Medical Coordinator for Central Northern Europe and Balkans

If you have already applied for this position, please do not reapply

CONTEXT  

MSF has currently diverse operations in Belgium, Poland and Serbia, and is willing to keep responding to migration health challenges in the Central Northern Europe and Balkans, depending on the evolution of the migration dynamics and humanitarian needs. 

With a regional scope, MSF also monitors cross-border crises, coordinating preparedness and support for emergencies. 

As the Country Medical Coordinator for Central Northern Europe and Balkans, you will report directly to the Country Coordinator and operate under the functional supervision of the Deputy Coordinator of the cell 4.   

You will be the line manager for Mental Health Manager and the Health Promotion Manager for Central Northern Europe and Balkans. Additionally, you will act as the functional supervisor for the Project Medical Coordinators (PMCs) overseeing projects in Belgium, Poland and North-Balkans.  

The role of the Country Medical Coordinator for Central Northern Europe and Balkans migration operations is particular in being a regional position. Although this role, along with a few others, is based in Brussels, the projects - and some of the other coordination positions - are spread across several countries. The set-up is due to be evaluated during the course of 2026.  

By November 2025, active projects are located in Belgium, Poland, Serbia, and Bosnia. For 2026, there is interest in exploring potential activities in the Baltic states and taking a broader perspective across the Balkans, including Montenegro, Croatia, and continuous monitoring of the context in Bulgaria and Romania.  

The interest in this European region (excluding Southern Europe, which is outside of our portfolio) stems both from migration-related concerns and from an emergency preparedness linked to an increasingly tense geopolitical landscape, where ongoing hybrid warfare, although currently low-scale, has become a reality. 

Each project has its own particularities, health contexts, and needs. Your role is to support the PMCs in each country in developing their medical activities, establishing networks, and conducting exploratory visits. 

As the current projects are principally ‘projects by choice’, a major component of these operations is advocacy. In all contexts of ongoing operations, medical activities are explicitly linked to advocacy and bearing witness objectives. Strengthening this component will be a key focus for 2026, in collaboration with the Country Coordinator, Project Coordinators, PMCs, and Advocacy Managers in the projects. 

Regular exchanges with other MSF migration projects within OCB and other OCs will also be essential to promote mutual learning and cross-collaboration. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 

As Medical Coordinator for Central Northern Europe and Balkans, and in close collaboration with the Country Coordinator, Project Medical Coordinators (PMCs), the medical referents for Cell 4 and the Medical Department at the Head office/HQ, you will be defining and implementing the medical strategy of the Country operations. You will be responsible for planning and coordinating all medical activities and resources in the projects, according to MSF’s charter, policies, and ethical principles with consideration of international and national laws. This is to ensure the delivery of quality medical care for patients and their communities, and to improve the health condition and humanitarian living conditions of the target population. 

• Define, monitor and update the medical content of the MSF country policy, medical strategy, annual plan and budget, translate the identified health needs into a medical strategic vision and project objectives, priorities and resources needed in order to cover the medical and humanitarian needs of the population at risk, and ensure that the objectives and goals set in the country operation’s annual plan, Country Sheet and project documents are achieved.  

• Oversee the relevance and quality of medical interventions conducted by MSF projects and being expected to identify and work on removing barriers to better patient safety, effective medical care, and better patient-centered activities 

• Monitor the medical and humanitarian needs in the country area (e. Europe) through exploratory visits, the use of health information systems, monitoring and reviewing project proposals, determining necessary resources to cover medical and humanitarian needs of the population at risk 

• Supervise and monitor the medical technical aspects, humanitarian needs and in coordination with the Logistics Coordinator, the material aspects of the programs through regular project visits to analyze difficulties during the implementation and reporting deviations  

• Participate in the planning, definition and sizing of the health-workforce in the country and supervision of the associated processes (recruitment, validation of medical staff, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication), in close collaboration with the HR Coordinator. Coach and directly support project coordinators and medical teams in the implementation of the medical activities 

• Define, update and implement the Country’s Health and Safety Policy Framework including medical insurance, social packages and repatriation policy together with the HR Coordinator to guarantee the highest possible level of medical related security issues (mental and physical health and safety in the workplace). Monitor the psychological status of all country/ project staff, suggesting solutions to help improve mental health related issues 

• Provide reports on the country’s evolution from the medical perspective, as required, and is responsible for the Medical Library of the country. Informing the medical field staff of all materials available, and keeping all medical documents updated in the database 

• Represent MSF before regional, national and local medical authorities in close coordination with the PMCs and keep regular contact with other counterparts in the country (NGOs, local organizations, donors, authorities) to broaden the medical-humanitarian situation analysis, strengthen the impact of the medical intervention and support advocacy actions to raise humanitarian awareness  

REQUIREMENTS 

Education & Experience 

• Degree in medicine or other paramedical studies is mandatory
• A specialization diploma in tropical medicine and/or Public Health is an asset
• Essential international MSF experience of at least two years in different contexts, of which at least one year as Medical Coordinator or Deputy Medical Coordinator
• Essential: Experience in migration activities
• Experience in MH and/or HP activities is a strong asset
• Experience in advocacy dossiers is a strong asset 

Competencies 

• Strategic Vision  

• Leadership  

• People Management and Development  

• Service Orientation  

• Teamwork and Cooperation 

Languages 

• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken is mandatory 

• Good knowledge of French, Dutch, Polish or Serbian is an asset 

CONDITIONS 

• Expected starting date: April 2026 

• Location: Brussels (Belgium) 

*Due to legal administrative constraints, given the duration of the contract, candidates must already have the permanent right as Belgian or EU national, and/or valid work permit with mention of "Unlimited access to the labor market" to work in Belgium  

• Mobility: at least 20% of travel within Europe will be required 

• Contract type: Fixed-term contract – Full-time 

• Contract duration: 12 months (extendable) 

• Salary according to MSF-OCB Head Office grid 

• Meal Vouchers - Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs 

• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment 

• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments 

Deadline for applications extended until: 4th January 2026

How to apply? 

➢ Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button  

➢ You will be directed to the online application form for this position 

➢ It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter ready to upload (preferably in PDF) 

Position only open to candidates with previous MSF experience!  

No MSF experience? Check out other job offers on our website. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

MSF values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. 

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