Director of Operations – MSF Ubuntu

• Location: Nairobi (Kenya), or Johannesburg (South Africa)
• Contract Type: Full-time, 3-year renewable once (maximum 6 years)
• Salary: In line with MSF reward policy
• Start date: Last quarter of 2025

The closing date for applications is 21st August 2025

MSF Ubuntu is the newest Operational Directorate (OD) of Médecins Sans Frontières, grounded in the principles of Ubuntu –
“I am because we are”. With a base blended between the offices of MSF Southern Africa and MSF Eastern Africa and a strong emphasis on interdependence, interoperability, and maximizing sustainable outcomes, MSF Ubuntu seeks to add a new approach to the delivery of medical humanitarian action to the movement by placing communities at the heart of decision-making. The Director of Operations is a key architect in turning this vision into transformative operations action.

As Director of Operations (DO), the role will lead the strategic operational direction of MSF Ubuntu, rooted in Eastern and Southern Africa, while acting globally. The position is responsible for overseeing the design, execution and evolution of the operational portfolio, ensuring alignment with MSF Ubuntu’s core concepts: community leadership, interdependence, maximising sustainable outcomes, accountability, and locally rootedness. The role will be accountable for translating MSF Ubuntu’s medical-humanitarian mission into transformative and high-impact operations, while also anchoring our decision-making in community needs to deliver a people-centred approach.

• Reports to: General Director, MSF Ubuntu
• Location: Johannesburg or Nairobi, with frequent regional and international travel (30–40%)
• Team Management: Supervises a multidisciplinary team of Country Operational Managers, Head of Community Engagement, Head of Analysis, Advocacy, Representation & Networking and the Head of the MSF Ubuntu E- Team
• Budget Responsibility: Shared oversight of multi-million-euro portfolio and operational resource allocation
• Organisational Integration: Member of Ubuntu Executive Management Team, and contributor to RIOD (International Platform of Operational Directors)

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Lead the formulation and evolution of MSF Ubuntu’s operational strategy, including multi-year and annual operational plans.
• Ensure integration of Ubuntu’s foundational concepts, including community- led approaches, decentralised leadership, and accountability into core operation activities of the OD.
• Champion agile and adaptive programming that reflects the changing humanitarian landscape

Operational Oversight & Performance

• Provide strategic oversight across all active projects and country programmes
• Approve project lifecycle decisions: community engagement, start-up, expansion, scale-back and handover
• Monitor the quality of care and operational effectiveness, embedding MEAL principles and patient/community feedback mechanisms

Security & Risk Management

• Design proactive and inclusive security management policies that prioritize community acceptance, contextual awareness, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Continuously assess operational environments (including conflict zones, unstable regions, or health emergencies) to adapt security protocols accordingly.
• Foster trust and collaboration with local communities, authorities, and other NGOs to enhance security through acceptance and understanding of MSF expectations.
• Participate in Critical Incident Management structures and uphold MSF’s duty of care to staff and patients.
• Ensure rapid and coordinated responses to security breaches, critical security incidents, or medical emergencies.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Manage and mentor a diverse team of senior operational staff, fostering leadership growth and accountability
• Uphold MSF Ubuntu’s EDI and blended staffing principles
• Lead performance management and development planning for all direct reports

Interdependence, Partnerships & Representation

• Cultivate collaborative alliances within MSF and with key external actors: Ministries of Health, civil society, academia, and humanitarian stakeholders
• Represent MSF Ubuntu in MSF international platforms (RIOD), and in media or advocacy spaces when relevant
• Strengthen ties with affected communities, supporting their voice in operational choices and public positioning

Innovation, Advocacy, and Medical Leadership

• Drive operational innovation aligned with Ubuntu’s people-centred and maximising sustainable outcomes frameworks
• Collaborate with the Medical Director and technical referents to ensure medical strategy is embedded in operational planning
• Promote evidence-based advocacy, operational communications and the Ubuntu principle of “Speaking Out”

Essential

• At least 12 years’ humanitarian programme experience, including as Head of Mission or equivalent senior leadership role
• At least 7 years’ humanitarian programme experience with MSF.
• Proven expertise in managing complex medical-humanitarian operations and navigating high-risk environments
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary, multicultural teams
• Strong understanding of the global political, humanitarian and medical context
• Budgeting and resource allocation for large-scale, multi-country operations
• Fluency in English required

Desirable

• Prior experience with MSF or similar INGO.
• French, Portuguese, Swahili or Arabic are strong assets

Core Competencies

• Strategic Vision & Adaptive Leadership
• Inclusive and People-Centred Approach
• Risk Management & Operational Decision-Making
• Cross-Cultural Communication & Negotiation
• Transformational Leadership and Innovation
• Crisis and Security Management

Conditions

• Location: Nairobi (Kenya), or Johannesburg (South Africa)
• Contract Type: Full-time, 3-year renewable once (maximum 6 years)
• Salary: In line with MSF reward policy
• Start date: Last quarter of 2025

The closing date for applications is 21st August 2025

Benefits include

• Work-life balance: Daily flexi-hours and 2 days working from home.
• Diverse team composition; Collaborate with a global network of talented professionals, bringing diverse perspectives and expertise from around the world.
• Career Development: MSF provides many learning resources (online learning resources, regular trainings – including language, Peer to peer learning.
• Mobility: You will have opportunities to travel abroad for work, meetings, trainings and workshops; giving you a chance to experience different cultures and broaden your professional network.
• Medical insurance cover included.
• Annual leave and other types of leave according to the policy of the office where you are based.

• If you recognize yourself in this profile, we welcome you to apply directly through the APPLY NOW button below.
• Applicants are required to upload a Letter of Motivation or Curriculum Vitae in English in PDF format as one combined document.
• The closing date for applications is 21st August 2025

NB: 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 values diversity and is committed to create an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, and all other diversity characteristics. We also encourage women to apply.

Lately MSF is a civil society initiative that brings together individuals committed to the assistance of other human beings in crisis. As such MSF is by choice an association. Each individual applying for MSF roles does it out of conviction and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.