Japan: Deputy General Director, MSF Japan (3-years contract)

General background and Purpose of the position:

In the past 6 years Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) Japan's activities have significantly grown in number, scope and complexity. This growth and the number of projects currently run by the section require an increase in its leadership capacity with a specific focus on strengthening practices, processes, internal compliance and risk management.

Requirements of the position:

Based in Japan with occasional international travel (estimated travel 10-15%).

Objectives:

Under the direct supervision of, and acting in tandem with the General Director, the Deputy General Director (DGD) ensures organisational growth and risk management, strategic an annual planning and monitoring, and internal communications are executed effectively. Within the MSF movement , the DGD is delegated the coordination of specific projects in relation to MSF Japan's Operation Center(OC) partnership and the Executive Committee (ExCom).

As a member of the Leadersip Team (LT), the DGD actively engages in the strategic orientations and policy/decision making in MSF Japn and contributes to the overall management and development of MSF japan. Several strategic objectives are owned by him/her, though final responsibility and critical arbitration remain with the General Director.

Main Responsibilities:

General

As an LT member of MSF Japan, the GDG:

• Represents MSF Japan as an active section supporting and shaping movement-wide initiatives.
• Contributes to shaping the strategic direction of MSF Japan, including participation in developing and carryng out organization-wide goals and objectives, formulating policies, and in decision making with an organization-wide impact.
• Directly owns the mitigation and management of some key risks for the organization.
• Exemplifies by his/her actions and conduct, the spirit of the principles and the mission of MSF.
• Represents MSF externally to further its objectives as and when required.
• Holds accountability for devlivering relevant strategic objectives on time and on budget.

Organizational growth and risk mamagement

• Maintains a critical overview of MSF Japan's structural growth requirements by foreseeing, flagging and at times directly overseeing the execution of changes in policies, practices, priorities, redundancies, new investments and risks.
• Oversees the construction of the LT agenda, ensuring decisions are executed, including direct authority on cross-departmental areas, and critical items are prioritised by the LT.
• Identifies key areas for improvements in cross-departmental collaborations and oversees the resolution of cross departmental issues.
• Ensures all policies and office-wide rules are firt for purpose, validated at the right level, generally complied with, and cover critical areas of practice.
• Oversees the risk register, allocates risk ownership, and ensures timely execution of risk mitigation measures.

Movement and partnereships support

• Leades the coorditation of consultations on MSF Japan positioning regarding topics relevant to the Movement and OC partners.
• Delegated authority for specific movement and OC partnership dossiers.
• Focal point for MSF movements hosted position

Planning, monitoring, course correction

• Delegated authority for the execution of some specifice strategic orientations.
• Leads annual planning, ensuring synergies between departments are realised, duplications and inconsistencies are avoided, coherence with the Strategic Plan is absolute.
• Pre-validates with the Director of Support Service annual draft budgets.
• Ensures annual objectives are on track, maintaining a clear understanding of challenges encuntered and actively addressing delays and issues that are met with relevant stakeholders, witha a specific focus on cross-departmental objectives.
• Ensures all new departmental projects or strategies are constructed with the input of all relevant stakeholders.
• Leads advisory to the General Director on validating delays, cancellation or amendments to annual objectives.

Internal communications

• Reviews and oversees MSF japan internal communiation practices, including decisions on channels, frequencies and topics to be shared with all staff and the Board.

Crisis management

• As a member fot MSF Japan Crisis Management Team (CMT), leads on CMT-related issues (preparedness, training, follwing up of action points).
• Acts as a default coordinator in domestic crises management responses (when cross-departmental responses are in scope).

Qualifications and requirements

Essential

• Minimum 5 years of directly relevant working experience including demonstrated experience in developing and implementing strategic orientations, budgeting and planning.
• Genuine interest in and commitment to hte humanitarian principles of MSF and minimum 3 years working experience with MSF
• Minimum 2 years of working experience in humanitarian field work
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to synthesise and effectively present information
• Solution oriented with excellent interpersonal and listening skills
• Proven experience in conflict resolution
• Time management, stress management and organization skills
• Excellent cross-cultural awareness and flexibility
• Fluent win written and spoken English
• Minimum 2 years of experience with MSF or an equivalentglobal humanitarian organisation
• Knowledge of Japanese culture or work experience in the Japanese environment
• Ability to travel regularly

Desirable

• Japanese language skills or willingness to learn Japanese language
• French language skills

Special Notes:

This Job Description is only a summary of the typical functions of this poistion and not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities and duties. Accordingly, the responsibilities and duties of the job holder might differ from those outlined in this Job Description and the other duties, as assigned, might be part of the job due to the organizational and operational needs.

If you are interested in this position, please send your motivation letter and CV, with your picture if possible, in English, to:

hqhr-recruitment@tokyo.msf.org

Application Deadline: October 2nd, 2019

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.