Emergency Team Logistician (all around) At Médecins Sans Frontières

MSF is an international, independent medical humanitarian organisation. We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation. MSF was founded in 1971 in Paris by a group of journalists and doctors. Today, we are a worldwide movement of more than 63,000 people.

MSF coordinates operations through collaborations between global offices. The ‘MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam’ (OCA) is a partnership that is composed of the partners MSF-Canada, MSF-Germany, MSF-SARA, MSF-Sweden, MSF-Holland and MSF-United Kingdom. MSF-OCA has a team of more than 11,000 staff working in 115 emergency projects in about 31 countries.

The office of MSF-Holland located in Amsterdam hosts more than 400 employees, offering direct support to MSF-OCA operations. Around 50 staff focus on recruitment, communication and fundraising and 350 staff are focused on supporting MSF-OCA operations.

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 (Chantilly) an association. Each individual working with MSF does it out of conviction and commitment and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.

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

The Emergency Support Department (ESD) is part of the Operations Department and plays a fundamental role in responding to medical and humanitarian emergencies: The ESD conducts exploratory and assessment missions; initiates and manages large scale emergency interventions; supports emergency interventions managed by regular desks; provides support to the organisation and existing missions in promoting and guarding emergency response capacity; and supports the management of operations in highly insecure environments. The ESD consists of a headquarter-based Emergency Desk (5 permanent staff) and an Emergency Team for deployment in the field (approx 20 positions).

With immediate effect, the ESD is looking for:

**

PLACE WITHIN THE ORGANISATION

• Overall: reports to the Head of Emergency Support Department in Amsterdam.
• During field assignments the reporting line may be under the Head of Mission of the country management team (CMT), the Emergency Coordinator (EmCo) or directly to the Emergency Manager in Amsterdam, depending on the set up where deployed.
• There is a functional line to the HQ based logistics advisor or the logistics coordinator for technical purpose.

MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE POST

To provide logistics emergency response capacity for the field. Ensuring the correct planning, designing or guaranteeing the implementation of a responsive and efficient supply chain and monitoring of the logistics activities and programs in the project and coordinating human and material related resources needed, in accordance with MSF standards in order to contribute to the proper response and to optimize the impact of the medical projects. This could be starting up new interventions but often consists of providing support within existing missions/projects, either to support in key positions or respond to emergencies within those missions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE JOB

According to your profile and the operational needs, you will find yourself functioning as a logistics manager (all around), team leader or coordinator in countries dealing with humanitarian emergencies.

Your main responsibility resides in the preparation and implementation of logistical activities to support emergency missions/new projects.

Flexibility and adaptability are key in this role. We are looking for a versatile and seasoned all-rounder logistician who can do what is necessary and get things done. You may carry out exploratory missions, you may be asked to function in other supportive roles in logistics (according to your experience) at project or coordination level for start-up projects or gap-fill in challenging projects.

You therefore need to be able to:

• Carry out assessments and exploratory missions focusing on logistics in health structures and populations at risk
• Prepare, plan, implement, monitor and report on logistics activities
• Setup and implementing proper medical supply chain management
• Contribute to the development of an intervention strategy in emergency project or country responses
• Function as manager or team leader in Emergency projects or existing projects (interim) or as coordinator at capital level (being part of country management team)
• Support in opening/closing projects/missions when necessary
• Where relevant represent MSF as part of coordination platforms and bodies (clusters)
• Contribute to the development and implementation of training programs for emergency and non-emergency staff
• Contribute to the development and implementation of guidelines, technical innovations, training programmes and evaluations linked to emergency interventions.

Emergency Team members spend about 90% of their work days (excluding holidays) in field locations and the remaining working time at HQ for briefing/debriefing/trainings/desk work or other tasks.

PROFILE

Essential:

• At least 18 months field experience with MSF (any section) as Logistics manager, Logistics team Leader or Logistics Coordinator (any section)
• Field experience in at least 2 different kinds of projects/intervention, of which at least 1 emergency project or 1 in a medium/high security setting
• Experience of logistics in emergencies, with a strong focus in supply management
• Experience in medical supply management (Stock management, UniField and order processes), especially in emergencies
• A proven experience and expertise in:
• Supply – (Logistic and Medical Supply Management)
• Cold chain
• An understanding of and experience with most of the below logistical/program specialties:
• Transport
• Communication / ICT,
• Security management
• Construction
• WatSan
• Energy
• Experience of management of large teams: coordinating and supervising but also coaching and providing support
• Expertise of logistical support in humanitarian programs and ability to adjust logistical setup to changes in context/operations
• Ability to organise, design management structures and prioritise work
• Have a “can do mentality” with the capacity to motivate a team into action and communicate clearly your vision and decisions
• Maintain a positive outlook and attitude
• A flexible and solution-oriented mentality and the ability to be decisive in chaotic circumstances
• Knowledge of standard software and tools of MSF-OCA (Office; Monthly and Total Reports – TSR/MSR)
• Willingness to travel to any required area, frequently at short notice
• Fluent in English

Desirable:

• French speaking and/or Arabic speaking are strong assets
• Experience in logistics management/coordination of a variety of MSF response, in one of the more general emergency settings: mass vaccination, measles, cholera, Ebola, malnutrition, displacement and/or camp settings, natural disasters or conflict & violence contexts.
• Experience of security management and security implementation
• Experience with NFI/Food/Targeted distributions,
• Experience in community WatSan programs
• Experience in closing or opening an MSF project or mission
• Extensive knowledge and experience using OCA standard data tools, incl. Unifield

WE OFFER

• A challenging position within a stimulating, professional working environment in a major international organization – plus great colleagues to work alongside!
• A fulltime appointment for 1 year with a potential option to renew
• Salary is determined according to the level of responsibility in the MSF field function grid (level 9 for Logistics Manager, level 11 for Logistics Team Leader or level 13 for Logistics Coordinator), the domicile and the experience. Candidate’s domicile determines which MSF section will provide the contract
• 45 holidays per year
• Completion bonus of 1.5 month of extra salary after completion of every 12 months
• Prioritisation for trainings in MSF trainings (external can be considered)