Executive Director – MSF Lebanon Branch Office (extension of opening)

CONTEXT

MSF Lebanon Branch Office opened in 2019 after approval in June 2018 by the International Board. Today the Branch Office (BO) mainly 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, 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 (METSU).

Today around 30 employees are based in MSF Lebanon, most of them located in Beirut with a smaller team in Cairo.

During its first phase, MSF in Lebanon focused on building the capacity of a new team, creating a nascent presence in civil society, raising awareness of MSF, building relationships with medical and academic institutions and articulating relevant operational support to the projects in the region. Today, the HR team contributes a growing number of staff to MSF’s HR pools. The communication team creates Arabic content for MSF’s target audiences in the region and is building awareness and understanding of MSF in Lebanon and Egypt and an increasing number of operational support medical and non-medical expertise is based in Beirut supporting MSF operations in the region and the world.

MSF Lebanon is expected to continue building MSF’s profile, anchorage and acceptance in Lebanon and Egypt and to keep developing its institutional position focused on communications, field recruitment and operational support activities.

Lebanon is a rich and complex operational environment; MSF has been responding to medical humanitarian needs in Lebanon continuously since 2008. The Executive Director (ED) of the Branch office is expected to support the work of operational colleagues, identify synergies where and when possible and safeguard MSF’s profile and work in the country.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

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

The Executive Director is responsible for driving, developing and implementing the strategic vision for MSF in Lebanon. He/she will lead a young, 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 field work of MSF remains at the core of all activities.

The ED is 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. The ED will identify in the region the strengths, opportunities and potential partners that will enable MSF OCB and the rest of the movement to fulfill its social mission.

DETAILED RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 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 driving and following up the registration process.
• Responsible for MSF Lebanon’s financial planning, control and risk management.
• Play an active role in the OCB group management team through the elaboration of the OCB group strategy document in consultation with all OCB group members
• Identify opportunities for synergies and complementarity with colleagues in the region and across the MSF movement.

2. Representation and branding

• Define and lead the effort to anchor and create a meaningful membership in Lebanese nd Egyptian home society at large and in strategic civil society also in the region.
• Be the leading public voice, spokesperson and active advocate for MSF’s positions, patients and interests in Lebanon and Egypt.
• 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 ED 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.

3. Operational support

• The ED 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 ambitions.
• The ED will explore opportunities for research and innovation, as well as potential partnerships that can benefit and support MSF operations. The ED 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 ED 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 ED is expected to revisit the fundraising potential and proposal, including for channels of reactive fundraising & diaspora fundraising engagement.

4. Advocacy and communication

• 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 Diretor, 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.

5. 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.
• 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
• In close collaboration with the MSF missions in Lebanon, oversee the development of the associative dimension of MSF in Lebanon
• 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 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

6. Associative life

• MSF Lebanon aims to catalyze 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 ED 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:

University degree. Public health or the field of international relations is a plus.

Experience:

• Mandatory minimum of 7 years work experience in the Humanitarian Sector, in senior positions.
• MSF experience strongly preferred.
• Headquarters, Regional office or strategic operational experience will be a strong plus, especially in the MENA region.
• Exposure to highly political environments and humanitarian crises and emergency contexts strongly preferred.
• Contextual knowledge and/or understanding of the MENA region and civil society is a must.

Competencies:

• Commitment to MSF’s humanitarian values and to humanitarian work
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural, leadership, networking and communication skills
• Collaborative, constructive and team oriented
• Flexible work approach and flexibility to travel frequently
• Ability to work in English is a requirement – Some knowledge of Arabic is desirable – French is a plus
• 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.
• Demonstrable understanding of communications, fundraising, operational HR, and support to field operations.
• Strong leadership, analytical, networking, and presentation skills required.

This is a permanent full time position with a minimum of 3 years moral commitment.