CONTEXT
The medical department of MSF Belgium (OCB – Operational Centre Brussels) plays a strategic role. It defines how the organisation’s medical strategy is implemented of implementation of MSF’s medical, to ensure coherence and quality. It provides strategic support throughout the project cycle. It has a normative role and technical support function regarding implementation and follow-up of the projects. It also sets standards and offers technical support for implementation and follow-up. The medical department ensures knowledge transfer to the medical workforce and stimulates research and innovation by challenging current medical practices and scanning new approaches.
The team includes specialists based across a global network of units (Belgium, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Lebanon, Kenya, Luxembourg and South Africa). It works closely with Operations, other departments and the wider Médecins Sans Frontières movement. It also supports the projects of West and Central Africa programmes.
The medical department is composed of medical staff working in operational cells in a matrix set-up with the operation’s department and medical referents of different medical disciplines: Infectious diseases (including HIV, TB, and Hepatitis), Non-communicable diseases, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Emergency and Intensive Care, Anaesthesia, Surgery, Paediatrics, Nutrition, Vaccination, Pharmacy and Biomedical expertise, Mental Health; Nursing care and IPC, Health Promotion, Environmental health, Operational Research, Health information and medical data.
To strengthen multidisciplinary and interdepartmental collaboration, the department is organised into “thematic circles”, which can be assigned to short- or long-term assignments. Each referent contributes to several circles. Current circles include migration health, nutrition, outbreak control and knowledge management, among others. Most medical referents also participate in international medical working groups at MSF movement level.
As Deputy Medical Director, you hold one of the two positions of Deputy Medical Director, alongside the Medical Director.
As Deputy Medical Director, you oversee the management of medical referents in Brussels and lead key dossiers within the Medical Department. In parallel, the Operational Deputy Medical Director holds functional management responsibility for the Deputy Medical Managers of Operations and focuses on medico-operational coordination, including oversight of the operational portfolio.
While each role has distinct areas of focus, they are closely interconnected. The Deputy Medical Director also ensures follow-up on project implementation and monitoring at country level, working in close collaboration with medical teams in the operational cells. Conversely, the Operational Deputy Medical Director contributes to the Department through line management of selected staff, as well as by leading specific dossiers or internal working groups.
The allocation of responsibilities may evolve over time, depending on the composition of the management team and future departmental adaptations. The planned strengthening of management capacity may also influence this distribution.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
As a member of the core management team, under the leadership of the Medical Director, you contribute to the department’s strategic governance as follows:
Strategic management
- Define the medical vision and priorities of the department, as well as medical priorities within operations, in close collaboration with operational management
- Prioritise and oversee the development and adaptation of medical policies, strategies, guidelines, standards, and tools within OCB
- Ensure quality of care while fostering a culture of innovation
- Guarantee the efficiency and accountability of the medical support provided to operations, and drive change management within this support for the coming years
- Ensure alignment and strong linkages with operational leadership on key medico-operational decisions (e.g., strategic ambitions, critical choices, portfolio overview)
- Set priorities for medical advocacy topics and guide their development in collaboration with Operations and the Analysis department
Contribution to medical–operational interaction
- Support operational cells in the launch of selected projects (conceptualisation, design, coordination) and in the establishment of related working groups
- Participate in and help coordinate medical–operational interactions related to pre-AROs (Annual Review of Operations), AROs, new projects, and ad hoc issues
- Maintain effective connections with PMR’s (Project Medical Referent) and Medco’s (Medical Coordinator) in countries of operations
- Support the planning and prioritisation of topics for ‘Coordinators’ Week’ in collaboration with operations and medical referents
Specific responsibilities
People management
- Provide direct line management to primarily Brussels-based medical referents across key thematic portfolios. These currently include Quality of Care, Laboratory, Surgery and Trauma Care, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Critical Care, Paediatrics, etc.
- Oversee performance evaluation of medical referents and recruitment, in close collaboration with the HR department
- Ensure coherence and strong linkages across medical expertise areas, and actively foster opportunities for intra-departmental collaboration
Technical files
- Provide technical leadership in research and drive the development of research and innovation, including maintaining oversight and a critical understanding of the use of artificial intelligence in OCB operations
- Act as a permanent member of the Operational Research Committee (ORC), the OCB internal body responsible for reviewing and validating research proposals and protocols
- Ensure overall visibility and prioritisation of medical training ambitions (Learning and Development – L&D) for both the department and local teams, and contribute to their implementation in collaboration with the MSF Academy and the Learning & Development Unit
- Ensure strategic oversight of Quality of Care, including coordination of the interdepartmental ‘Quality of Care Working Group’ (one of the 11 priorities under the Strategic Ambitions), and drive key files related to ‘Quality Improvement and Patient Safety’
- Validate the priorities of key thematic areas as defined in the medical department’s action plan under the Strategic Ambitions within the assigned portfolio (Quality of Care, Diagnostics and Laboratory, Surgery and Trauma Care, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Critical Care, Paediatrics, Triple Elimination – Syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B – and AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance)), and ensure monitoring and follow-up of related deliverables
- Coordinate specific internal circles, and support and ensure the effective functioning of others
- Review and validate, together with the Medical Director and the other Deputy Medical Director, medical guidance, policy documents, and other key technical outputs produced by referents
- Serve as focal point for telemedicine within OCB, in collaboration with the Medical Management Support position
- Oversee Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) within the department and participate in the OCB IKM Steering Committee
Internal and external collaboration
- Represent MSF OCB at the executive board of MSF access (to steer strategic discussions on dossiers, oversee the Executive Director and authorise annual plans and budget) and act as a focal point for MSF access in OCB (sharing information, discussing issues between OCB and MSF access, when required)
- Act as sponsor of one intersectional collaborative platform and participate in or lead OCB internal or intersectional project steering committees
- Contribute to the identification of public speaking priorities and medical communication topics, in collaboration with the Communication Department
- Contribute, together with thematic experts, to the development and maintenance of networks with external experts, medical societies, research institutes/universities, and scientific institutions, and support the formalisation of partnerships where relevant
- Participate in and/or lead medical department meetings and workshops
REQUIREMENTS
Education & Experience
- Medical doctor degree
- Diploma or master’s degree in public health or epidemiology is an asset
- Minimum of 4 years of MSF international medical experience in low- or middle-income countries is mandatory
- Experience as medical coordination is a strong asset
- Experience in headquarters as medical referent or in managerial medical positions is an asset
- Research experience is a strong asset
- Training and mentoring (pedagogical expertise) is an asset
Competencies
- People Management & Leadership
- Analytical Thinking & Strategic Vision
- Planning, Organisation & Results Orientation
- Adaptability & Behavioural Flexibility
- Problem Solving, Initiative & Innovation
- Communication & Service Orientation
- Negotiation & Stakeholder Management
- Good command of Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Languages
- Proficiency in English and professional French is mandatory, both written and spoken
CONDITIONS
- Expected starting date: September 2026
- Location: **Brussels (**Belgium)
- Mobility: willing to travel regularly (20% of working time) to MSF project locations, conferences, and meetings
- Contract type: Open-ended contract – Full-time
- Homeworking once per week possible
- Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid
- Meal Vouchers – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
- Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
- Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments
Deadline for applications: 1st of July 2026
How to apply
How to apply?
➢ Submit your application via the ‘Apply here‘ button on the vacancy page
➢ You will be directed to the online application form for this position
➢ It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter ready to upload (in pdf format)
Deadline for applications: 1st of July 2026
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
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