Logistics & Supply Director - MSF Ubuntu

Medecins Sans Frontieres South Africa; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 850,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Médecins Sans Frontières is seeking a Logistics & Supply Director to lead operations and ensure efficient logistics support for humanitarian objectives. This role requires strategic oversight in a complex environment, addressing diverse logistical challenges. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in logistics management and supply chain functionality, guiding a team while fostering inclusive, innovative practices. Candidates should be prepared for significant travel and must be fluent in English, with additional languages being a plus.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' experience in humanitarian logistics and/or supply chain management, including 5 years in senior leadership.
• Strong command of English; additional languages like French or Spanish are an asset.
• Proven ability to lead in diverse, insecure, and rapidly changing environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement MSF Ubuntu’s logistics and supply chain strategy.
• Ensure agile, responsive logistical support for project operations.
• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team; foster an inclusive, collaborative culture.

Skills

Leadership

Humanitarian logistics

Procurement

Operational oversight

Supply chain management

Education

Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Engineering or related field

Job description

About Us

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a vital part of a global network of compassionate professionals dedicated to medical humanitarian work. Guided by medical ethics and a shared commitment to humanity, our teams-both small and large-deliver critical healthcare to people affected by conflict, disasters, epidemics, and exclusion from medical services. Operating in over 70 countries, MSF’s doctors, nurses, logisticians, and specialists not only provide care but also bear witness to the challenges faced by communities, raising awareness and advocating for change to address crises and healthcare inequities.

Purpose of the Role

The Logistics & Supply Director provides strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability for all logistics, procurement, and supply functions across MSF Ubuntu operations and the head office when needed. As a core member of the Executive’s Management Team, the role ensures agile, responsive, and sustainable support to MSF Ubuntu’s medical humanitarian objectives, contributing to lifesaving impact in dynamic and complex contexts. The Director also acts as a key voice in international logistics forums, representing MSF Ubuntu’s interdependent and community-led approach to operations.

Context & Environment

MSF Ubuntu is the newest Operational Directorate (OD) of Médecins Sans Frontières, grounded in the principles of Ubuntu – “I am because we are”. With a base blended between the offices of MSF Southern Africa and MSF Eastern Africa and a strong emphasis on interdependence, interoperability, and maximizing sustainable outcomes, MSF Ubuntu seeks to add a new approach to the delivery of medical humanitarian action to the movement by placing communities at the heart of decision-making.

Logistics and Supply will underpin all operational ambitions, ensuring that a people-centered approach to care can be delivered effectively and efficiently. The Logistics & Supply function will initially leverage existing support structures (Such as SASU, SNEA, SITS, etc), potentially evolving over time a fully integrated, interdependent, and globally networked capacity.

Logistics and Supply within MSF Ubuntu will function as an interdependent department, consciously designed to work in synergy with the logistics and supply structures of other MSF Operational Directorates. Rather than creating parallel systems, MSF Ubuntu will engage in strategic co-investment and resource sharing, drawing on the existing capacities of platforms and international supply centres. This collaborative model should enable MSF Ubuntu to integrate into the global MSF supply ecosystem, enhancing efficiency, responsiveness, and innovation across the movement.

Rooted in the principle of mutual accountability, the department will not only benefit from the established expertise of partner ODs but also contribute regionally grounded knowledge and innovations that enrich the collective capacity of MSF’s logistics and supply community. Through formal agreements and coordinated planning, MSF Ubuntu will seek to promote interoperability and shared learning.

Job Dimensions

• Reports to: General Director, MSF Ubuntu
• Location: Johannesburg or Nairobi, with frequent travel (minimum 30%)
• Team Management: Supervises a multidisciplinary team of Log and Supply staff
• Budget Responsibility: Shared oversight of multi-million euro portfolio and operational resource allocation
• Organisational Integration: Member of Ubuntu Executive Management Team, and contributor to the International Platforms of Logistics and Supply.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement MSF Ubuntu’s logistics and supply chain strategy, aligned with operational priorities and humanitarian needs.
• Shape an inclusive, interdependent, and locally rooted logistics vision that reflects MSF Ubuntu’s unique identity.
• Develop formal partnerships with existing MSF Log and Supply departments in order to build an interdependent Logistics and Supply Department that is able to tap into the existing capacities across the movement.
• Drive innovation and climate-conscious practices across supply chain and infrastructure initiatives.

Operational Oversight

• Ensure agile, responsive, and accountable logistical support for project operations.
• Supervise procurement, warehousing, transport, energy, construction, biomedical, fleet, and IT logistics services.
• Work with existing MSF capacity across the movement to deliver end-to-end supply chain management, ensuring quality, traceability, and efficiency from sourcing to delivery.
  

People Management & Development

• Lead and inspire a blended team across multiple regions and hubs; foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing culture.
• Oversee recruitment, retention, and development of logistics and supply staff, prioritising local talent.
• Implement best-in-class people management practices, aligned with MSF’s behavioural commitments and duty of care standards.

Interdepartmental & Movement Collaboration

• Strengthen partnerships with international supply centres, other ODs, and MSF platforms (e.g., DirLog, SIMM, etc).
• Participate in the Ubuntu Leadership Circles (Resource Management, Operational Support).
• Engage with communities, local organisations, and academia to integrate local innovation and perspectives.

Accountability & Governance

• Oversee budget and resource planning for logistics and supply; ensure compliance with internal and external standards.
• Ensure data-driven decision-making through robust performance indicators, internal controls, and audits.
• Report regularly to the Ubuntu Executive, Council, and relevant MSF platforms on departmental performance, risk, and learning.

Experience, Qualifications and Skills

Essential

• Minimum 10 years' experience in humanitarian logistics and/or supply chain management, including at least 5 in senior leadership roles.
• Proven ability to lead in diverse, insecure, and rapidly changing environments.
• Deep technical knowledge in at least two of the following: procurement, construction, WASH, energy, biomedical, IT logistics, fleet, or emergency logistics.
• Strong command of English; additional languages such as French, Spanish or Swahili are an asset.
• Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Engineering or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Desirable

• Prior experience with MSF or similar INGO.
• Experience with climate-conscious logistics and innovation in supply models.

Conditions

• Location: Nairobi (Kenya), or Johannesburg (South Africa)
• Contract Type: Full-time, 3-year renewable once (maximum 6 years)
• Salary: In line with MSF reward policy
• Start Date: October 2025
• Travel: Up to 30% international travel

Closing date: 13 August 2025

Start date: October 2025

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

NB: Information

The protection of your personal data is important to MSF SnA. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. MSF SnA will not use your personal data in any other way not foreseen for purposes of recruitment.

MSF values diversity and is committed to create an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, and all other diversity characteristics.

Lately MSF is a civil society initiative that brings together individuals committed to the assistance of other human beings in crisis. As such MSF is by choice an association. Each individual applying for MSF roles does it out of conviction and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.

By applying, the applicant acknowledges that he/she has read, understood and accept this document.

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