Hospital Management and Partnership Referent, Abidjan/Brussels

Medecins Sans Frontières is seeking Hospital Management and Partnership Referent, Abidjan/Brussels  for employment in Cote dIvoire, West Africa

Hospital Management and Partnership Referent, Abidjan/Brussels Details

CONTEXT
The OCB Medical Department(OCB – Operational Center Brussels) plays a strategic role by defining the modalities of implementation of MSF's medical strategy so that both coherence and quality can be safeguarded across operations. They provide strategic support throughout the project cycle, combining a normative function with technical guidance for implementation and follow-up. Additionally, they ensure knowledge transfer to the medical workforce and foster research and innovation by challenging current practices and exploring new approaches.
It is composed of multiple specialists based across a network of units worldwide (Belgium, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Luxembourg, and South Africa) and works in close collaboration with operations, other OCB departments and MSF movement. We are also supporting the projects of MSF Western & Central Africa (WaCa).
The Hospital Management Support Unit (HMSU) is hosted in the medical department and works interdisciplinary with relevant technical expertise to support the management of hospitals and larger outpatient departments or clinics in their proper context and in coherence with OCB strategic objectives. The HMSU is currently composed of 3 Hospital Management referents - one medical profile, one position on facilities management and this position more focused on resources management and MOH partnerships.
The HMSU develops and enhances expertise in hospital management, in close collaboration with Operational Support Teams (Cells), Medical, Logistics and People and Workforce department departments to support the teams' managing hospitals. Hospital management teams structure their support around seven key flows: patient, workforce, support services, equipment & material, medication & medical supply, information, and transversally quality improvement.
As Hospital Management and MOH partnership Referent:
You will be the focal point for MOH partnerships, you will lead coordinated efforts in collaboration with the Analysis and HR departments to develop a comprehensive framework, tools, and guidelines for working with Ministries of Health. The objective is to ensure hospitals in partnership are accessible to those made most vulnerable and excluded and achieve the desired quality of care
You will work closely with hospital management teams to provide strategic and operational support aimed at strengthening hospital systems, management practices, and quality of care by ensuring alignment with the projects medical strategy and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration.
And you will play a key role in capacity building, mentoring hospital managers, and promoting sustainable management practices to enhance the overall performance of MSF health facilities. Specifically, you will bring your expertise in workforce and supportive services management as key components of hospital management.
You will closely work together with your 2 colleagues in the HMSU to ensure multidisciplinary approach in support to the project teams as well as in the development of guidance documents and tools.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
As MOH partnership referent:
Development of a MOH collaboration framework
Lead the work on developing a MoH collaboration framework with following elements:
Design and maintain standardized guidance for MOH collaboration, including templates for Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and partnership protocols
Define clear "red lines" in partnerships with MOH
Define and advise operations on decision-making criteria for when to engage or disengage with MOH
Develop frameworks and tools to support project teams in planning for transition or exit from MOH partnerships, ensuring continuity of care and minimizing risks to patients
Incentive Packages
In collaboration with the People & Workforce department, develop clear guidelines on what constitutes incentives for MOH staff and partners, the overall package
Develop guidance on models for incentive schemes (e.g., fixed vs. performance-based) and clarify what is indicated in which context
Address challenges such as sustainability, equity, and the impact of incentives on behavior and quality of care
Negociation capacity Building
Create, in collaboration with the Analysis Department, training materials and toolkits for country, project, and hospital management teams on negotiation skills and partnership management
Offer remote and on-site support during critical negotiations or partnership reviews
Monitoring & Evaluation Tools
Develop systems for project teams to track, monitor, and evaluate MOUs and partnership effectiveness
Ensure lessons learned and best practices are documented and shared across operational centers
Policy & Standards alignment
Draft guidance on balancing MSF standards with MOH protocols, including strategies for upgrading MOH standards and safeguarding an acceptable or desired level of effective and person-centered care
Ensure that safeguarding and duty of care considerations are integrated into partnership frameworks
Coordination & Knowledge Sharing
Collaborate with intersectional counterparts on MOH engagement strategies across different operational centers
Develop tools and a repository of actor mapping and contextual analysis for country teams to use
Maintain a repository of MOU's and used tools of partnership hospitals
Support the project teams in this Collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH)
Advise hospital management teams to ensure alignment with national hospital management-related policies and guidelines, whenever possible and considering MSFs values and principles
Support project teams in the development of MOUs with the MOH
As Hospital Management referent:
Development of Expertise
Enhance hospital management expertise within OCB in collaboration with cells and medical department referents
Design and develop governance, operational, and organizational tools for hospital management, including topics such as hospital capacity management (calculation of beds with necessary HR etc.)
Develop guidance on the organization and functioning of clinical and non-clinical ancillary services in a hospital in collaboration with IPC and hospital facility management
Contribute to the refinement and further development of the Hospital Management Team Training (HMTT), specifically by designing training packages on co-management (MoH & MSF) and deepening content related to workforce and support services management
Assess training needs and contribute to the integration of hospital management concepts into other internal training sessions
Support project teams
Provide expert advice on operational efficiency, governance, and organizational processes
Guide the development of action plans based on project findings and monitor progress
Conduct project visits to evaluate hospital configurations, procedures, and organizational structures
Provide on-site support, training, and recommendations for improving hospital operations
Transition Phase Support
Advise hospital teams during project's design and setup as well as during MSF's exit or operational changes
Assist in developing and monitoring transition plans aligned with medical priorities
Support handovers to enable independent hospital operations post-transition
Monitoring and Evaluation
Develop methodologies, tools, and indicators for hospital management in collaboration with HMSU and medical teams
Implement and utilize medical data management systems and dashboards
Analyze hospital data (quantitative and qualitative) and recommend improvements based on evaluations
Financial and Human Resource Management
Contribute to long-term resource management strategies aligned with hospital goals
Advice on prioritizing spending to enhance patient care while controlling costs
Advice on workforce planning, organizational setups, and organograms
Propose HR strategies and training programs to enhance staff skills and leadership capacities
REQUIREMENTS
Education & Experience
Minimum 2 years of professional experience in management of hospitals or in coordinating positions involving a part of hospital management is mandatory (project coordinator, medical project coordinator, Head nurse, etc.) is mandatory
Minimum 2 years of MSF international experience in different contexts (or equivalent experience in medical humanitarian organisations managing projects with hospital components) is mandatory
Experience in working with Ministries of Health in low-resource settings is mandatory
A degree in Management, Hospital management, Healthcare management, Health Policy, International relations is a strong asset
Experience in developing guidance and training materials is a strong asset
Competencies
Strategic and analytical: able to turn complex challenges into practical tools and actionable plans
Excellent communication (diplomacy), facilitation skills
Team collaboration and Building Relationships across multi-disciplinary teams, multi-stakeholders and different context
Autonomy and adaptability
Behavioral Flexibility and stress management
Results and Quality Orientation
Planning & organisational skills
Cross cultural awareness
Languages
Proficiency in English and French, both written & spoken is mandatory
Other MSF Operational Languages are an asset
CONDITIONS
Expected starting date: As soon as possible
Location: Abidjan (Ivory Coast) or Brussels (Belgium)
Contract type: Fixed-term contract - full-time
Contract duration: 2 years (potentially extendable)
Mobility: 30% MSF project visits per year
Salary according to MSF- OCB salary grid
Possibility to work from home according to MSF Policy
Meal Vouchers – Hospital Insurance (DKV) - Pension Plan - 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments
Deadline for applications extended until: 20th of August 2026
How to apply
How to apply?
Submit your application via the Apply here button on the vacancy page
You will be directed to the online application form for this position
It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter ready to upload (in pdf format)
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
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