Netherlands: Manager Operational Logistics (40 hours per week)

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent medical emergency relief organisation that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and 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 coordinates operations through collaborations between global offices. ‘Artsen zonder Grenzen Nederland’ (MSF-Holland) has a partnership with offices in Germany and the UK. This partnership, known as MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (MSF-OCA), operates medical humanitarian interventions in about 25 countries. MSF-OCA deploys 1,600 international staff per annum and employs 9,000 national staff. The office of MSF-Holland is located in Amsterdam and hosts more than 200 employees, offering direct support to MSF-OCA operations.

Our Logistics department offers a suite of technical and supply chain services including end-to-end supply chain management, medical facility management and maintenance support to all medical equipment, as well as expert advice on construction, transport, energy and other technical domains. Some 800 logisticians who work in our field projects receive logistical support from our support teams, based in offices in Amsterdam and Berlin.

The Field Support Unit (FSU) within the Logistics department is looking for candidates for the position of:

Manager Operational Logistics

(40 hours per week, based in Amsterdam)

The FSU is responsible for first and second line support to field logisticians and operational decision makers, and for developing relevant policies, procedures, guidance, and tools to support the field logisticians in their daily work. Daily management of the FSU is delegated to 1 Manager for direct operational support, and 1 Manager for technical logistics.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

The Manager Operational Logistics reports directly to the Head of Logistics Department and leads a team of approximately 15 Advisors Front Office and Flying Support staff, who operate out of MSF-OCA’s Amsterdam and Berlin offices.

The main objective of this position is to ensure that our operational logistics support to our field operations remains relevant, and that it is timely delivered at agreed quality levels. To this end, the Manager line manages the team members, and works with key stakeholders to develop and agree the unit’s objectives and annual activity plans. The Manager prepares and analyses consolidated performance reports used to design and communicate improvement plans.

Because of ever-increasing demands in terms of breadth and depth of support services, medical specialties, context complexity and management capacity, the FSU will revisit its service portfolio, whilst the organization at large will work to redefine the advisory role in a more sustainable support model. The Manager is expected to take a leading role in these activities to address the specific FSU challenges.

The Manager represents MSF-OCA at various international platforms.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

We are looking for a candidate with the following characteristics:

• A result-driven, service-minded, dynamic and supportive manager with a ‘can-do’ attitude and excellent problem-solving skills;

• Capable of conceptual and analytical thinking and translating concepts into practice;

• Comfortable in seeking and securing support at various levels in the organization;

• Ability to travel abroad to other MSF offices and our field missions.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, in addition to people management training courses;

• At least 5 years’ experience in a (middle) management position;

• Knowledge of or experience with organizational design and change management;

• Experience in operating in a dynamic, international and political work environment and/or a matrix organization;

• MSF-experience, or work experience in the NGO-sector, is considered an advantage;

• Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills;

• Excellent command of the English language with active knowledge of French being an asset.

The successful candidate is passionate about the work we do.

We offer

• A position in a challenging, international environment;

• Opportunity to travel and experience the dynamics of a globally operating, leading humanitarian healthcare organization;

• A fulltime appointment for one year with option for renewal, subject to satisfactory performance;

• A salary determined on relevant professional experience within a pay range of € 3,098 and € 4,424 gross per month based on a full-time appointment of 40 hours per week; Other benefits include 30 holidays per annum and a premium-free pension.