Director of Human Resources and Administration

About MSF

Doctors without Borders (MSF) Southern Africa is a global network of principled professionals who specialise in medical humanitarian work driven by our common humanity and guided by medical ethics. We work together in teams, small and large, to respond to the medical needs of people affected by conflict, disasters, epidemics and those excluded from healthcare.

Doctors Without Borders team members are on the ground, working directly, every day. We bear witness and describe what is happening, to raise awareness about the experiences of the people we assist and the situations where we work. We alert the public to emerging crises, acute emergencies and serious challenges, such as lack of access and exclusion from healthcare – and to mobilise support for MSF’s work and social mission, provoking change.

Today, MSF is present in more than 70 countries, where thousands of MSF doctors, nurses, logisticians, water-and-sanitation experts, and other medical and non-medical professionals work together to bring essential health services to people caught in humanitarian crises. MSF South Africa is in Johannesburg with an office in Cape Town too. MSF SA is governed by the MSF Southern Africa Association, which is made up of more than 300 members from seven countries in the region.

Background

MSF Southern Africa (MSF SnA) is undergoing a leadership transition following the departure of the HR Director. Several critical HR initiatives are ongoing, and the permanent recruitment process is expected to take several months. To ensure continuity, stability, and effective HR governance, MSF SnA seeks an experienced HR leader to serve as Interim HR Director for a fixed 3-month period, renewable based on organisational needs.

Purpose of the Assignment

The Director of Human Resources provides strategic and operational leadership for the Human Resources function and serves as a key driver of organisational effectiveness and transformation within MSF Southern Africa. As a member of the Leadership Team, the HR & Administrative Director is responsible to shape and implementing people strategies that support the organisation's strategic ambitions, workforce sustainability, operational effectiveness, and organisational culture. The role ensures that HR systems, structures, policies, and practices enable MSF Southern Africa to attract, develop, engage, and retain a diverse and high-performing workforce.

The Director plays a vital role to the organisational transformation initiatives impacting people, culture, structures, and ways of working, while ensuring alignment with MSF's humanitarian principles, global HR vision, and evolving movement priorities.

Operating within a complex international and matrixed environment, the Director collaborates closely with MSF East Africa, MSF UK, MSF Spain, Operational Centre Brussels, MSF Ubuntu Operational Directorate, and international HR platforms to strengthen organisational capability and support operational objectives.

The role is accountable for ensuring alignment, collaboration, and coherence across all HR specialities while supporting organisational transformation, workforce sustainability, and operational effectiveness. The Director also acts as the principal HR representative within the MSF movement, engaging with international HR platforms, partner sections, and operational centres on strategic workforce matters.

The Director of Human Resources provides leadership and oversight to the Human Resources Department, comprising five core functional pillars:

• Domestic/Office Human Resources – Responsible for all HR services and employee relations relating to MSF Southern Africa section staff. 
• Field Human Resources – Responsible for International Mobile Staff (IMS), field support, mobility, deployment, operational workforce planning and recruitment of the workforce. 
• Learning and Development – Responsible for leadership development, talent management, performance management, mobility, and organisational capability building.
• Rewards and Benefits – Responsible for compensation and benefits strategy, salary benchmarking, grading frameworks, rewards governance, pay equity, and benefits administration.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic HR Leadership (Competency: Leadership & Vision)

• Develop and implement Human Resources & Administrative strategy aligned with organisational goals and transformation priorities.
• Advise senior leadership on workforce strategy, organisational design, and culture change.
• Champion ethical leadership and decision-making aligned with humanitarian principles.
• Responsible for the coherence and alignment between the HR functions and initiatives of MSF SnA and cross-cutting functions and initiatives of other MSF HR actors globally.  

2. Organisational Change & Transformation

• Provide strategic leadership for organisation-wide transformation initiatives, ensuring organisational structures, workforce capabilities, and operating models align with long-term objectives.
• Champion and govern complex change programs, including organisational redesign, workforce transformation, cultural evolution, and policy reviews, to drive sustainable organisational performance.
• Establish and oversee change management frameworks that enable leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, and successful adoption of transformational initiatives across the organisation.

3. Organisational Design & Workforce Planning

• Review and optimise organisational structures, reporting lines, and role clarity.
• Lead workforce planning aligned with programmatic and operational priorities.
• Ensure efficient deployment and utilisation of human resources across the MSF-SnA and support the overall MSF movement.
• Recognise and reinforce strong performance culture in the Human
• Resources and Administration team.
• Provide strategic oversight of compensation, grading, rewards, and benefits frameworks to ensure internal equity, external competitiveness, and alignment with organisational priorities. 

4. Talent Management & Leadership Development

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the HR team to develop the HR objectives and plans for Field HR & Office HR/Admin activities.
• Provide directions to the Learning & Development unit and ensure it responds to the needs of the section and enhances staff mobility and retention at a local, regional and global level.
  Build leadership capacity through coaching, mentoring, and structured development programs.

5.  HR Policies, Systems & Compliance

• Develop, harmonise, and enforce HR policies in line with local labour laws and international standards.
• Strengthen HR systems, processes, and internal controls to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with donor, legal, and organisational requirements.
• Ensure accurate integration of DEI & Safeguarding aspects into all policies and practices within the Human Resources and Administration department.

6. Employee Engagement & Organisational Culture

• Foster an inclusive, respectful, and diverse workplace culture.
• Lead employee engagement and internal communication strategies during change processes.
• Strengthen mechanisms for staff feedback, participation, and conflict resolution.

7. Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Leads the MSF SnA HR strategic discussions, initiatives, negotiations, or engagement at higher levels with other MSF entities, or external actors & counterparts
• Actively participates in relevant MSF regional, Operational Centres and intersectional HR platforms. 
• Build strong HR partnerships across departments, MSF EA, MSF Ubuntu partnerships, MSF Operational Directorate Brussels and other relevant entities.

8. Workforce Analytics, Talent and Succession Management

• Establish workforce planning and talent management strategies that anticipate future organisational needs.
• Develop and oversee successful planning frameworks for critical leadership and specialist positions.
• Promote data-driven decision-making using workforce analytics, HR metrics, and organisational insights.
• Monitor workforce trends and provide strategic recommendations to strengthen organisational resilience and capability.
• Ensure that talent acquisition, mobility, retention, and development strategies are aligned to organisational priorities.

9. Employee Experience, Wellbeing and Culture

• Lead initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, staff wellbeing, inclusion, and retention.
• Promote a positive employee experience throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Ensure effective mechanisms exist for staff feedback, participation, conflict management, and organisational learning.
• Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement. 

Duration

• 3 years, renewable only once on successful completion of first mandate

Reporting line

• Reports to the General Director; works in close collaboration with the Leadership Team, MSF EA counterparts, and the MSF Ubuntu HR leadership.

Profile

• Degree / related Diploma (NQF Level 7) in Human Resources Management and administration or related discipline- Required
• Master’s degree (NQF level 9) in Human Resources, Organisational
• Development, Business Administration, or related field- Desirable 
• Minimum 5-10 years of progressive HR experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role in HR management and strategic development role.
• Demonstrated experience in organisational change, restructuring, and transformation initiatives.
• Experience in the humanitarian / development / INGO sector is strongly preferred, especially for individuals who have worked in developing country contexts.
• Strong knowledge of international HR standards and frameworks (e.g., UN competency frameworks).

Application details:

• The vacancy closing date is 10 July 2026
• Start date: ASAP
• By applying to this position, the applicant confirms they have read, understood and agreed to fully comply with MSF Charter and MSF Behavioural Commitments and Data Privacy Policy.
• In line with MSF’s Safeguarding Principles, successful candidates undergo a rigorous vetting process that includes background checks and self-declaration.
• Applicants are required to upload a Letter of Motivation and Curriculum Vitae (in English) as per prescribed formats. Applications missing the motivation letter will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• People living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

APPLY HERE

Information

The protection of your personal data is important to MSF. 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 will not use your personal data in any other way, not foreseen for purposes of recruitment.

MSF is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge any application/recruitment fee.

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.

MSF values diversity and is committed to creating 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.