Location: Any MSF office

Contract: Permanent, full-time
Starting date: Asap

Deadline to apply: 29.01.2024

*By default, the successful candidate will be offered a contract in the MSF office of their country of residence at the time of application.

I. MSF INTERNATIONAL

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural disasters. MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

MSF International is the legal entity that binds MSF’s 24 sections, 25 associations and other offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested.

The International Legal Department (ILD) is currently the only intersectional department of MSF; Mainly dedicated to support MSF operations, the ILD rationalises legal support and provides high-level legal advice to all entities (OCs, MSF International and MSF Satellites) ; its field of expertise is varied, including IHL, registration, MOU, taxes, medico-legal issues, medical research, labour law, commercial law, trademarks and international governance, etc.

II. POSITION BACKGROUND

The ILD is divided in several Units according to the expertise of law.

Unit 4 “Legal and Administrative framework of missions” aims to improve/secure the effective administrative & legal frameworks of field operations and the relationship with third parties, as well as analyse and address field legal administrative constraints and litigation including the identification and management of legal and institutional risk. Based on increasing demand from the different MSF entities, and considering the risks at stake, the Unit 4 also developed its global support in providing its expertise to Headquarters and Satellites of MSF (such as Supply Centers, Epicentre…).

Considering the numerous activities and the specific expertise required as well as the number of staff at field and HQ levels, it requires to be divided into 3 main activities:

• the direct support to operations which includes all legal domains covered by the unit (registration/license, administrative constraints and regulations, taxes, finance, MOU, field contracts, construction, field supply…) provided by legal advisors from the HQ or from the field directly.
• the indirect support to operations which includes transversal issues such as taxes or insurance, international or Intersectional projects, as well as HQ/Satellites support.
• the SHIELD project which is a joint project managed by the ILD with the RIOD support and aims at strengthening negotiation of exemptions and legal derogations on the field of operations.

In the context of a restructuration of the Unit 4, a first position of Unit Deputy Manager has been created for the direct support to operations. A second position of Unit Deputy Manager is created for supporting the second pillar of Unit 4

III. PLACE IN THE ORGANISATION

The Unit Deputy Manager is part of the Unit 4 within the ILD and he/she reports to the Unit Manager.

He/she is responsible for the activity “global/indirect support to operations” and manage directly the ILD team involved in this activity (currently 6 legal advisors).

The Unit Deputy Manager also works closely with key staff in all Operational Centres of MSF linked to the activities he/she will supervise.

IV. OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

The objectives of the position are to guarantee the application and implementation of the Unit 4’s strategy and policies regarding the global/indirect support to operations (OC HQ and MSF Satellites commercial issues, international insurance, international supply, international procurement, international finance…).

V. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participates in defining the Legal Department’s legal strategy and policies:

– Participates with the Unit Manager in defining legal strategy and legal risk management policies within the Unit;

– In liaison with the Unit Manager, ensures that the Unit’s strategy and policies are implemented and applied within the framework of the Legal

• Department’s overall strategy;

– Alerts the Unit Manager on any obstacles encountered during implementation, and proposes solutions;

– In liaison with the Unit Manager, determines and ensures the implementation of priority projects in line with the overall directions and objectives defined by the ILD Director.

• Organizes, initiates and adapts the Unit 4 projects and actions

– Initiates and manages the implementation of legal projects within the MSF movement: OCs, sections and offices, MSF International and satellites, and takes responsibility for cross-functional projects initiated within the ILD;

– Participates in guaranteeing the consistency and quality of legal activities and projects carried out in the Unit’s areas of activity;

– Implements appropriate monitoring and reporting tools;

– Support legal advisors in preparing and managing the Unit’s national and international litigation files.

• Hierarchical or functional management of his/her team

– Recruits, supervises, advises, supports, motivates, federates his/her team and develops the skills of his/her internal and external collaborators;

– Structure the management of the Unit in setting guidelines, defining objectives and evaluating work of members of the team under his/her supervision;

– Ensure the smooth communication and coordination among the team members;

-Ensures the team’s contribution to cross-functional/interdepartmental and intersectional projects/works.

• Provides advice and support to the MSF teams

– When necessary due to internal organization issue or due to the level of risk, manages directly problems relating to the Unit’s legal areas and advises the Managers and Directors of the various OCs and Satellites : manages litigation/projects/case directly, and provides solutions;

– Oversees the application of legal procedures and proposes and develops (or support the development of) tools and legal instrument to support MSF teams: templates, guidelines, standard agreements, Memorandum Of Understanding, memo, trainings, etc.