Head of Emergency Team

JOB SUMMARY

EducationA master’s degree in social or political sciences or public health, (or) in logistics, business administration, or similar field is desirable, but not essential. Fluency/excellent level of written and spoken English. Knowledge of French, Swahili and/or Arabic is an advantage.Excellent knowledge and experience in Policy formulation, security management, human resource and financial management, cross/multicultural communication and collaboration.ExperienceAt least 8+ years of field/programs experience in medical humanitarian aid and working in senior management role.MSF experience as Emergency coordinator/Emergency Manager desirableCommitment to and experience of advancing multicultural collaboration, learning, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership and Emergency PreparednessDefine and lead MSF Ubuntu’s emergency preparedness and response strategy (applying a ‘disaster management cycle’ approach) in alignment with MSF Ubuntu principles and operational priorities.Ensure MSF Ubuntu’s emergency preparedness and responses incorporate a strong community involvement and people centeredness, and climate scanning and adaptation in all stages of emergency response.Ensure emergency preparedness and response policies, systems, tools are in place (including surveillance, anticipatory action, early warning and action protocols, contingency planning, and surge capacity etc).Define emergency scenario stocks and supplies required in close collaboration and working with the medical and logistics departments.Identify and lead building strong capacity on specific areas (for e.g. nutrition, vaccination, community WASH etc) benefitting MSF Ubuntu and MSF movement.Contribute towards wider development of MSF Ubuntu’s strategic planning through critical reflections and learning.In conjunction with the DirMed and DirOp, set up the e-team unit, hiring appropriate staff and developing MSF Ubuntu specific capacities.Promote interdepartmental collaborations and coherence including Safeguarding, DEI domainsEmergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response ManagementLead exploratory assignment in identified locations and support opening and closing programs (includes stable settings).Continuous scanning and monitoring of contexts and identify potential emergency intervention as per MSF Ubuntu’s strategic plan and priorities.Lead and coordinate responses to emergencies, epidemics, conflicts, and other crises.Provide strategic and technical guidance to emergency team members, country program teams during preparedness and response (including Emergency preparedness plans in country programs).Support decision-making on activation, scale-up, adaptation, or exit of emergency interventions closely working with DirOps and Med-Ops strategic circle.Develop a “vulnerability” approach to emergency response that leaves communities better prepared to future disasters, reducing their vulnerability to chronic, recurring crises in particular.Quality, Standards, and Medical-Operational OversightEnsure emergency responses meet MSF medical, operational, ethical, safeguarding standards.Promote integration of medical, logistical, human resources, and security considerations in emergency preparedness and during responses.Embed a strong learning culture as part of monitoring and evaluation of the responses via conducting AAR (After Action Reviews) and post intervention evaluations etcTeam Leadership and Capacity BuildingLine-manage and support Emergency team members.Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and learning within the team and other departments.Identify training and development needs related to emergency prevention, preparedness and response.Contribute to the development of emergency pool (an emergency roaster) and surge mechanisms emphasizing strengthening local and regional collaboration and capacities.Build a new way of working for MSF in the emergency team that recognises communities as first responders themselves and ensure their vulnerability to future, chronic and/or recurring crises are reduced.Coordination and RepresentationCoordinate closely with other MSF entities, operational centres, and departments.Represent MSF Ubuntu in internal emergency coordination platforms and, when appropriate, external humanitarian forums.Support alignment and collaboration with medical, operational, and support departments.Learning, Evaluation, and InnovationPromote systematic learning from emergency responses, including after-action reviews.Support evaluations, documentation, and dissemination of lessons learned.Encourage innovation and adaptation to improve emergency response effectiveness.Organisational PositioningSits within the Ops Department, reporting directly to the DirOp.Ad hoc meetings and discussions with the MedOps Strategic Baraza may be requested.Ad hoc meetings with the MT and/or the Council may be requested. 

REQUIRED SKILLS

People management, Human resource and personnel development, Talent management and planning

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Post-graduate education