Operations Manager x2

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization. As a non-profit, self-governed movement of over 63,000 dedicated professionals, we provide life-saving medical humanitarian assistance to people affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and exclusion from healthcare. 

Our work is guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence, and neutrality. We act based on need, and when we witness injustice, we speak out. Our commitment to professionalism and humanity can mean the difference between life and death. 

People are our priority. At Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/ Artsen zonder Grenzen, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We encourage diverse applicants including individuals of all gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, ethnic background, religions, beliefs, social and marital status, people with different abilities and all other diversity characteristics and how they intersect. 
 

The Operations department of MSF-OCA is looking for: 

 
Operations Manager x2 
(Colombo & Nairobi based) 

 
 
In this position you line manage a group of Country Managers (Heads of Missions of 3-6 countries), an Operations advisor as well as an Operations officer, indirectly you line manage on average 100 international mobile staff and 2000 locally recruited staff with a total budget between 35-70 million euro. Functionally you also coordinate the members of the Operations Support Team (OST; Health Advisors, Logistics Advisor, HR Advisor, Finance, Communication and Humanitarian affairs advisors for the portfolio) in close collaboration with the Operations Advisor. The Operations Manager reports to the Director of Operations. 

Nairobi OM currently manages South Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, EECA (Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Uzbekistan/Tajikistan).  

Colombo OM will manage; Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia and SAR (Search and Rescue).  

Countries may shift as contexts and countries of operations change in the overall portfolio of OCA operations. 

The main objectives of the position of Operations Manager are: 

• You drive the development of the short- and long-term approach and strategy on medical humanitarian aid and témoignage, including emergency response, in assigned countries of operations and as per the OCA Strategic Plan. 

• You provide strategic guidance and support to the Heads of Missions. You initiate, lead, and manage humanitarian-medical responses, ensuring the manageability of operations from medical, security management, and humanitarian perspectives. In doing so, you seek alignment across OC´s and manage the relationship with other departments to enable synergy.  

• You safeguard MSF’s different values, principles, and policies and ensure a safe working environment.  

• You ensure that security management is adapted effectively to balance risk and impact. You ensure that security incidents are managed, and you initiate the response to and advise on critical Incidents. You may lead the response after consultation with the (deputy) Director Operations 

• You ensure availability of specialized knowledge and skills in your teams, fostering engagement. You organise the OST/ country programme teams and promote and initiate learning and reflection. 

• You ensure information flow from the MT to the members of the OST/country programme teams, and you represent the OST/ country programme teams towards the MT and other departments, to ensure priorities are considered.  

• For the Colombo position; you are leading on the start up of the OCA OST in Colombo in close collaboration with OCA and MSF South Asia 

• You must be willing to work long, and irregular hours, and you visit the countries of operations regularly, minimum once a year, including available for travel at short notice to countries of operations.  

Candidate profile 

• At least 8 years MSF country programme experience in complex humanitarian contexts, of which a minimum of 3 years in a relevant management position (e.g., Head of Mission). 

• Strong record in management, leadership and coaching. 

• Capability of directing people of various disciplines and cultural backgrounds over time and distance. 

• Experience with a range of issues and responsibilities within the respective organisation, such as security management, policy formulation, financial and human resource management. 

• Capability to think of strategically and conceptually, and being able to translate concepts into practice. 

• Good communication skills, including media and presentation skills (essential), as well as an excellent command of English. Knowledge of other relevant languages considered an advantage. 

• A medical profile is an asset. 

• Willingness to work long and irregular hours and travel (approx. 40%) including at short notice. 

 
We offer    

As one of the positions is based in the office in Colombo and the other in Nairobi, different employment conditions will apply. Information on the employment package will be provided to the candidates at a later stage. 

Application     

If you recognize yourself in this profile, we welcome you to apply directly via our website and upload a letter of motivation + Curriculum Vitae (in English) as one combined document. Please use your letter of motivation to indicate whether you have a preference in regard to the position's location.  

The closing date for applications is November 22nd, 2026, at 23:59h. 

Please note that the application deadline specified above may be subject to extension at MSF-OCA’s discretion.   

Information   

 
If you are interested in this post and would like additional information about the recruitment procedure, the terms and conditions or the organization, please contact recruiter Masha Petrovic ([email protected]).