BRANCH OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE – MSF PORTUGAL

GENERAL CONTEXT

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international independent medical-humanitarian organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

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 working with MSF does it out of conviction and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.

The MSF movement is built around six operational directorates supported by more than 25 sections and offices worldwide. MSF OCBA is one of those directorates. The operations are implemented by field teams and the mission coordination teams; together with the organizational units based in Barcelona and decentralized in Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The field operations are guided and supported by 5 Operational Cells, the Emergency Unit and other departments supporting operations

MSF-Brazil, is one of the 24 MSF offices of the movement supporting MSF’s operations by building relationships with our supporters, increasing awareness of our work, raising funds, providing specialist medical expertise, contributing with medical humanitarian research and strategy, and recruiting field staff.

MSF-Spain and MSF-Brazil had been working at the Portuguese office since 2018, considering the potential of the country to be of significant value in the short, medium and long term for the operational and institutional development of MSF.

MSF-Portugal was endorsed as an MSF Branch Office (BO) at the IGA 2020, with the overall objective to support the delivery of MSF´s social mission by channeling human and financial resources to the movement.

GENERAL JOB CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE

MSF-Portugal will operate under the coordination of the MSF-Portugal Representative who will be accountable to the Portugal Development Steering Committee (DSC), formed with key people from each section.

The DSC is accountable to the MSF-Portugal Board. MSF-Portugal Board is accountable to the Boards of OCBA and MSF-Brazil.

In line with the orientations of the Steering Committee, the Country Representative defines the strategies and the annual plans for the office, manages the Portugal team so that the Branch Office can achieve the short and mid-term objectives both as an entity and for the various areas involved: External Relations and Representation, Communication, Human Resources and Fundraising, optimizing resources and opportunities in its sphere of influence.

MSF Strategy in Portugal will be steered by the following guiding principles:

Increase diversification of income through a long-term investment fundraising strategy primarily focused on massive regular donors. We seek to achieve the commitment and support of Portuguese civil society, increasing our social legitimacy and thus contributing to specific fundraising objectives.

Increase MSF´s global workforce by maximizing the recruitment potential in Portugal for skilled and humanitarian driven staff.

Increase brand visibility and awareness in Portugal, and by synergy in African Portuguese speaking countries, as a medical-humanitarian international organization through institutional communications and public engagement activities.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

1-PLANNING, STRATEGY AND COORDINATION

· Planning and budgeting: Elaborate the annual plan of strategic objectives and activities – fundraising, communications, advocacy and recruitment – as well as the budget for the Portugal office with the guidance and supervision of the Portugal Development Steering Committee (DSC).

· Follow-up: Ensure a proper and timely follow-up and regular review of the budget and execution plan and justify any delays or failures to reach the defined objectives. Participate in regular meetings with the Portugal DSC to ensure alignment with MSF best practices and build synergies and alliances.

· Lead development, implementation and monitoring of multi-year activities and their translation into projects, annual plans and budgets adapted to the context and available resources according to the guidelines of the General Direction and the Strategic Plan 2020-2023 and further extensions.

2. TEAM MANAGEMENT

· Appoints, manages, and evaluates growing team.

· Appoints, manages, evaluates, and motivates a team as well as assistants, volunteers, interns and special project staff

· Delegates authority consults with and guides staff to achieve goals. Provides ongoing feedback in a context of mutual respect

· Conducts regular appraisals on his/her team.

· Supports the capacity building of his/her team and facilitates their integration in the international movement and in the third sector in Portugal: proposes ad-hoc trainings, participation in the MSF international workshops, etc.

· Oversees the selection and training of new staff.

3. GOVERNANCE AND ASSOCIATIVE LIFE

· Represent the MSF Portugal Branch Office to the Portugal Development Steering Committee (DSC) and to the Association’s Board including timely and accurate provision of all necessary reports and management information, minutes of meetings, scheduling, coordinating required logistical and briefing support.

· Ensure compliance with all relevant Portuguese legal frameworks and regulations as well as MSF internal policies and agreements.

· Associative life: Build a structure enabling humanitarian aid workers from Portugal to connect and be link with MSF associative life. Promote and support activities to boost the associative activities in Portugal, facilitating spaces for debate and discussions or any other activities planned to contribute to the branch office’s strategy and activities.

· MSF staff: Maintain contact with MSF’s Portuguese staff to have them involved and acting as spokespeople in communication activities and events such as press conferences, presentations, etc.

· Volunteers: Recruit, motivate and accompany volunteers to help MSF running of activities in Portugal, and establish the level of involvement of each one according to the internal regulations established by MSF on this chapter.

4. REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION

· Act as an MSF´s spokesperson/representative in Portugal (vis-à-vis the media and public/private institutions and meetings of the Portuguese civil society), ensuring that the organization’s identity, principles, mission, and name are used in an adequate and consistent manner across all activities of the MSF Portugal Branch Office.

· Identify and nurture relationships with key institutional representatives, coordinating and responding to requests directed to MSF by institutions (Universities, government bodies, think tanks, Foundations, etc.) and/or other NGOs and organizations.

· Develop MSF’s advocacy and public positioning in Portugal; ensure MSF’s concerns on issues related to the humanitarian and medical needs of specific vulnerable groups are appropriately represented to relevant Portuguese stakeholders (government, authorities, civil society, academic community, media) and that these efforts influence, or effect change in policy and practice.

· Contribute to the definition, planning, coordination and implementation of events and campaigns aimed at strengthening engagement with civil society as well as raising awareness rate, informing, and gaining support for MSF strategic objectives in Portugal (Fundraising, Recruitment and Awareness raising).

· Oversee and steer the development of the communication, advocacy and representation strategy in Portugal in line with MSF’s social mission and operational priorities.

· Actively participate on MSF internal cross organizational platforms.

5. FUNDRAISING, HUMAN RESOURCES AND FINANCES

· Oversee and steer the development and implementation of the fundraising strategy and related investments with the objective to develop secure, sustainable, and diversified private income streams to meet the financial needs and the objectives of MSF Portugal Branch Office

· Make sure the fundraising strategy and practices are conducted according to the organization’s humanitarian and fundraising principles

· Lead the recruitment, onboarding and development of the MSF Portugal Branch Office staff.

· Collaborate with the HR team of MSF Spain as responsible HR-entity for Portuguese humanitarian aid workers, and if needed, with Operational Centers, in all relevant field recruitment issues to maximize and adapt to Operational needs the recruitment and matching of Portuguese humanitarian aid workers

· Overall responsibility for the financial management, budget control, annual plan, risk management and efficient use of resources ensuring they are in line with core values and principles of MSF

SELECTION CRITERIA

Education and experience:

· Qualification in Business Administration, Humanities or similar

· Field experience in a coordination position and/or proven knowledge of MSF is essential

· Knowledge of the Portugal society and market is essential

· Experience with campaigns and events is a strong asset

· Fluent in Portuguese and English; Spanish is a plus

· Proven representation skills and experience

Competences:

· Commitment to MSF’s Principles

· Cross-cultural Awareness

· Behavioral Flexibility

· Stress Management

· Analytical Thinking

· Results and Quality Orientation

· Service Orientation

· Planning and Organizing

· Teamwork and Cooperation

CONDITIONS

· Full time job based in Lisbon

· Open ended contract

· Minimum commitment with the position of 3 years

· Annual gross salary: HQ-5 – 46,546.15€ (divided in 12 monthly payments) + secondary benefits based on MSF OCBA Reward Policy.Starting date: as soon as possible