About Médecins Sans Frontières
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent medical humanitarian organisation. MSF provides medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare.
MSF was founded in 1971, in the aftermath of the Biafran famine of the Nigerian Civil War, by a small group of French doctors and journalists who sought to expand accessibility to medical care across national boundaries and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.
MSF teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff – most of them hired locally. MSF actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality. Our teams conducted medical activities in over 70 countries in 2023.
MSF’s revenue in 2023 exceeded €2 billion, of which 98 percent comes from individual private donors.
In 2023, MSF admitted staff provided nearly 16.5 million outpatient consultations, and admitted nearly 1.4 million people to health facilities and hospitals.
The International President: Background and Objectives
The International President (IP) is a pivotal role that represents the organization globally. They are the most senior associative figure in MSF and lead the International Board. The primary role of the IP is to provide inspiration and leadership to the Movement in its implementation of the MSF Charter, Chantilly document, La Mancha agreement, and the collective ambitions of its members.
The IP is accountable to the IGA and elected for a three-year term with the possibility of re-election for a second term.
The International President will:
- Coordinate the International General Assembly (IGA)
- Coordinate the International Board
- Support MSF’s Social Mission
- Oversee effective governance of the Movement’s action
- Support a well-functioning International Office
- Oversee Associative development
The IP is the main international spokesperson and will participate in representation of MSF’s actions and objectives, both internally and externally, in support of the social mission.
The needs of MSF and the demands of its associative leadership will vary over time. As a result, the priorities of the IP will need to adapt accordingly. The prioritization of these roles will be carried out in conjunction with the IB.
MSF is currently undergoing a significant reform process aimed at improving its global governance, decision-making structures, and inclusivity across its various entities. This process is a pivotal moment for the organization and will shape MSF’s trajectory for the years to come. The role of the International President (IP) is central to steering this transformation, providing leadership that upholds MSF’s principles while guiding the movement through this period of change.
Main Responsibilities*
Coordination of the International General Assembly (IGA)
- Convene and lead the annual IGA, ensure follow-up of decisions and maintain the engagement with IGA representatives and associations on all key associative issues
- Present the annual moral report and promote and facilitate debate on specific issues of concern to the movement and our social mission
Coordination of the International Board
- Ensure and manage the good functioning of the IB
- Facilitate communication and resolution within the IB and between the IB, the IGA and the Executive on issues of concern to the movement, including disputes
- Oversee the good design and implementation of the IB workplan
- Oversee the election of the Vice President and the appointment of the International Treasurer
- Evaluate the functioning of the IB and the IB members
- Ensure inductions of new IB members
Support MSF’s Social Mission
- Guide and lead on the development of ambitions and strategy within the movement
- Ensure development and implementation of appropriate and cohesive frameworks for accountability, quality, growth, personnel, and the sharing of resources across the movement
- In collaboration with the executive, the International President will position, represent and advocate for MSF in support of the Movement’s priorities and safeguarding MSF’s identity
- Ensure the IB/IP’s external commitments are realized
Oversee effective governance of the Movement’s action
- Promote a culture of transparency and accountability within the Movement and towards those that MSF assists, those that support MSF and the wider public
- Promote upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Movement and towards those that MSF assists
- Ensure coordination, prioritization and accountability of the Executive Committee (Excom) through the International Secretary General (ISG)
- Work with the IB to hold legal entities with responsibility for running Operational Projects or Operational Project Support, accountable
Support a well-functioning International Office
- Preside the International Board to appoint, define the duties of, and supervise the Secretary General
- Ensure the IB upholds its fiduciary duty for the International Office and the Association
- Ensure safeguarding of MSF’s brand, identity and reputation
Oversee Associative development
- Guide and supervise the International Association Coordinator
- Foster Members’ associative life and participate in their associative events
- Promote associative life in our project countries and participate in their associative events
- Promote input from the Executive and the Associative to IGA and IB decisions
- Promote implementation of IGA and IB decisions throughout the MSF movement
* A more detailed Job Profile is available for those interested
Profile Requirements
Commitment to the MSF movement and its ambitions
Being the IP requires an in-depth understanding of, and commitment to, the MSF movement:
- to its medical humanitarian mission
- to its associative governance and the goals of MSF International in support of the Movement’s ambitions
The next IP must be a member of at least one of the MSF Associations
Medical health professional
The IP must have a medical background*, with the rationale being that they can represent and understand the needs of MSF’s medical humanitarian mission and the challenges of its staff working on the front lines. While historically, all international presidents of MSF have been doctors, other MSF health professionals, who have this experience of a practitioner-patient relationship can also be the IP.
* Medical background means all professions that have, during initial training and later practice, a practitioner-patient relationship.
Executive/operational MSF leadership experience
The IP must:
- have experience of senior MSF management in Operational Projects
- interpreted as: three years at a Level 13 or higher position based on the IRFFG matrix – Head of Mission; Medical Coordinator; Resources Manager; (Operational) Deputy Head of Mission; Deputy Medical Coordinator; Intersectional Pharmacist; Functional Coordinator; Project Coordinator
- have senior MSF executive experience in any MSF office
- interpreted as: five or more years heading a department in an office – General Director, Functional Manager/Director
- have significant experience on the Board of an Institutional Member
- interpreted as: two years’ experience on a board, or one year having been President or Vice President.
Transformational leader
MSF seeks a leader with a proven track record on promoting and ensuring organisational change.
MSF is undergoing a significant reform process aimed at improving its global governance, decision-making structures, and inclusivity across its various entities to ensure that MSF’s leadership and operational structures better reflect the incredible diversity of the organization.
MSF is committed to upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion across their global movement and tackling racism and discrimination within the organization and is undertaking reforms to provide a safe, just and equitable environment for those it provides medical humanitarian assistance to and for all staff.
The role of the International President (IP) is central to steering this transformation, providing leadership that upholds MSF’s principles while guiding the movement through this period of change.
Other Competencies, Skills and Knowledge
- Visionary and strategic thinking
- In-depth knowledge of the global humanitarian and health landscape and system(s)
- Ability to analyse complex political and organizational dynamics
- Powerful diplomacy and negotiation skills
- Excellent representation skills, including public speaking and media performance
- Strong internal communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work effectively in collaboration with a diverse group of people
- Excellent command English is required; command of other languages is desired
Practicalities of the Role
- Willingness and capacity to travel extensively
- Availability for a minimum period of 3 years, starting no later than September 2025
Job Features
| Job Category | Health, Humanitarian, Josje, Martine |
| Location | Geneva, preferred |
| Salary | Full time remuneration at the level of the General Director of the MSF Operational Center Geneva |
| Closing Date | End February 2025 |
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Job Features
| Job Category | Health, Humanitarian, Josje, Martine |
| Location | Geneva, preferred |
| Salary | Full time remuneration at the level of the General Director of the MSF Operational Center Geneva |
| Closing Date | End February 2025 |
Associate Director Interim Management, Senior Consultant Europe and Asia Pacific
jreinartz@oxfordhr.com