I. GENERAL CONTEXT
Médecins Sans Frontières is an international independent medical-humanitarian organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.
The MSF movement is built around five operational directorates supported by 23 sections and offices worldwide. MSF OCBA is one of those directorates. The operations are implemented by field teams and the mission coordination teams; together with the organizational units based in Barcelona, Athens and decentralized in Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The field operations are guided and supported by 4 Operational Cells, the Emergency Unit and other departments supporting operations, including the Displacement Unit.
BACKGROUND
The Displacement Unit based in the Nairobi unit of OCBA aims at identifying field operational difficulties and challenges in displacement settings; propose adapted and innovative solutions and support the field to implement these solutions. This will be achieved through partnering with a range of international and local organizations and innovation units in order to improve the quality of support to the OCBA missions assisting displaced populations.
Logistics, medical, HA and IT are the four areas where the Displacement Unit will focus.
II. OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION
General objectives
The Head of the Displacement Unit (HoDU) will:
· Lead the Displacement Unit with the authority delegated by the Deputy Director of Operations
· Raise the profile of the DU within MSF
· Act as an advocate for innovation and challenge traditional thinking within MSF
· Manage the day to day activities and strategic direction of the Displacement Unit (DU)
· Co-ordinate and manage the work of the DU members
· Develop external collaboration with other OCs and external partners
Specific objectives
· To lead the Displacement Unit defining the unit’s strategic orientation, design, objectives, modus operandi, timeframe and deliverables I. e. a roadmap
· To become an agent of change promoting innovation amongst the involved departments in OCBA.
· To mobilize and engage the Directors and Heads of Service from a change management perspective to incorporate innovation in all departments mindsets.
· To create ownership of the unit among OCBA departments so the unit is part of their planning.
· To steer the OCBA reflection and contributions on the assistance to forcibly displaced populations and exploit the synergies within the MSF OCs and other international external initiatives revolving around population on the move and innovation
· To do external networking and identify potential local or international partners
· To mobilize resources internal and externally for the development of the unit
III. KEY RESPONSABILITIES
· Constant scanning of operational needs and challenges when providing humanitarian assistance to refugees and internally displaced population.
· Leading the Displacement Unit Team to find adapted and innovative solutions to the challenges identified.
· Promote mindset changes in the way operational managers at HQ and field level accept innovation and new solutions.
· Promote a risk taking culture amongst the unit and the operations team.
· Sparring with DDO, RECOs, TESACOs and TELOCOs as well as with HR, Logistic, Medical and Comms Directors and Heads of Service in order to adapt the Unit’s services and resources to the OCBA operational challenges in displacement settings.
· Regular contacts and feedback with the MSF OCs and partner sections in search for opportunities and solutions.
· Link with the OCBA Amman and Dakar Units.
· Keep and expand the network of regional relevant actors involved in research, assistance, protection, advocacy and policy development and implementation related to internally displaced and refugees
· Design the internal and external visibility and commas strategy, plan and tactics
· Supervise, promote, steer and support the implementation in the field of the Unit’s innovative outputs
· Ensure support and supervision for the day to day management of the team (coordination, regular internal formal communication, coherence between objectives and resources, and timely decision- making) to ensure that objectives be achieved
· Organizing events such as ‘Innovation Days’ to be held in Nairobi
· Monitoring and developing the innovations strategy and portfolio
· Communication on DU projects and success at the movement level
· Undertaking regular reviews on the DU projects and adapting plans as appropriate
· Managing budgets allocated to the DU
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
· Minimum 2 years of experience leading an innovation project/unit/component.
· Experience in the humanitarian field in general and MSF in particular is desirable.
· Fluent in English.
· Experience in project management.
COMPETENCIES
· Initiative and Innovation
· Strategic Vision
· Leadership
· Results Orientation
· Commitment to Humanitarian Principles
· Planning and Organizing
· Teamwork and Cooperation
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
· Position based in Nairobi, subject to discussion.
· Frequent travel to the field
· Annual gross salary: KES 5,580,845 + secondary benefits, based on MSF OCBA reward policy
· Starting date: 1st June 2016
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants should send their curriculum vitae and cover motivation letter by May 22nd 2016, under the reference “Head of the OCBA Displacement Unit´´ to:
MSF will contact only short-listed candidates.
