Operations Advisor

Artsen zonder Grenzen Nederland; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 54,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation days 30 annually pro-rata

Holiday allowance 8%

Commuting allowance

Work from home allowance

Learning and development opportunities

Discounted daily lunch

Job summary

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Artsen zonder Grenzen is seeking an Operations Advisor to be based in Amsterdam, with 15-20% travel to country programmes. The OA reports to the Operations Manager and ensures quality, continuity, and consistency of support to country programme management across the portfolio.

The role requires someone with substantial MSF experience, ability to operate in a fast-paced environment, and strong English, with French or Arabic a plus.

Qualifications

• Experience serving as Head of Mission in MSF operations (country programme or HQ) for at least two years.
• familiar with current MSF policy and procedures at country programme and HQ level.
• English and/or French and/or Arabic proficiency is an asset.
• Willingness to work irregular hours and spend ~15-20% in country programmes.

Responsibilities

• Advise Heads of Mission and country programme management towards tactical decision making.
• Safeguard operational policies and manage its planning and control cycle at a tactical level.
• Coach Heads of Missions and refer teams to feedback sources.
• Manage portfolio day-to-day and identify risks and priorities.
• Support HR policies including recruitment and development.
• Identify and follow up on day-to-day financial issues with donors and partners.
• Coordinate meetings between head office staff and country programmes as needed.
• Assist Operations Manager in administrative and policy-related matters.
• Coordinate implementation of the control cycle.

Job description

MSF is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization. We are a non-profit, self-governed worldwide movement of more than 63,000 people.

We provide emergency medical assistance during armed conflict, natural disasters, outbreaks of deadly diseases, and assist those who are excluded from healthcare. MSF delivers care based on need and when we see injustice, we speak out. We are an organization that remains impartial, knowledgeable, and effective, and this is what makes the difference between life and death.

People are our priority. At Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/ Artsen zonder Grenzen, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We encourage diverse applicants including individuals of all gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, social and marital status, people with different abilities and all other diversity characteristics and how they intersect.

With immediate effect our Operations Department is looking for a:

Operations Advisor

Based in Amsterdam (15-20% travelling to country programmes)

Objective

In the Operations department, the Operations Advisor (OA) reports to the Operations Manager. The OA promotes the quality, continuity, and consistency of support to country program management. You will support the decision making during the tactical and operational realization in various countries of the portfolio, all while supporting and initiating interactions between the country program operations and the HQ office.

Main Responsibilities

• Gives advice and guidance to the Heads of Mission and country programme management in the portfolio towards tactical decision making which involves analysis of field questions, problems and solutions;
• Safeguards operational policies of the organization while channelling the planning and control cycle of projects at a tactical level;
• Coaches the Heads of Missions where appropriate and refers the teams to alternative sources for feedback, as well as identifies opportunities and needs for institutional competence building;
• Manages the portfolio on a day-to-day basis as delegated by the Operations Manager, while proactively identifying and referring relevant risks and priorities such as new or large-scale emergencies, security matters, advocacy opportunities, or code of conduct issues;
• Supports the HRM policies regarding recruitment, (de)briefings, training & development;
• Identifies and follows up on day-to-day financial issues for the portfolio which includes institutional donors, partner sections;
• Initiates and coordinates meetings between head office staff (Operational Support Team) on a regular basis and when required beyond the regular meetings;
• Assists the Operations Manager in administrative matters of a practical and policy-related nature.
• Coordinates the implementation of the control cycle.
• Each individual working with MSF does it out of conviction and commitment and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.

Candidate Profile

• We are seeking a motivated team player who operates on an advanced professional level, is capable of thorough analytical thinking and has a natural ability to effectively putting forward solutions to identified problems.
• The successful candidate will have experience working as a Head of Mission in any of the MSF operational sections. We expect the candidate to have held country programme management posts for at least two years.
• You are required to be familiar with current MSF policy and procedures (ideally on both country programme and head office level) and have good knowledge of the MSF movement and organisational structure.
• The position operates in a fast-paced work environment that requires initiative and a flexible, stress resistant attitude. Good communication skills are essential, as well as an excellent command of English, French and/or Arabic proficiency are an asset
• The candidate must be willing to work irregular hours and spend approximately 15-20% of the time in the country programmes

We Offer

A Dutch employment contract, based on 40 hours per week. The contract is for one year with a renewal option.

A gross monthly salary in scale 17 with a current salary range between € 4,875 and € 6,711, the precise amount will depend on relevant work experience, based on a full-time appointment.

Other benefits include:

• 30 paid vacation days annually pro-rata
• 8% holiday allowance, paid out with the salary once a year in May pro-rata
• Commuting allowance (terms and conditions apply) & work from home allowance
• L&D will support you with a variety of learning and development opportunities with internal and external trainings and courses
• Discounted daily lunch at the office
• An environment that fosters diversity, with colleagues from around the world representing various cultures and background

The closing date for applications is September 1, 2026 at 23:59.

MSF values diversity and inclusion and strongly encourages women and individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.