HEAD OF MIDDLE EAST UNIT/ DEPUTY HEAD OF OPERATIONAL CELL 1 (DRECO), BASED IN AMMAN MSF OCBA HUB

GENERAL CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian action-driven 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 six operational directorates supported by MSF’s 21 sections, 24 associations and other offices together worldwide.

PLACEMENT WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION

The Head of the Middle East Unit and Deputy Reco position is a double hats position, thus has double line of management: on the one hand acts as deputy desk (deputy-RECO) of the regional cell (CO1) and reports to the responsible of the cell (RECO); on the other, works under the umbrella and management of the General Direction Office and reports to the OCBA Deputy General Director. He/she maintains co-creation & mutual accountability with operations, medical and other OCBA support departments and strategizes, partners and coordinates with the other MSF sections present in Amman and in the region (OCA, OCG Heads of the Offices, OCP HoM, Executive Directors UAE and Lebanon etc). He/She links with other sections to discuss opportunities and lobby and advocate for the mutualization of capacities and the creation of synergies in the support of operations (and other opportunities).

He/She promotes dialogue & exchange with Middle East humanitarian, political & technical actors.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

MSF OCBA works in operating environments characterized by violence and conflict and has a very strong emergency mind-set. The missions managed by the cell currently include Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Palestine (currently under E-Unit), however the Cell overlooks at the whole region and its dynamics.

The Head of MEU/ Deputy RECO supports strategic orientations, project design and management as well as ensures the functioning of the cell, within the framework of Executive Plan, Operational Policy and operations annual orientations plan, to perform relevant, high-impact operations. S/he is hierarchically under the RECO within his/her portfolio; the RECO provides him/her with support, guidance, supervision and development of professional competences.

S/he is part of the Amman Operational Cell 1, and, when needed, replaces the RECO in overall management and direction of the OC. The Operational Cell is made up of a person in charge of the Cell (RECO), a Deputy RECO, a health advisor (TESACO) and her support, a logistics advisor (TELOCO), a financial advisor (FINOCO), a human resource advisor (REHUCO) and her support and a Communication Advisor.

While being part of the cell managing and supporting the Middle East portfolio, as Head of Unit, he/she will seek best adapted support to field teams, manage support positions of unit (mobile support and/or advisory positions), encourage a multidisciplinary/transversal approach in its thinking and development, developing alliances with key stakeholders in the region and promoting mutualization and synergies with other MSFs present in Amman and Middle East.

The position requires frequent travel to the field (up to 40%), some of which are at short notice.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Amman Hub:

• Responsible for the implementation of OCBA’s Strategic Plan in Amman.
• Propose and develop a multi-year vision for the OCBA Amman Hub, including the CAHM, and is responsible to translate this vision into a multi-year work plan.
• Responsible for the management of all resources allocated to the OCBA Amman Hub, the preparation of budgets and their follow up (budget holder for OCBA in Amman), in collaboration with the Amman Mutualized Support Office.
• Monitoring and evaluation of the work plan and allocated resources ensuring continued relevance.
• Is part of the Amman Mutualized Support Office Steering Committee, ensuring the smooth collaboration and the support for the OCBA team in Amman.
• Represent OCBA in the board for the MSF Protocol Office in Amman.
• Coordinate with the other sections (in Jordan and in the region) possibilities for mutualization, the development of synergies.
• Internally and externally represent OCBA in Amman with other Hubs and stakeholders in the region to advance MSF interests and objectives.
• Ensure that the “Engagement Framework for MSF Regional HQ Offices” is being implemented in Amman (by the different stakeholders).

2. OCBA Teams in Amman:

• Act as Security Focal Point for OCBA staff in Amman ensuring alignment with the different OCBA policies (i.e. Security, DoC).
• Act as Team Leader for OCBA CAHM staff based in Amman, ensuring good Team dynamics, building strong connections among the different departments and the link with other sections present.

3. OCBA CAHM (Center for Advancement Humanitarian Medicine)

• Linked to the development of OCBA Amman Hub vision and Work Plan, develop and implement the setup and activities of the CAHM, in collaboration with the OCBA Departments, cells and missions.
• Responsible for the management of the CAHM team (the scope of management responsibility to be agreed upon network governance agreement).
• Coordinate the planning of the CAHM team based on the operational needs of the missions (in collaboration with respective departments).
• Linked to the OCBA operations, and in collaboration with other MSF entities, develop a network in Amman, engages with external stakeholders, proposing partnerships for operational benefits and maintain mapping of relevant actors.

4. OCBA AMMAN HUB

4.1. Strategic Vision & Organizational Evaluation

• Ensure operations benefit from the presence of the Hub and maximize the efforts to provide direct support to the region with adequate resources according to the needs of operations.
• Act as part of the Amman Steering Committee tasked to develop the Amman hub vision and ensure mutualization of resources, intersectional dynamic and regional representation.
• Propose and develops the long-term vision for OCBA Amman office, in accordance with OCBA Strategic Plan, and translates it into a multi-year work plan.
• Ensure that the activities, priorities and development of OCBA Amman office remains aligned to the OCBA Strategic Plan and relevant to the operational needs of OCBA.
• Propose and coordinates the Amman office planning and resources and ensure monitoring and evaluation of the work plan.
• Contribute to the overall discussion on the governance and structure of OCBA as multi-centered network.
• Represent Amman office in Hub’s meetings organized by OCBA General Direction (involving Dakar, Nairobi etc.) and in key strategic institutional moments to discuss the evolution of OCBA in Amman.
• Ensure active coordination with other OCBA delocalized offices to gathered lessons learnt and discuss potential synergies. 

4.2. Resources management & planning 

• Lead the strategic phases of the Annual Plan for Amman office (CAHM and back-office/AMSO) and present it to the General Direction.
• Prepare, manage and monitor the OCBA Amman budgets for the CAHM, Cell 1 and back-office (in collaboration with the AMSO).
• Ensure appropriate allocation of resources (HR, Finance, Logistic etc.) for the good functioning of OCBA Amman Hub.
• Coordinate discussions with the relevant Directors to propose resources for Amman office.

4.3. Intersectional Dynamics 

• Represent OCBA in intersectional discussions on the evolution of Amman Hub and possibilities for intersectional collaboration.
• Maintain and strengthen links with other MSF sections and offices in the region.  
• Continue and expand areas of joint work (including mutualization and interoperability efforts) with other section in Jordan and the region.

4.4. Mutualized Support Office (HR/Admin/Log/IT/Supply/Staff Health/ Training)

• Participate in strategic discussions regarding the objective, set-up and development of the shared Amman Mutualized Support Office (AMSO) and lead the integration of the OCBA back-office into the AMSO.
• Represent OCBA interests in the AMSO Steering Committee and ensures that the procedures, protocols, strategies and policies agreed with other sections reflects OCBA needs and interests.
• Propose and validated the resources and budgets for the AMSO and ensure appropriate cost-sharing agreement with the other OCs involved.
• Responsible for OCBA equipment, supplies and stock in Amman and ensure that the AMSO management of resources is appropriate.

4.5 Host-Country Agreement (HCA) and Protocol Office

• Is a member of MSF Intersectional HCA Committee in Jordan.
• Participate in the Committee meetings representing OCBA and ensuring smooth decisions-making in collaboration with the other Board members.
• Work constructively to ensure full implementation of the HCA and its governance to guarantee a solid MSF presence in Jordan to support operations.
• Available to cover the Country Representative position and support the Protocol Office in representing MSF with Jordanian authorities related to all registration, immigration, foreign affairs and employment, as per needs.

5. OCBA TEAM IN AMMAN

5.1. Security Management

• Ensure proper follow up of the context and related risks in Jordan.
• Draft and updates the Security Memo for Jordan.
• Ensure coherence of security management with other OCs in Jordan and enforce ISA.
• Inform staff about possible risks and threats.
• Inform Head of Desk on any significant evolution of the context, risks, threats, and incidents.
• Available to be deployed as a member of CIMT during critical incidents.
• Make sure an effective crisis management capacity exists (team & infrastructure) in Amman and can be mobilized at any time in case of a CI happening in Jordan.

5.2. Leadership and General management

• Support all efforts to ensure that the different teams and individuals from the different OCBA offices (Cell, CAHM, hosted positions) are aligned, coordinated and that a proper working environment is maintained.
• Coordinate the office activities, creating a conducive and supportive work atmosphere.
• Ensure the alignment of OCBA policies in place in Amman with the other sections presents.

5.3. Strategy, planning and resources

• Propose and develops the CAHM long-term vision and multi-year plan.
• Ensure its adaptation and evolution according to institutional and operational needs.
• Ensure that the activities, priorities and development of CAHM and other Amman initiatives remain aligned to the OCBA Strategic Plan.
• Lead all strategic phases of the CAHM Plan of Action and participates in key strategic operational moments.
• Prepare and manages budgets and resources for the CAHM and present them to the HQ Commissions.
• Manage the CAHM team (Recruits, manages and supports, set and review objectives and work plans with team members, guide their interaction with respective departments, Cells and Missions supported in order to achieve CAHM objectives and individual work-plans).

6. As Deputy Head of Cell 1

6.1. General -Operations Management and Support (under delegation of RECO).

• Contribute to the definition of MSF OCBA operational vision, strategies, and orientations.
• Contribute to analysing context and defining the strategy of missions within the portfolio.
• Participate in providing operational inputs to define strategies for the portfolio departments.
• Provide sparring and contrasting with the RECO on context and security strategies and their impact on the operation and on the practical security measures.
• Lead any security-related processes, as delegated by the RECO.
• Support the RECO on the constant critical review of context and humanitarian situation of assigned portfolio in order to guarantee that operational response is properly handled.
• Contribute to the analysis of the project activities through the regular visits to the projects and analysis of the project outcomes, challenges, indicators and medical statistics. Ensure monitoring and analysis of the missions reporting and other management information, organize discussions and feedback process in the portfolio and with the missions.
• Ensure the collection of information internally and externally to contribute to improve analysis and operational response in the assigned portfolio (regional context analysis, technical expertise in Dakar and the region, humanitarian affairs, etc).
• Flag serious issues and that affect program implementation and engage in proactive identification of practical solutions. Support the organization of the portfolio annual planning and regular reviews.
• Act as the portfolio focal person for specific transversal dossiers and priorities (i.e. PCA, Behavior, LHS development).
• Coordinate the internal cell activities, manage, facilitate in organizing the cell planning meetings and events. Supports the identification of appropriate technical support for program implementation and works with relevant technical referents to ensure follow up on programmatic quality issues.
• Facilitate multidisciplinary support when necessary. Works closely with other MSF OCBA departments and units (evaluations, fundraising, PCA, CHAM etc) and take responsibility of some transversal dossiers as required.
• Promote knowledge management. Ensures key operations monitoring information is collated and disseminated to the appropriate team members.
• Carry out briefings and debriefings, involving technical referents when needed, and identify individual training needs.
• Replace the DRECO when requested by the RECO.
• Assure gap-filling of senior coordination positions in his/her portfolio as needed.
• Participate actively in interdesk meetings, emergency committees, punto info’s and security core group meetings, as per delegation from RECO.

6.2. Operational Support 

• Act as the focal point for provision of support to OCBA mission teams (transiting or hosted) in Amman, liaising with the back-office/AMSO and the Protocol Office.
• Participate in strategic discussion within the Ops department and with the Cell 1 during the Plan of Action cycles to ensure the best possible support for the missions.
• Ensure surveillance of the region with particular focus on countries where OCBA is not present to facilitate a regional perspective of the context dynamics, quickly identifying political-economic and social indicators of change that could impact the region or MSF operations and the main humanitarian issues to support decisions-making.
• Available to support the mission teams in regular programs & emergency response in terms of strategy definition, specific tools development, ops support, M&E, context analysis, inductions, mentoring and training facilitation, etc. including gap filling.
• Actively contribute to the reflection and critical analysis on medical and humanitarian challenges, stakes and practices in order to identify potential new areas of work/dossiers to develop, in collaboration with the Directorate of Operations and relevant counterparts/colleagues.

6.3. Representation, Networking & Partnership

• Ensure an updated mapping of humanitarian actors in our countries of operations (Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Palestine later on) that could be potential partners of our operations in the region.
• Develop and maintains relationships with other humanitarian organizations, Jordanian authorities, diplomatic missions, academic institutions and experts.
• Support the identification of potential collaboration opportunities with external partners on specific topics, ensuring OCBA external engagement in Amman and proposing partnerships for operational benefits.
• Maintain and expands a network of regional analyst to (a) gain an outside-MSF perspective of contextual development and (b) be ready to engage ad-hoc expertise for work requested by mission (usually analytical work).
• Engage with the different donors and actors present in the region to identify possible exit strategies/handovers in our areas of intervention.

6.4. Information & Knowledge Management

• Act as Focal person for information flow between the Cell and the CAHM.
• Ensure good collaboration and good dynamic between the Cell and the CAHM.
• Participate in essential ops meetings e.g. programmatic Cell 1 meetings during AP and MYR and attend the Cell 1 weekly meetings, others to be identified by the RECO.
• Prepare and delivers the weekly PuntoInfo, if and when needed.

6.5. Thematic work & dossiers

• Contribute to OCBA analytical work pursuing specific areas of work of relevance for the missions via lessons learnt studies, capitalizations, desks reviews etc. Themes are identified jointly with RECO & DRECO.
• Organize events, roundtable/ workshops on topics relevant for region and Cell 1 missions.
• Lead, in collaboration with L&D, the development of various learning and experience sharing events in Amman.
• Engage in a relevant network of experts in Amman and in the region that can be consulted for deepening OCBA and Cell 1 understanding of the contexts, dynamics etc.
• Follow up specific dossiers as per delegation from the RECO.

SPECIFICITIES OF THE POSITION

The position will hold a double “hat” as Head of Unit (CAHM) and Deputy Head of Desk.

Reporting to both:

• the General Direction for all matters related to Amman Hub and its evolution, the CAHM, the Protocol Office (Host-Country Agreement implementation) and the Amman Mutualized Support Office with OCA and OCG.
• the Directorate of Operations for all matters related to operations and the direct support to the missions of Cell 1.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Education and qualifications

• Advanced university degree on Human sciences, international relations, Public health, Political Science or related field.
• Medical or paramedical is considered as an asset.
• Solid understanding of the politics, social and humanitarian challenges of Middle East.
• Ability to translate complex contexts and summarize the core elements into analysis with clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to travel, often at short notice, and occasionally to remote and insecure locations.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, new IT tools and AI.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Arabic is required.

Experience

• Senior leadership and management experience at a strategic level (minimum 5 years).
• Previous experience in humanitarian settings, with minimum of 3 years of operations management with MSF (field coordinator and at least one mission as HoM) in contexts of conflicts and humanitarian emergencies.
• Strong experience in humanitarian affairs, networking and context analysis.

CONDITIONS

• Based in Amman MSF OCBA HUB with travel 30% - 40% of the time to the field (on short notice).
• Full time position.
• Annual Gross Salary: level HQ-5A (divided in 12 monthly payments) + secondary benefits based on MSF OCBA Reward Policy. Subjected to local conditions.
• Duration: Minimum of 3-year moral commitment, with a maximum term of 6 years.
• Starting Date: 14th of Dec 2025.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter.
• Closing date: November 1st, 2025, 23:59 CET (Central European Time).

MSF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, race, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are committed to achieving a balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. MSF provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo reference checks.

Médecins Sans Frontières, as a responsible employer, under the¨Ley General de la Discapacidad de 2013 (LGD)¨ invite those persons with a recognized disability and with an interest in the humanitarian area to apply for the above-mentioned position.