MedOps Cell Manager – MSF Ubuntu

• The vacancy closing date is: 02 nd July 2026.
• This vacancy is open to Local and International Applicants.
• By applying to this position, the applicant confirms they have read, understood and agreed to fully comply with MSF Charter and MSF Behavioral Commitments and Data Privacy Policy.

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organisation 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.

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), Data Protection, mutualization, training, medical operational support and environmental health.

MSF Ubuntu is the newest Operational Directorate of Médecins Sans Frontières, grounded in the philosophy of Ubuntu – “I am because we are”. With a strong emphasis on interdependence, interoperability, and locally grounded action, MSF Ubuntu aims to strengthen medical humanitarian response by placing communities at the centre of decision-making.

The MedOps Cell Manager is responsible for translating MSF Ubuntu’s operational vision into high-quality, principled, accountable and community-centred medical-humanitarian operations. Reporting to the MSF Ubuntu Director of Operations, the MedOps Cell Manager leads the strategic direction, operational oversight and performance of an assigned portfolio of countries, projects or thematic operational priorities. The role ensures that MSF Ubuntu’s operations are grounded in the lived realities of patients and communities, responsive to urgent humanitarian needs, and aligned with MSF’s social mission to save lives, alleviate suffering and protect human dignity.

Strategic Core Focus

The MedOps Cell Manager will play a central role in building MSF Ubuntu as a new Operational Directorate with a distinct operational identity: rooted locally and acting globally; driven by people-centred care; committed to community leadership; shaped by interdependence with communities, partners and the wider MSF movement; and focused on leaving positive outcomes beyond the duration of MSF’s direct intervention.

Accountability & Positioning

This position will be hierarchically and functionally accountable to Director of Operations, MSF Ubuntu.

The MedOps Cell Manager is a senior operational leader within MSF Ubuntu’s Operations Department and works under the authority of the Director of Operations.

Key Working Relationships

The role works closely with:

• • Heads of Programmes, Project Coordinators and country coordination teams.

• • Medical, logistics, supply, HR, finance, advocacy, communications, security, analysis and community engagement functions.

• • MSF Ubuntu leadership circles and operational decision-making platforms.

• • Local communities, patient groups, civil society actors, academia, local institutions and other relevant actors.

• • Other MSF Operational Directorates, regional hubs and international platforms.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead operational strategy for the assigned portfolio

Leads the development, implementation and review of country, regional and thematic strategies within the assigned portfolio.

• Embed community leadership and people-centred care

Ensures that community leadership and people-centred care are not treated as separate activities, but as core operational principles and priorities.

• Ensure quality, relevance and accountability of operations

Accountable for ensuring that operations within the portfolio are relevant, highquality, ethical and accountable.

• Support Heads of Programmes, Project Coordinators and country leadership teams

Provides strategic supervision, guidance and support to senior field leadership.

• Lead and manage the operational cell

Leads a multidisciplinary operational cell and is responsible for its performance, coherence and working culture.

• Strengthen emergency preparedness and response

Ensures that emergency response remains central to MSF Ubuntu’s operational identity.

• Oversee security, access and risk management

Ensures that safety, security and access management are adapted to operational realities and grounded in MSF Ubuntu’s community acceptance-based approach.

• Drive advocacy, analysis, representation and networking

Ensures that advocacy and analysis are linked to operational priorities and community realities.

• Integrate communications and public positioning into operations

Ensures that communications and public positioning reflect MSF Ubuntu’s commitment to speaking out in solidarity with patients and communities.

• Ensure financial stewardship and responsible resource management

Oversees responsible planning, budgeting and resource use within the portfolio.

• Promote interdependence and operational collaboration

Responsible for putting interdependence into practice across the portfolio.

• Promote learning, reflection and knowledge management

Contributes to MSF Ubuntu as a humble, learning-oriented Operational Directorate.

• Support environmental responsibility and climate-aware operations

Ensures that operations consider the health and humanitarian consequences of the climate crisis, as well as MSF Ubuntu’s environmental commitments.

Decision-Making Authority for Programmes

Within delegated authority from the Director of Operations, the MedOps Cell Manager may:

• Approve or recommend country strategies, multi-year plans and major operational adjustments.

• 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.

• Be ready to act as interim in leading crisis management processes within the portfolio, in coordination with the Director of Operations, if required.

• Represent MSF Ubuntu internally and externally on assigned operational matters.

• Escalate matters requiring Director of Operations, General Director, Council or critical incident decision-making authority

Education

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.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience.

• Significant senior operational management experience in MSF or another medicalhumanitarian 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.

Desirable

• Experience in community engagement, community-led programming or accountability to affected populations.

• Medical, public health, humanitarian affairs, anthropology, political science, international relations or operational management background.

• French, Swahili, Arabic or other languages relevant to MSF Ubuntu’s operational ambitions.

• Experience with advocacy, analysis, access negotiation, public positioning or community-led advocacy.

• Experience contributing to the start-up, transformation or progressive growth of an operational entity.

• Experience working in interdependent or multi-partner organisational models.

Competencies

• Commitment to MSF’s principles and social mission.

• Strategic vision and operational judgement.

• People-centred and community-informed decision-making.

• Leadership, people management and team development.

• Security awareness and risk management.

• Analytical capacity and critical thinking.

• Quality and results orientation.

• Capacity to negotiate, influence and build trust.

• Cross-cultural awareness and humility.

• Collaboration and interdependence.

• Accountability, integrity and transparency.

• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage ambiguity.

• Learning mindset and openness to constructive challenge.

• Willingness to bear witness.

• Working conditions

o The role requires regular travel to countries of operation and MSF Ubuntu hubs.

o Travel at short notice may be required during emergencies, assessments or critical incidents.

o The post-holder may be required to work extended or irregular hours during crises.

o The role requires high levels of discretion, resilience, political judgement and emotional intelligence.

o The position will operate in a growing Operational Directorate and will require adaptability as MSF Ubuntu’s structures, systems and portfolio evolve.

• Job Location: MSF Eastern Africa office in Nairobi (Kenya), or Johannesburg (South Africa).

• Contract: 3-year renewable, full-time contract (maximum 6 years).

• Start date: 1st October 2026.

• Annual Salary and other benefits: In line with MSF reward policy, Subjected to local conditions.

• The vacancy closing date is: 02nd July 2026.
• This vacancy is open to Local and International Applicants.
• By applying to this position, the applicant confirms they have read, understood and agreed to fully comply with MSF Charter and MSF Behavioral Commitments and Data Privacy Policy.
• In line with MSF’s Safeguarding Principles, successful candidates undergo a rigorous vetting / screening process that includes background checks and self-declaration.
• If you recognize yourself in this profile, we welcome you to apply directly via the APPLY NOW button below
• Applicants are required to submit a single PDF document containing a Letter of Motivation and a Curriculum Vitae (CV) (in English). Please note that applications submitted without a Letter of Motivation will not be considered.

If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact [email protected] before the vacancy closing date. Kindly use this email only for technical issues related to your application, for example, if you do not receive an automated response or encounter problems uploading documents. Applications sent directly to this email will not be considered.

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MSF is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge any application/ recruitment fee.

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.