree in medical, public health, humanitarian affairs, anthropology, political science, international relations or operational management fields essential.
• A Masters degree in the same fields would be desirable.
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience.
• Significant senior operational management experience in MSF or another medical-humanitarian organisation.
• Previous experience as Head of Mission, Country Director, Operations Manager, Emergency Coordinator, Medical Coordinator or equivalent senior programme leadership role.
• Strong understanding of medical-humanitarian operations, emergency response, security management and principled humanitarian action.
• Proven capacity to develop operational strategies and translate them into effective implementation.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and supporting senior field leaders.
• Strong financial, HR, security and operational planning literacy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex humanitarian, political, security, access and ethical dilemmas.
• Proven commitment to people-centred care, accountability, safeguarding and inclusive leadership.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Experience in community engagement, community-led programming or accountability to affected populations (desirable).
• Medical, public health, humanitarian affairs, anthropology, political science, international relations or operational management background (desirable).
• French, Swahili, Arabic or other languages relevant to MSF Ubuntu’s operational ambitions (desirable).
• Experience with advocacy, analysis, access negotiation, public positioning or community-led advocacy (desirable).
• Experience contributing to the start-up, transformation or progressive growth of an operational entity (desirable).
• Experience working in interdependent or multi-partner organisational models (desirable).

Skills

• Medical-humanitarian operations
• Emergency Response
• Operational Strategy
• Interdisciplinary Team Management
• Senior Programme Leadership
• Financial Planning
• Human Resources Management
• Security Management
• Operational Planning
• Humanitarian Access
• Community Engagement
• Accountability to Affected Populations
• People-Centred Care
• Safeguarding
• Inclusive Leadership
• Ethical dilemma management
• Advocacy
• Public Positioning
• Operational Transformation
• Multi-Partner Coordination

Languages

English