MSF, or Médecins Sans Frontières, is an international humanitarian association that has been providing medical aid to populations whose lives are threatened for over 50 years. MSF operates in over 70 countries, mainly in the event of armed conflict, epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters or exclusion from healthcare. Independent of all political, religious or military powers, and with over 95% of its funding provided by private donations, MSF acts impartially, based on an assessment of medical needs.

The MSF section in Luxembourg is made up of two entities: on the one hand, the non-profit association, which since 1986 has been the member entity of the MSF Movement; it currently has a staff of 35, divided between management-finance-HR, the operational research unit (LuxOR) and the Fundraising and Communications department. And secondly, the MSF Foundation for Humanitarian Research, whose purpose, according to its current bylaws, is to:

• to work to improve public health in low- and middle-income countries
• to increase training in the field of public health, particularly through operational research (OR). These efforts may be carried out in conjunction and/or collaboration with universities, research centers or any other institution;
• to increase the development of resources in the field of operational research applied to humanitarian action, through effective and results-oriented models targeting front-line workers and decision-makers, such as the SORT IT initiative;
• The MSF Foundation for Humanitarian Research reserves the right to award research grants to researchers whose work is closely related to MSF’s Operational Research Unit based in Luxembourg (LuxOR). The foundation may take on the management of the initiative’s LuxOR-related OR fellows, including the management of their career development, the provision of further training and the reinforcement of PhD-level training opportunities with the foundation’s and LuxOR’s academic partners;
• Create a forum for debate on humanitarian issues and promote the concept of humanitarian action in Luxembourg. In particular, it will aim to:
  • Generate original ideas and innovative thinking;
  • Bring together experts on humanitarian issues;
  • Organize and lead debates on humanitarian issues; and
  • Produce studies and publications.

Around the central, but non-limitative objective of increasing the quality of humanitarian action and encouraging the persistence of the effects induced by humanitarian action; and

To support the activities of Médecins Sans Frontières Luxembourg asbl as defined in the association’s object.

To help implement these objectives, MSF Luxembourg is looking for a :

Scientific Manager (f/h/x)

Role :

Reporting to the General Director of MSF Luxembourg, he/she is responsible for defining and designing the Foundation’s activities, in close collaboration with the Médecins Sans Frontières Luxembourg team. He/she supervises the Foundation’s administrative and financial officer.

Activities :

1. Coordinate and lead the Foundation’s strategic planning:

Design a short-, medium- and long-term strategy based on the Foundation’s already formulated objectives to support operational research (OR) with LuxOR and operational research entities within the MSF movement.

This activity consists – among other things – of these tasks:

• Consult with relevant stakeholders (LuxOR, the Foundation’s Scientific Committee, and other operational research entities within MSF) ;
• Understand the strategic issues surrounding OR, its development within the Movement and in other relevant contexts
• Make proposals for action and support the decision-making process of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and Scientific Committee;
• Design projects in line with the set strategy. Ensure that monitoring indicators are used to enable regular evaluations of projects, which could contribute to strategic adjustments;
• Report regularly on the current portfolio of activities and progress made to the relevant bodies (notably the Board of Directors);
• Convert the strategic plan into coherent action plans with clearly formulated roles and responsibilities;

2. Coordinate the organization of the Foundation:

• In collaboration with the Administrative and Financial Officer, whom he/she supervises, ensure that budgets and all administrative and financial obligations are respected;
• Represent the Foundation, in collaboration with the General Manager, in dealings with various stakeholders: the MSF Movement, universities, research centers and Luxembourg ministries;
• Represent the Foundation on the MSF Luxembourg Management Team.

3. Activities in close collaboration with LuxOR in line with its strategy and activities

• Coordinate the organization of debates and scientific and humanitarian discussions in Luxembourg and within the MSF Movement;
• Act as an ambassador of operational research to the Luxembourg humanitarian and scientific community;
• Use the results of operational research to improve humanitarian action and support the dynamic of change in policies and practices;
• Promote training opportunities in operational research and epidemiology (fellowships, operational research training, researcher exchanges, etc.);

Profile :

• Master’s degree and/or equivalent professional experience in the medical or scientific field
• Degree or experience in public health is an asset
• MSF experience (or experience with another international NGO of similar size) strongly preferred
• Experience in project management and event organization, dissemination and communication of scientific activities
• Excellent writing and speaking skills in French and English
• Proactive, autonomous and rigorous
• Versatile and flexible
• Adheres to MSF’s managerial VALUES: Respect, Transparency, Responsibility, Integrity, Trust, Accountability

Conditions :

• Fixed-term contract under Luxembourg law, full-time (40h/week), for a period of 1 year, with a 6-month trial period.
• Position based in Luxembourg, with the possibility of 2 days teleworking per week
• Complementary health insurance (CMCM Business)
• Luncheon vouchers with a face value of €8.40 (2/3 paid by the employer)
• Salary between 4950€ and 6000€ depending on experience, valued in accordance with our salary policy.
• Starting date: January 2025

MSF valorise la diversité et s’engage à créer un environnement de travail inclusif. Nous accueillons les candidatures de tous les candidats qualifiés, quels que soient leur invalidité, leur identité de genre, leur statut matrimonial ou civil, leur race, leur couleur ou leurs origines ethniques et nationales, leur religion ou leurs convictions ou leur orientation sexuelle.

MSF se soucie de la protection de vos données. En soumettant votre candidature, vous acceptez que MSF utilise vos données personnelles. Pour plus d’informations, consultez notre avis de confidentialité destinée aux candidats : https://www.msf.lu/en/node/4903