Deputy Manager – Direct legal support to operations

Location: Any MSF office *
Contract: Permanent position – 100%
Starting date: Asap

Deadline to apply: 17th of december, 2023

*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; 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.
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 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 new position of Unit Deputy Manager has been created.

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 “direct support to operations” and manage directly the ILD team involved in this activity (currently 11 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 direct support to operations (registration/license, administrative constraints and regulations, taxes, finance, MOU, field contracts, construction, field supply…).

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 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 field and head office
– 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 Field or Cell Managers of the various OCs, as well as the Directors and/or HQ Managers of the sections: 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 Cell and field teams: templates, guidelines, standard agreements, Memorandum Of Understanding, memo, etc.

VI. JOB REQUIREMENTS
Qualified lawyer in law (at least Master degree) in one of the legal domain covered by the Unit : commercial/business, corporate, tax, administration

• Experience (more than 5 years) in legal and administrative matter in the humanitarian sector at international level, including management position.
• Experience with MSF including field visits is a deep asset
• Rigor and ability to adapt to different legal systems, sense of priorities and of organization;
• Solution-oriented and ability to translate an operational negotiation in legal language;
• Strong ability to manage and federate multicultural team, and very good communication skills;
• Capacity for autonomy and force of proposition;
• French and English speaking.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

At MSF, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics