Country Medical Coordinator for Europe Programme

CONTEXT 

MSF has currently diverse operations in Belgium, Poland and the Balkans, and is willing to keep responding to migration health challenges in Europe, 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 Europe Programme, 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 Europe. Additionally, you will act as the functional supervisor for the Project Medical Coordinators (PMCs) overseeing projects in Belgium, Poland and North-Balkans (Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina). 

The role of the Medical Coordinator for Europe migration operations is particularly 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 and Herzegovina. Recent evaluation of the current context related to migration in the Baltic states does not indicate acute health needs. The program considers a broader perspective across the Balkans, including Montenegro and Croatia. Italso monitors 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 is a key focus in 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 Country Medical Coordinator for Europe Programme, 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. With the PMCs, 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  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 (i.e. selected countries in 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 analyze difficulties during the implementation and reporting deviations 

• Participate in the planning, definition, 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 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: Minimum two years of international MSF experience in different contexts, including one year as Medical Coordinator or Deputy Medical Coordinator, or validation (completed or in process) for one of these roles by the Medical Direction and Pool Managers
• Essential: Experience in migration activities
• Experience in Mental Health and/or Health Promotion 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: As soon as possible

• 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: 20-50% 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: 24th of May 2026 
 

How to apply?

➢ Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button on the vacancy page

➢ 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 in PDF format ready to upload

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.

The protection of your personal data is important to MSF. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data. For more information, consult our privacy notice to job applicants.

CONTEXT 

The current OCB operational and HR strategies (2023-2025), dictate the focus for learning & development in the field. The People Development Hub aims to develop MSF’s people working globally, so they have the capacity and capabilities to meet MSF’s operational needs and objectives.

More specifically, in the 2023-2025 OCB Strategic Orientation, there is a highlight on the importance of mobility for the organization. More specifically “Mobility, both geographic but also functional, remains a key element to maintain our ‘sans frontierism’ identity. This means we must take the traditional labels away and adopt a global HR approach based on organisational needs and people’s competences.

We will need a mobile workforce to ensure the right capacity, rapid deployment and adapted support to our projects, with skilled staff that have the relevant operations knowledge.”

The focus on mobility is further reinforced in the OCB HR strategic document “A vision for the OCB global workforce”. 

As the Learning and Development Mobility focal point, you will be responsible for managing staff mobility initiatives within OCB. You will be a key member of the team focused on supporting OCB, specifically L&D profiles in the field, by developing and implementing L&D strategies, and related policies and tools.

As Mobility focal point, you will coordinate, develop and manage mobility opportunities for all staff with a specific focus on Locally Hired Staff – LHS. You will collaborate with other actors involved in mobility throughout the organization.

This function is two-fold:

1. Strategic Level: Defining a clear vision on mobility for the future, exploring options beyond detachment
2. Operational Role: Coordinating and providing immediate responses to operational and development needs

You will work under the guidance of the L&D Support and Deployment Team Leader. The team collaborates closely with L&D profiles and HR Coordinators (HRCOs) in countries of intervention, as well as HR Officers and key players in the People Development Hub at the HQ level.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

General

Establish and maintain a robust network of regional and local mobility roles. 

Updates the global mobility strategic framework, from which various strategies might be selected from (detachment for development, shadowing, gap filling, internships …) in close collaboration with PM’s and HRO’s and other relevant stakeholders and ensure its implementation

Build a pro-active posture on mobility by setting correctly the links with key stakeholder (L&D Managers/HRCOs/PMs…) and by providing the needed resources (ie time, tools, processes, coms etc)

Define a sustainable model to provide an overview of the mobility activities in OCB 

Tasks

• Ensure the list of LHS to be detached is up-to-date and validated by relevant parties (projects/missions, PM’s and HRO’s …). Redefine and harmonize selection criteria for the identification of the personnel that could be detached
• Organise and update mobile national staff files (availability, evaluation form, profile sheet, competencies and skills) in the HR database. Train and coach L&D Managers and any other stakeholder on how to implement career management for mobile LHS
• Make targeted visits to missions of interest (i.e. missions that have a difficulty to identify/release personnel, missions with high human capital…)
• Act as focal point for all communication with and questions from L&D Managers on mobility topics
• Get a clear picture of the HQ staff willing to go to the field and facilitates mobility from the field to HQ and vice versa, together with Brussels HQ HR Referent and equivalent positions in other OCB partner sections   

Matching

• Liaise with HRO & PM to determine a list of detachment positions or positions where detachment is possible
• Act with a double “casquette”. As PM towards the L&D Managers/HRCO (proposing positions, discussing available profiles, disseminating field HR needs, pool overview) and as a DA towards the PMs (i.e.availability lists, proposing profiles to be matched in open vacancies etc).
• Develop a good understanding of the requested profile for the vacancies by collecting information from the cell concerned (mainly OC and HRO) and integrating information
• Actively looks for swap, shadowing and internship opportunities and organize them with HRO’s/HRCo’s and PMs.
• Encourage HROs to promote mobility and PM to be open to detachments and other mobility possibilities
• Stimulate and engage the missions to ensure that they will release their capacity when needed
• Ensure that L&D Managers and Line Managers systematically brief and debrief the detached staff
• Ensure that a development plan is defined before departure as needed and that evaluations are done by the line manager
• In case of specific situation of gaps in the field, works with the PM and HRO to facilitate detachment of national staff and/or expatriates as an emergency solution

REQUIREMENTS

Education and experience 

• Minimum 2 years MSF experience in diverse contexts of intervention in an HR role is mandatory
• A university degree in HR or social & human science an asset
• Experience as Coordinator is an asset
• Knowledge MSF HRIS systems is an asset (please mention level on your CV)

Competencies 

• An interest in and a well-developed sense of human contacts
• Strong communication, networking and negotiation skills
• Strong collaboration and coaching skills, good aptitude for dialogue with various stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills
• Positive and solution-oriented attitude
• Stress resilience and patience combined with a dynamic approach to the work

Languages

• Proficient level in English and French, both spoken & written, is mandatory

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: June 2025
• Location: Brussels* (Belgium)

* Due to legal administrative constraints, given the duration of the contract, candidates must already be resident in Belgium or have a residence right as a worker in Belgium or in the European Union allowing to move and work in the EU

• Contract type: Fixed-term contract – full-time
• Contract duration: 12 months
• Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid – 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: 18th of March 2025

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 in English or French ready to upload (preferably in PDF format)  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

MSF values diversity and is committed to create 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.

The protection of your personal data is important to MSF. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data. For more information, consult our privacy notice to job applicants.