HEAD OF MISSION SUPPORT

CONTEXT

Médecins Sans Frontières-Holland (MSF-H) is a private, non-profit international humanitarian organization dedicated to providing medical assistance to populations in crisis, without discrimination and regardless of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. To support the mission in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, MSF-H is currently looking for the following position:

Work place: Erbil

Contract Type: Fixed-term contract for 9 months (renewable)

HEAD OF MISSION SUPPORT– LEVEL 9

JOB PROFILE

Main Purpose

Supporting the Deputy Head of Mission  and NES Head of Mission in security management and coordination tasks, ensuring a smooth relation with local and national authorities, contributing to the context analysis and follow-up,to the management of information, providing translations and interpretations according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures in order to facilitate the mission coordination tasks

Accountabilities

In Erbil from April/May there will be a significant transition for the NES Mission following the closure of OCA Iraqs mission. OCA Iraq Mission will be closing by May 2024. Parallel to the medical/humanitarian operations in Iraq, the Iraq mission is supporting the OCA Northeast Syria mission. The OCA Northeast Syria mission (NES) benefits and currently relies from support and collaboration with OCA’s mission in Iraq (IQ), given that NES operations are facilitated through KRG Iraq. Additionally the OCA mission in Iraq forms the essential legal anchor for our NES mission. Once the OCA Iraq mission leaves – OCA NES mission will take on the KRG registration and  MoU with the MoH to ensure that we continue to have the legal presence in KRG. This will involved increasing the capacity of our current Erbil office. This includes adding  HoM support as the day-to-day representative for MSF-Holland in KRG – under the delegated authority of the Deputy Head of Mission and the NES Head of Mission. The line management is with the Dep HoM in Erbil with a functional line to the NES HoM

• Supporting the Dep HoM and HoM in promoting and protecting the MSF image externally and assisting in context analysis, disseminating relevant context information to the coordination team, regularly informing them on key issues, updating general information on the context for MSF internal documents and advising on cultural appropriateness of organized activities and individual behaviors.

• Analyzing the risks and the security level of the context of the mission and assisting in conducting risk assessments and in the development security plans for the mission and project. Dep HoM. HoM on aspects of Security management
• Establishing and maintaining external relationships with relevant authorities and stakeholders. Keeping good knowledge of counterparts in different administrations and departments and keeping up to date records of field contacts (other NGOs, UN agencies, local authorities, etc.) verifying that they are easily accessible, in order to facilitate contacts and meetings.
• At the request of the Deputy Head of Mission, assisting the HoM or representing MSF in meetings (NGOs, official bodies and administrations, etc.)and preparing full report
• Ensuring the follow up of relevant administrative dossiers such as the MSF registration in KRG, visas, immigration policies, national protocols, MoU with the MoU

• At the request of the Deputy HoM, preparing and conducting an information briefing, focusing on the country context for all NES teams in or passing through KRG
• Guide and facilitate the management of MSF information and essential records and documents by the mission team, following MSF policies and guidelines.
• Translating sensitive documents and acting as an interpreter when needed. Writing letters and correspondences with officials and partners and preparing reports, internal memos and formal requests. Monitoring the correspondances in the absence of the HoM.

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

• Contribute to the elaboration of risk analyses and plans, and proactively proposing changes based on context changes in support of the HoM and DepHoM.
• In coordination with HoM and Dep HoM, represent MSF before local authorities, NGOs, and military, among others, to raise awareness about MSF’s programs, to maintain positive relationships, and to negotiate access as needed.
• Monitor and analyze the political and humanitarian situation in KRG specifically, and share this actively with the HoM and DepHoM through the regular SitRep and through formal and informal communication.
• Proactively maintain communication with the authorities of KRG in Erbil, and update the HoM and Dep HoM accordingly, in order to nurture relationships on an ongoing basis, rather than only reactively engaging when issues emerge.
• Support the Head of Mission and Dep HoM in navigating challenges specific to: changing political dynamics in Iraq; dynamics between KRG and Federal Iraq; dynamics between MSF’s medical programmes and the MoH/DoH authorities; specific challenges that come up in operations.
• Brief teams on context-related issues, including security and cultural context.
• Document significant changes or processes in the mission, and specifically how we achieved these, in order to understand the rationale in the future; e.g., if an MoU is signed, document what challenges existed prior to signature, what triggered the mission to establish the MoU, and what stakeholders had (or not) a role in the process.

• Maintain a record of key meetings held: actors met objectives of the discussions, and outcomes of the discussion.
• Continuously update the actor mapping, including not only names and positions, but also what the relationship with MSF was within a determined period.

Requirements

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their CVs and cover letter no later than March 14^th 2024 to the following address: [email protected]

Stating the job title in the subject line

“HEAD OF MISSION SUPPORT”

We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.

Female candidates are HIGHLY encouraged to apply.

ONLY SHORT LISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED

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