MedOps Cell Manager

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is seeking an exceptional senior operational leader to fill the role of MedOps Cell Manager within MSF Ubuntu, a newly established Operational Directorate with a bold and distinct identity. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for translating MSF Ubuntu's operational vision into high-quality, principled, accountable and community-centred medical-humanitarian operations across an assigned portfolio of countries, projects or thematic priorities.

Reporting directly to the MSF Ubuntu Director of Operations, the MedOps Cell Manager will help shape and embed MSF Ubuntu's core character — rooted locally, acting globally, driven by people-centred care, committed to community leadership, and focused on leaving lasting positive outcomes beyond the duration of MSF's direct presence. This is a rare opportunity to build something new within one of the world's most respected humanitarian organisations.

• Lead the development, implementation and iterative review of country, regional and thematic strategies within the assigned portfolio, ensuring alignment with MSF Ubuntu's operational vision and social mission.
• Embed community leadership and people-centred care as core operational principles — not peripheral activities — across all programmes and projects in the portfolio.
• Ensure that all operations are relevant, high-quality, ethically sound and accountable to patients, communities and the wider MSF movement.
• Provide strategic supervision, mentorship and operational guidance to Heads of Programmes, Project Coordinators and country coordination teams.
• Lead, develop and manage a multidisciplinary operational cell, fostering high performance, coherence, psychological safety and a collaborative working culture.
• Strengthen emergency preparedness and response capacity, ensuring that emergency response remains central to MSF Ubuntu's operational identity and readiness.
• Oversee security, access and risk management frameworks for the portfolio, ensuring field teams operate within acceptable risk parameters.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with local communities, patient groups, civil society actors, academic institutions, local authorities and partner organisations.
• Collaborate with medical, logistics, supply chain, HR, finance, advocacy, communications and community engagement functions to ensure integrated and coherent operations.
• Represent MSF Ubuntu's portfolio in internal MSF decision-making platforms, regional hubs and international forums, contributing to movement-wide learning and strategy.

• Demonstrate at least 8–10 years of progressive leadership in complex humanitarian or medical-humanitarian operations, with direct field experience in low-resource or conflict-affected settings.
• Lead and manage multi-country or multi-thematic operational portfolios, balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day operational demands.
• Apply strong medical or public health knowledge to operational decision-making, ensuring clinical and programme quality standards are upheld.
• Translate organisational vision into actionable strategies, communicating direction clearly to diverse, multicultural teams.
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments, including communities, local governments, civil society and international partners, with political acuity and cultural humility.
• Manage security and access challenges in volatile or high-risk environments using evidence-based risk assessment and mitigation approaches.
• Coach and develop senior field leaders, building organisational capacity and succession pipelines.
• Communicate with impact in English; proficiency in French or Arabic is a strong asset given MSF's operational contexts.
• Hold a medical, public health, or related postgraduate qualification; an advanced degree in international development, humanitarian affairs or equivalent is an advantage.

MSF offers a competitive international NGO compensation package commensurate with experience and seniority. While the specific salary band has not been disclosed in this posting, senior operational roles of this nature at MSF typically attract monthly gross compensation in the range of KES 400,000 – KES 700,000 (or equivalent in USD/EUR depending on contract type). Benefits typically include international health insurance, housing or accommodation support, home-leave travel allowances, pension contributions, and comprehensive duty-of-care provisions. Final remuneration will be confirmed during the recruitment process.

This role is ideal for a seasoned humanitarian leader who has held senior operational or programme management roles in INGOs or UN agencies, and who is deeply committed to community-centred and people-first approaches to humanitarian response. You are someone who thrives in ambiguity, builds strong teams, and is energised by the challenge of building something new with purpose and rigour. You bring both strategic vision and operational discipline, and you are comfortable being accountable for complex, multi-country portfolios.

This role is NOT suitable for: candidates without direct field experience in humanitarian or medical operations; applicants seeking a desk-based policy role with no operational accountability; or those who are early in their careers without demonstrated leadership of senior teams and complex programmes.

• Prepare an up-to-date CV (maximum 4 pages) highlighting your most relevant operational leadership experience.
• Write a tailored cover letter (maximum 1 page) explaining why you are drawn to MSF Ubuntu's operational vision and what you bring to this specific role.
• Submit your application through MSF's official careers portal or via the application link provided on the job listing page.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a structured interview process, which may include competency-based interviews and a scenario-based assessment.
• Due to the volume of applications MSF receives, only shortlisted candidates will receive a response. Apply as early as possible.