The MSF United Arab Emirates (UAE) office, established in 1992, represents today 30 years of institutional presence of MSF in the Gulf and broader Middle East regions. MSF-UAE aims to consolidate the place of the organization within the region, while becoming a recognized centre of expertise for the movement on projects and topics specific and unique to this region, through its functional pillars of communication, partnerships, operational HR, and facilitation of field operations. MSF-UAE is a branch office of MSF France, part of the MSF Operational Centre Paris (OCP) Group currently encompassing MSF France, USA, Japan and Australia.

Reports to: MSF France General Director

Supervises: Heads/Managers of Comms, Partnerships and HR

Type: Full-time contract

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Purpose of the Position

Under the oversight of the MSF France GD, and in accordance with the by-laws and in-country registration of MSF UAE, the Executive Director (\xe2\x80\x9cED\xe2\x80\x9d) is responsible for leading MSF UAE in accomplishing the MSF social mission, for driving MSF UAE\xe2\x80\x99s current strategic objectives, and for determining the future strategic orientations. The ED will have an engagement specific to the Gulf region while optimizing the reach of MSF UAE to the wider region and participate in all relevant platforms of the MSF Movement.

Main Responsibilities

Leadership and management of the UAE mission and office

The ED is responsible for ensuring the effective, efficient, and ethical management of MSF-UAE\xe2\x80\x99s financial and human resources, as well as developing and upholding the credibility and reputation of MSF\xe2\x80\x99s medical humanitarian mission in the UAE, GCC, MENA and potentially worldwide. The ED leads and manages an office of over 35 people, including 20 hosted and supported on behalf of other MSF entities, with an annual budget of over 8 million AED.

Implementing and evolving MSF UAE\xe2\x80\x99s Strategic Objectives

The ED will continuously identify the strengths and opportunities, maintain the existing network of stakeholders, and identify potential new ones that will enable MSF to fulfill its social mission, while actively working for MSF UAE to turn its mission statement into concrete outputs. The ED needs to ensure that the different units or activity areas, including communication, partnerships, general office management, and field HR are effectively serving their purposes, and they are proactively provided with the necessary guidance in line with MSF UAE\xe2\x80\x99s Strategic Objectives and priorities in serving MSF\xe2\x80\x99s Social Mission.

More specifically will need to:

• Ensure that the Communication activities support institutional objectives of MSF in the UAE and the Region, the OCP Cell based in Dubai and all MSF Operations in the Region and the world through production, translation and dissemination of material.
• Ensure that the Partnerships activities retain existing Donors and income while investigating opportunities to develop with existing resources.
• Ensure that Field HR activities, serve their purposes by leveraging existing resources and opportunities to support the operations in the region and across MSF Movement.
• Ensure that the different people, teams, and entities hired by, or hosted in the office are duly welcomed and supported; And they are smoothly interacting and cooperating in the general interest of MSF movement.

Engagement, Networking, and Representation

External Stakeholders

The ED will maintain existing networks and contacts of MSF-UAE and develops new ones to maintain relevance and achieve the strategic objectives of the office.

Also, will need to act as spokesperson in local and international media and do presentations or represent MSF in the UAE and the Region.

Different levels of the MSF movement

The ED further leads MSF-UAE\xe2\x80\x99s participation, in different areas, in the construction of a strongly interdependent and accountable MSF international movement with the will that the branch office serves the MSF movement at large:

• Is personally involved in intersectional and capacity sharing with Beirut and Amman, where MSF is currently investing in various initiatives, as well as collaborate with other Regional offices like Nairobi and Dakar that have similar opportunities and challenges.
• Is part of the Executive platform of the OCP Group and will participate as well as feedback regularly to the Group\xe2\x80\x99s governance mechanisms.
• With agreement of the GD in Paris, participates to MSF\xe2\x80\x99s Full Executive Committee (although with no voting rights) and can be requested to engage with different platforms of the movement.

Direct support to hosted operational and logistical entities.

• Facilitate the coordination and deployment of Operations in the Region, by working closely with the OCP Dubai Cell and other OCs.
• Support the work of MSF-Logistique in the Region by enabling contacts and providing services as well as inform other MSF offices about the work done and opportunities of the Region.
• Capitalize on local contacts and partnerships that could be used in the deployment of operation across MSF portfolio.

Foster the development and rooting of MSF Associative identity in the office and across the region.

• Facilitate initiatives related to the Associative Life across the Region by enabling engagement discussions and contact among motivated people, by linking with the associative MSF movement, by offering services in order to create a strong associative MSF network and integrating in the associative dynamic for long term visions of MSF entities in the region.

Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years work experience in the Humanitarian sector.
• Ability to foster a creative, professional, \xe2\x80\x9copen door\xe2\x80\x9d 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.
• Strong written, communication, intercultural, and interpersonal skills.
• Contextual knowledge and understanding or interest to learn the MENA/GCC regions and their civil societies.
• Ability to travel extensively in GCC/MENA region, MSF Field and MSF HQ locations.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Desired

• MSF experience is a very strong asset.
• Arabic is a strong plus while French and other languages from the Region are a plus.
• Experience and knowledge in the MENA/GCC Regions.
• Exposure to highly political environments, humanitarian crises and emergency contexts.
• Experience in Human Resources management, Field HR and Staff Health issues.
• Experience in Communications, relationship with media and representation.
• Experience in contacts with Donors and understanding or knowledge of Fundraising.
• Experience in budgeting, fiscal control, audit processing.

Special Notes: This Job Profile is only a summary of the typical functions of this position and not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities and duties. Accordingly, the responsibilities and duties of the job holder might differ from those outlined in this and the other duties, as assigned, might be part of the job due to the organizational and operational needs.

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