Operational Human Resources Partner

Join MSF OCG as an Operational Human Resources Partner!

We are looking for passionate candidates ready to contribute to our humanitarian mission.

Below, you will find the job details and the qualifications we are looking for.

Inclusivity and Diversity at MSF

Do your qualifications and experience not exactly match all requirements of the job?

At MSF OCG, we are committed to an inclusive culture that supports and amplifies the diverse voices of our staff members. We strive to create workplaces where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together to advance MSF's social mission and create better outcomes for our patients and the communities we work with.

We understand that some people may hesitate to apply for employment if they don't meet all listed job requirements. Research shows that this is especially true for women. If you believe your profile is a good match for this position, we invite you to apply even if you don’t fulfil every listed qualification.

We encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will undergo reference checks.

Context & mission

Médecins Sans Frontières is an independent, international medical and humanitarian organization that provides care to people in need, people affected by natural or man-made disasters, and victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and without regard to race, religion, creed or political affiliation (MSF Charter).

The MSF movement is built around 5 operational centers supported by 24 sections and offices worldwide. MSF Operational Center Geneva (MSF OCG) is one of these centers.

At the heart of the Operations Department of the Operational Center of Geneva (OCG), the "cells" are multidisciplinary teams of 7 to 8 experts (Program Manager, Deputy Program Manager, Polyvalent Medical Referent, Operational HR Partner (HROP), Operational Logistics Manager, Operational Finance Manager, Operational Communication Manager, Cell Assistant). The cells supervise and coordinate MSF's activities in several countries (the cell 4’s current portfolio is: DRC, Chad, Iran) and are the direct interface between the headquarters and the field. Each member oversees a specific field of activity under the supervision (functional link) of a Program Manager and with a hierarchical link to the coordinator of the relevant department. The HROP centralizes and acts as a referent for mission’s HR and administrative issues in front of the various HR units at HQ and other members of the cell, mission’s Human Resources Coordinator (HRCo) or Head of Mission (HoM) and other MSF operational centers (OCs).

Tasks & Responsibilities

As a member if a multidisciplinary team (the cell), the HROP ensures that the HRCos have all they need to perform their role and to be responsible for the HR management in their missions. S/he advises and supports the HRCo and the HoM in the design, development, and implementation of mission’s HR strategy in order to efficiently contribute to the achievement of mission’s operational objectives. S/he mobilizes other HR units and services when a need in a specific support is identified or expressed by the mission. As a strategic partner of the operations and as a member of the cell, he/she participates in the definition of the objectives and the operational strategy of the missions supported by his/her cell and of the various HR units of the headquarters, while having a cross-functional vision of institutional challenges, a global vision of HR issues and a constant attention to the implementation of the OCG Strategic Plan. For the missions supported by his/her cell and in priority, he/she:

• Guides the HR coordinators in defining the mission's HR strategy.
• Supports HR coordinators in defining, adapting, developing, and overseeing the implementation of the mission's HR policies and ensure that they are consistent with the context, operational and institutional challenges, and the HR strategy.
• Provides technical expertise to the missions in terms of HRM and alerts of the HR issues that the missions could face while leaving latitude and room for maneuver to the mission to identify solutions adapted to the situations in the field in a spirit of empowerment of decisions and risk reduction.
• Accompanies the HRCo in making major decisions related to people management on the mission.
• Advises on the composition of the teams (size, expertise, diversity)
• Pays constant attention to the development of the members of the HR sector and the HR competencies present in the missions.
  
  
  

Your profile

Education

• Preferably a degree in Human Resources/Management, Social Sciences, Humanitarian Law.

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• Additional operational & HR MSF training an asset.
  
  
  

Experience

• Recent experience (in the last 12 months) in the field as HRCo with MSF mandatory – minimum 12 months.
• Recent experience in the field as HRCo with OCG is an asset – minimum 12 months.
• Experience in the field as HRCo and HR manager in different countries with different operational challenges.
• Experience as a project coordinator is a plus.
• Mastery of MSF tools and HR fundamentals
• Experience in creating HR development plans will be an asset.
• Experience in developing DEI actions and policies.
  
  
  

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of MSF Switzerland. Fluency (C1) in both English and French is required for this position (oral and written).
  
  
  

Skills/ Personal Abilities

• Confirmed expertise in HRM.
• Solution oriented, strategic thinking and critical analysis.
• Analytical skills, ability to work with indicators and propose plans based on analysis.
• Leadership and team management skills
• Computer skills: Windows 10, database, Excel (at the level of use of macros), Homere, Power BI
• Ability to build and develop diverse and inclusive teams.
• Negotiation skills
• Excellent organizational, decision-making and communication skills

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• Capacity to work under pressure and to manage stress.
  
  
  

Terms of employment

• Full-time position 100% (40h/week)
• Mandated contract: 3-year term, renewable once, max 6 years
• Working place: Geneva, Switzerland (regular field visits to the missions supported by the cell are mandatory).
• Ideal start date: As Soon As Possible
• Gross annual salary (for 100%): from CHF 102’180.- to CHF 116’484.- (salary commensurate with equivalent experience and internal salary grid)
• Paid vacation: 25 days per year, prorate temporis, plus any Swiss public holidays falling within the contract period.
• Pension plan: pension contribution covered 3/4 by MSF, 1/4 by staff member.
• Relocation package if moving from a different country to Switzerland.
  
  
  

How to apply

Candidates are invited to submit their application exclusively through our recruitment platform, following these guidelines:

• CV (maximum 2 pages)
• Cover letter (maximum 1 page) should mention experience in managing a serious misbehavior in a team (Abuses, harassment).
• Documents must be submitted in either English or French.
  
  
  

The application deadline is March 29th, 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier if we receive a sufficient number of quality applications.

All applications will be treated confidentially.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please note that we do not wish to use the services of recruitment or placement agencies.