Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent medical humanitarian organisation that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and to offer medical care to victims of disasters, wars and epidemics. Working together with local staff, we give direct support to the population. MSF also appeals to those in power, including governments and international organisations, and speaks out about the abuses we encounter in the course of our work.
MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in 25 countries. On a yearly basis MSF-OCA deploys over 1000 international staff and employs approximately 8000 national staff. At headquarters in Amsterdam, approximately 170 employees offer their support to the projects.
The Emergency Support Department (ESD) is part of the Operations department and plays a fundamental role in OCA's emergency preparedness and response to humanitarian emergencies. The ESD conducts exploratory assessments; initiates and manages large scale emergency interventions; supports emergency interventions managed by other desk and country teams; provides support to the organisation, including country teams, in developing and improving OCA’s emergency response capacity. The ESD consists of a headquarter-based Emergency Desk (9 permanent staff) and an Emergency Team primarily for deployment in the field (approximately 22 positions).
The ESD is accepting open applications at any time for any position. With immediate effect, the ESD is particularly looking for:
MEMBER AMSTERDAM EMERGENCY TEAM
Water & Sanitation Team Lead/Coordinator
(Applicants of various levels of experience are encouraged and considered. Successful candidate will be recruited at the salary level, relative to their experience/capacity)
Emergency Team members spend about 90% of their workdays (ie, excluding holidays) in field locations, travelling with short notice to any required area and approximately 10% at the headquarters (or working from home) for briefing/debriefing/trainings/working on specific tasks.
Place in the organisation
Overall: reports to one of the Emergency Managers (either operational or health) within the Emergency Support Department in Amsterdam. During field assignments reports to relevant Country Management Team (CMT) member. Maintains a technical line and link with the ESD watsan advisor and the OCA Watsan Unit.
Main objective of the position
Being responsible for defining, developing and coordinating the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WatSan) program in the mission, according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures to improve the health and living conditions of the target population (in contexts with a major WatSan program).
Description of the position
Defining the mission’s WatSan strategy and monitoring system for the WatSan needs in the country, ensuring the integration of the different WatSan components in the mission activities as well as in the operational priorities as defined by the CMT.
Ensuring initial assessments or exploratory missions in collaboration with medical teams, identifying WatSan needs in the country
Developing and leading appropriate WatSan responses in collaboration with medical and operational team members (for but not exclusively in emergency scenarios)
Developing community participation strategies related to improvement of WatSan practices, engaging local authorities or other non-governmental actors to enhance cooperation, local ownership, and environmental scope of projects in the field
Leading and coordinating operational research work in relation to WatSan technical enquiries in the field, and contributing to WatSan institutional learning on aspects of emergency response and other environmental health themes (Under the guidance of the WatSan advisor in HQ) and ensuring multidisciplinary data availability, collection, analyses of any activity impacting the health status of the affected population
Ensuring the availability of required WatSan materials and equipment in the mission in collaboration with the Logistics Coordinator and the WatSan Advisor in HQ
Coordinating the implementation of centralized WatSan reporting systems, project outputs and indicators (quantitative, qualitative and financial) in order to ensure quality, terms and costs in collaboration with the other CMT members
Defining and evaluating the HR set-up related to the WatSan team (team sizes, job descriptions, organograms, division of tasks and responsibilities), managing the different WatSan teams in the mission and participating in the selection, the follow-up (training-coaching) and evaluation of the staff under his/her supervision in close collaboration with the HR department.
Specific tasks
Prepare, plan, implement, monitor and report on Emergency Water, Hygiene, Vector Control and Sanitation interventions.
Contribute to the development of an intervention strategy in emergency projects or country responses.
Function flexibly as a Watsan Manager / Team leader or WatSan Coordinator as required in emergency projects or existing projects.
Represent MSF as part of internal and external coordination platforms and bodies e.g. WASH Cluster
Contribute to the development and implementation of training programs for emergency and non-emergency staff, logistical, medical or WatSan.
Contribute to the further development of WatSan kits (organizational level) and other equipment innovations for field use
Contribute to evaluations/reviews carried out of emergency intervention projects
Contribute to the development of WatSan tools, guidelines and technologies employed during MSF’s interventions.
Candidate profile
Essential:
At least 18 months field experience with one of the MSF sections in at least two different countries, of which at least one emergency project and/or a med/high security setting
Academic background in engineering or an equivalent relevant training
Experience in or familiar with implementing and promoting the use of two or more of the following activities (water supply, excreta disposal, waste and wastewater management, vector control, and dead bodies management) in two or more different contexts (conflicts, natural disasters, refugee/IDP camps, etc.)
Fluent English
Ability to prioritize among competing needs;
Demonstratable (people) management and coaching skills;
'Can do mentality’, creative, and capacity to motivate others and lead a team into action;
A flexible and solution-oriented mentality, and the ability to be decisive in chaotic circumstances;
Willingness to travel to any required area, frequently at short notice.
Desirable:
Proficiency in languages (particularly French, Spanish and/or Arabic);
Desirable public health background or experience
We offer
A full-time appointment for 1 year with the intention to renew based on performance
Salary depends on three main factors: domicile, level of responsibility, and experience on the job. Candidate’s domicile determines which MSF section will act as employer;
Candidate’s domicile determines which MSF section will act as employer
45 holidays per year
Completion bonus of 1.5 month of extra salary after completion of every 12 months commitment
Return travel costs to place of domicile between assignments
Prioritization for trainings in MSF (external trainings additionally considered)
A challenging position within a stimulating, professional working environment in a major international organization – plus great colleagues to work alongside!
Application
If you recognise yourself in this profile, we welcome you to apply directly via our website and upload a letter of motivation + Curriculum Vitae (in English) as one combined document.
The application deadline is 10 August 2025, at 23:59h
Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be requested from: Paula Navarro (Interim ESD Watsan Advisor) at [email protected]
For any question about the recruitment process please contact Masha Petrovic (Recruitment Specialist) at [email protected]
