Executive Director – MSF Lebanon

CONTEXT 

Since its establishment in 2018, MSF Lebanon has transitioned from a regional hub to a recognized institutional entity, focusing on Lebanon's medical, communications, human resources, operational support, and advocacy potential. The team has made substantial progress in rooting MSF in Lebanon and the MENA region, building its identity and Arabic voice, and contributing to the development of its international mobile workforce. MSF Lebanon has defined the following three overarching strategic pillars:

1. Institutional Rooting, ensuring that key target audiences recognize and accept MSF as a well-known, credible, trustworthy, and independent medical humanitarian organization in Lebanon and the wider MENA/WANA region. 

2. Operational Support, providing relevant technical and strategic support to operations, benefiting from the expertise and resources available in the region. 

3. Movement Contribution, launching and supporting initiatives to optimize resources and improve intersectional collaboration in and from the Middle East North Africa /West Asia and North Africa region to enhance MSF operations.  

Today MSF Lebanon consists of a Human Resources team with a core mandate to secure and develop a mobile workforce from the region deployable to MSF operations worldwide, a Communications team that provides communication advisory and capacity to meet MSF’s institutional and support operational communication needs, a Finance, Compliance and Support team who is responsible for the financial reporting and operational legality of the BO together with intersectional facility management ; a Medical Support Unit with specialty in Epidemiology and Public Health Policy Advocacy, in addition to a growing operational support team including a decentralized medical unit (MEMU) that is focused on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in MSF’s global portfolio in addition to a regional technical support team (METS). 

MSF Lebanon comprises of around 50 staff (including decentralized positions) from which most of them are located in Beirut with a smaller team in Cairo.

The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the evolution of the MSF Lebanon Branch Office.   

As the Executive Director, you are responsible for driving, developing, and implementing the strategic vision for MSF in Lebanon. You will lead a dynamic and creative team in setting and achieving the objectives for recruitment, visibility, acceptance, representation, medical operational support, and anchorage in Lebanon, ensuring that the identity and medical humanitarian work of MSF remains at the core of all activities.

You are responsible for ensuring effective, efficient, and ethical management of MSF Lebanon’s financial and human resources, as well as developing and upholding the credibility and reputation of MSF’s medical humanitarian mission in Lebanon, Egypt, and the region.

You will collaborate with MSF hubs and offices in the region to enable MSF to deliver its social purpose.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and planning  

• Lead and develop the strategic vision for MSF in Lebanon in order to achieve its core objectives. Set priorities and make recommendations to the OCB management for the evolution of MSF in Lebanon

• Develop, implement and monitor the delivery of multi-year strategic and financial planning in line with the vision, and its translation into annual plans and budgets 

• Ensure that MSF Lebanon becomes a strategic contributor, particularly in collaboration with the director of communication in the areas of communication, and in collaboration with the HR director in international mobile staffing strategies and operations support, to MSF OCB and the entire MSF movement

• Ensure the core objectives are achieved in communications, networking, advocacy, recruitment and operational support – and are fully integrated with the overall strategy for OCB and MSF movement operations in the region.  

• Identify and implement a robust strategy for legal stability and sustainability in Lebanon, in collaboration with the MSF mission in Lebanon through d maintaining the registration

• Responsible for MSF Lebanon’s financial planning, control and risk management

• Play an active role in the OCB group platform of executive directors

• Identify opportunities for synergies and complementarity with colleagues in the region and across the MSF movement

• Ensure MSF's concerns on issues related to global humanitarian and medical needs of specific vulnerable groups are conveyed to relevant Lebanese stakeholders (Government, NGO's, Academic community)  

• Work to establish MSF as a relevant, trustworthy and knowledgeable actor in Lebanon’s society on matters related to medical, humanitarian issues and thereby build sufficient acceptance in order to influence or effect change in policy and practice over time

• Together with the Communications and Engagement Director, oversee and coordinate the prioritization, strategy and effective implementation of MSF’s advocacy positions and public communications among MSF stakeholders in order to achieve impact and results in advocacy towards Lebanese target groups

• Identify opportunities that capitalize on regional medical advocacy efforts 

Representation and Engagement 

• Define and lead the effort to anchor and create a meaningful engagement in Lebanese and Egyptian home society at large and in strategic civil society also in the region  

• Act as spokesperson and actively advocate for MSF's positions, in Lebanon, Egypt and in the region in coordination with operations

• Develop and maintain MSF's brand and reputation in Lebanon and Egypt, ensuring that MSF's core identity and views are proactively and appropriately represented in order to build the visibility and acceptance of MSF’s brand    

• Cultivate and foster contacts and networks with all stakeholders within Lebanon and Egypt (Academic, NGO’s, Government…)

• The Executive Director leads MSF Lebanon’s participation in different areas with the ambition of creating an accountable branch office that serves the entire MSF movement  

• Participate in the work on key dossiers and represent MSF Lebanon in movement wide international platforms groups and forums such as the Full ExCom  

Operational support     

• The Executive Director will work together with the OCB medical department to implement the vision and strategic objectives of the Middle East Medical Unit (MEMU) the decentralized medical team that is part of MSF Lebanon in line with operational priorities and ambition   

• The Executive Director will explore opportunities for research and innovation, as well as potential partnerships that can benefit and support MSF operations. The Executive Director will create the capacity when necessary/opportune and possible to host key positions/functions that support operations on behalf of OCB and the rest of the movement  

• Together with the HR Director, the Executive Director is responsible for supervising the development and implementation of the recruitment strategy and development advisory for MSF in Lebanon and Egypt to meet operational ambitions and needs, through providing all OCs with skilled staff to be part of MSF’s worldwide response

• In line with the fundraising assessment outcomes of 2019/2020, the Executive Director is expected to revisit the fundraising potential and proposal, including for channels of reactive fundraising & diaspora fundraising engagement

General management  

• Provide effective leadership and management of the MSF offices (in Lebanon & Egypt) and teams in line with MSF OCB’s policies and management practices and values, including annual performance reviews, quality supervision, development and support.  

• Work closely with OCB missions in Lebanon and act as the security focal point of the BO, follow strictly the security protocol defined by operations. During emergency, work and liaise with operations to ensure the Duty of Care under BO and/or the organization are fully delivered; Form and lead the crisis management team when there is critical incident. 

• Share the contextual update and analysis with the movement with support from operations and communication department when there is emergency situation. 

• Ensure MSF Lebanon staff are provided with the resources, support and space to bring their experience, knowledge and intellectual contributions to the wider MSF movement. 

• Maintain the highest standards of financial accountability and transparency to ensure a successful annual financial audit

• Responsible for the timely and accurate provision of all necessary reports and management information for the OCB management team

• Ensure with the MSF Lebanon management team compliance with Lebanese and Egyptian employment laws and other legislation, as well as MSF’s internal policies and agreements.  

• Manage and support general office needs including infrastructure, IT systems, resource needs, professional systems and practices and relationship with suppliers

• Ensure the identification, assessment and mitigation of risks across all aspects of the Branch Office, including security, financial management, compliance and staff safety. 

• Ensure that MSF’s Safeguarding policies are implemented and promote a culture of respect, inclusivity and accountability

Associative life  

• MSF Lebanon aims to mobilize the associative dynamic in Lebanon, Egypt and the region towards furthering the associative engagement and involvement of staff from the MENA in the associative dimensions of MSF   

• The Executive Director will contribute and support nascent associative efforts around associative life and associative organization in the region striving for synergies with operations and MSF entities 

• Creating a dedicated associative dynamic relying on engaged and motivated people (Associative initiatives in the office, hybrid associative ops-office team etc.), and supporting a continuous interaction with the rest of the movement

• Developing and sustaining a strong associative network at regional level through joint initiatives and convergence of means and efforts

• Work together with MSF entities in the region to integrate associative elements and potential within the long-term vision of MSF operational and institutional presence in the MENA

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Minimum of 7 years work experience in the Humanitarian Sector is mandatory

• Contextual knowledge and/or understanding of the MENA region and civil society is required

• MSF experience strongly preferred head offices, regional office or strategic Institutional and operational experience will be a strong asset, especially in the MENA region 

• Bachelor’s degree in public health or the area of study of international relations is an asset

Competencies

• Leadership, level 4 - mobilize people by transmitting a convincing future vision

• Strategic Vision, level 4 - has a long-term vision

• Security Awareness and Building Relationships, level 4 - analyses and interprets contextual variables, applying them to the design, and adapts security rules and security management

• People Management & Development, level 4 - acts by example

• Networking & Building Relationships, level 3 - creates network opportunities

• Planning & Organizational skill, level 3 - follows up, plans activities and sets priorities

• Demonstrable understanding of communications, fundraising, operational HR, and medical humanaitarian operations

• Strong interpersonal, intercultural, leadership, networking and communication skills.

• Collaborative, constructive and team oriented 

• Ability to foster a creative, professional, “open door” management culture, to empower managers and staff members to fulfill their potential and to encourage staff to challenge assumptions.  

• Strong leadership, analytical, networking, and presentation skills

Other

• Commitment to MSF’s humanitarian values and to humanitarian work  

• Flexible work approach and flexibility to travel frequently

Languages

• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken is mandatory

• Good knowledge of Arabic and French is an asset

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: As soon as possible

• Location:  Beirut (Lebanon) 

• Contract type: Open-ended contract with a 3-year mandate (extendable for max. 2 more years) – full-time (40 hours per week)

• Salary & contract according to MSF Lebanon grid

• Monthly Cost of living allowance – Transportation allowance – 25 days annual leave + National public holidays – Health insurance coverage

• Not a family position

• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment

• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: 28th of March 2025

How to apply?

➢ Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button

➢ You will be directed to the online application form for this position

➢ It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter ready to upload

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

MSF values diversity and is committed to creating 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.

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