SPARC Safeguarding Implementation Lead

Location: Any MSF office*

Contract: Permanent at 100%

Starting date: ASAP

Deadline to apply: 17th August 2026

Compensation and Benefits: MSF practice is to offer the compensation and benefits package in line with the MSF entity offering the contract.

*By default, the successful canddiate will be offered a contract in the MSF office of their country of residence at time of application.

I. CONTEXT

MSF is committed to creating a safe, respectful, and dignified environment for its patients, their caretakers, and the communities in which it works, and for all its volunteers and staff. To this end, all sections of MSF have adopted Behavioural Commitments designed to ensure all staff are aware of their obligations to create workspaces free from abuse and inappropriate behaviour. MSF is committed to safeguarding and ensuring zero tolerance of inaction on abuse.

MSF is continuously strengthening its safeguarding work, and safeguarding remains a top organizational priority.  In line with this organization commitment, MSF has created an ambitious six-year plan to robustly, consistently, and cohesively implement safeguarding measures and actions and firmly embed a safeguarding culture across the MSF movement and within its country programmes through its Strategic Planning and Resource Cycle (SPARC). 

SPARC is an ambitious plan, involving all MSF staff working in their respective roles to ensure safeguarding is institutionalized as a “way of working” and to ensure that MSF upholds the highest standards and implements best practices with respect to safeguarding in all of its offices and operations.  To achieve its aims, MSF International will require additional safeguarding staff to ensure coordination and implementation of the work across MSF.

II. PURPOSE OF THE JOB

In addition to any other tasks assigned by the International Safeguarding Coordinator, the SPARC Safeguarding Implementation Lead drives the implementation, operationalisation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of MSF’s SPARC Safeguarding ambitions and strategic initiatives across the movement.

The role leads coordination and implementation efforts that translate safeguarding ambitions, commitments, policies, and standards into practical, measurable, and sustainable safeguarding practices across MSF.

The position advances safeguarding culture change by strengthening accountability, implementation oversight, monitoring, learning, and cross-functional collaboration aligned with MSF’s safeguarding ambitions to 2031 and in close collaboration with SPARC’s Accountability and Learning Officer

The role champions survivor-centred, trauma-informed, person-centred approaches and contributes to strengthening prevention, detection, reporting, response, accountability, and institutional learning on safeguarding across the Movement.

The SPARC Safeguarding Implementation Lead reports to and supports the International Safeguarding Coordinator (ISC) and works closely with: Operational Center Safeguarding/Behavioural Leads in all Operational Directorates, the International Platform On Behaviors (IPOB), the Ambassadors Network on Ethical Behaviour (ANEB), the SPARC’s Safeguarding Coordinating Mechanism, the SPARC’s Accountability and Learning Officer, the RIOD (International Platform for the Operational Directors), the IDRH (International platform for the HR Directors), the International Platform for the Medical Directors.

III. ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Lead implementation of SPARC safeguarding ambitions and initiatives:

· Lead coordination and implementation follow-up of SPARC Safeguarding ambitions and strategic initiatives across the SPARC cycle.

· Translate common safeguarding ambitions into implementation plans, deliverables, milestones, accountability mechanisms, and measurable outcomes.

· Monitor movement-wide coordination of safeguarding initiatives across ODs, sections, and international platforms and report on implementation progress against safeguarding objectives and ambitions to 2031.

· Develop implementation guidance, tools, frameworks, templates, and operational resources.

Key Accountabilities:

• Safeguarding ambitions are translated into practical implementation plans and operational deliverables.

• Implementation progress is systematically tracked, monitored, and reported.

• Common implementation approaches, tools, and guidance are developed and used across relevant stakeholders.

2. Drive safeguarding culture change and operationalisation:

. Drive integration of safeguarding as a core organizational practice across MSF offices, projects, and operational environments.

. Strengthen safeguarding accountability, leadership engagement, and operational ownership across functions and levels of the organization.

. Embed safeguarding responsibilities into organizational systems, operational planning, management practices, onboarding, and workforce processes.

. Support the ISC in cross-functional coordination with IDRH, MedOps, Dir Med, RIOD, ILD, DEI, and other key stakeholders.

Key Accountabilities:

• Safeguarding is increasingly embedded into organisational systems, operational practices, and ways of working.

• Safeguarding considerations are integrated into workforce and operational processes.

• Cross-functional collaboration on safeguarding implementation is strengthened.

• Organisational awareness and ownership of safeguarding responsibilities are increased across the movement.

3. Lead monitoring, accountability, learning, and continuous improvement:

. Monitor implementation progress, identify risks and gaps, and drive corrective and improvement actions where needed.

. Analyse safeguarding implementation trends, challenges, and lessons learned to inform strategic decision-making.

. Produce implementation reports, dashboards, briefing papers, presentations, and governance updates.

. Lead learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives related to safeguarding implementation and best practices.

. Coordinate safeguarding reviews, consultations, evaluations, and implementation follow-up processes

Key Accountabilities :

• Monitor safeguarding implementation progress

• Analyze implementation to support evidence-based strategic decision-making.

• Produce high-quality reports, dashboards, briefing papers, presentations, and governance updates

• Lead learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives to promote best practices and continuous improvement.

• Coordinate safeguarding reviews, consultations, evaluations, and follow-up processes, ensuring recommendations are tracked and implemented.

IV. AUTONOMY, COMPLEXITY

The role advises IO, OD and Sections leadership on the implementation, operationalisation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of MSF’s safeguarding ambitions and strategic initiatives. The position needs to be able to organize and prioritize deliverables independently.

The role uses subject matter expertise, analysis, independent judgement and translates Safeguarding Ambitions and Strategic Initiatives and concepts into practical outputs and plans of action. This role works across internal stakeholders, influencing decisions, building consensus around safeguarding issues and strategies and autonomously champions survivor-centred, trauma-informed, person-centred approaches and contributes to strengthening prevention, detection, reporting, response, accountability, and institutional learning across the Movement.

V. SAFEGUARDING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ROLE

The incumbent commits to contribute to a safe, supportive, inclusive, equitable, diverse, respectful, and healthy workplace, free from abuse and other misconduct. They will not engage in any form of abuse including those detailed in MSF Typologies of Abuse and when an employee suspects or observes abuse, they will report it (without investigating it) to protect others. 

Education

A master's degree in relevant field such as international law, human rights OR a bachelor's degree combined with significant relevant experience in safeguarding.

Experience

A minimum of 3 years implementing safeguarding initiatives in operational/country programme contexts. 

MSF experience is an asset.

Knowledge / Skills

· Strong understanding of safeguarding and safeguarding risks.

· Ability to translate strategic plans into pragmatic, implementable actions.

· Ability to coordinate and work with a range of stakeholders in a consultative mode to reach consensus on action.

· Strong writing skills and ability to communicate safeguarding concepts and present data clearly and simply to a range of audiences.

· A strong understanding of monitoring and evaluation.

Competencies

· Demonstrated ability to lead complex implementation and coordination initiatives across diverse stakeholders.

· Ability to influence organisational change in matrixed and multicultural environments.

· Strong strategic coordination and implementation management skills.

· Demonstrated ability to drive accountability and follow-through across multiple workstreams.

· Ability to navigate sensitive safeguarding issues with discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgement.

· Cross cultural awareness and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles.

. Motivation to work in a humanitarian organisation and a fast paced, dynamic environment.

Languages

·     English, French is an asset

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

At MSF, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF is committed to preventing abuse, inappropriate behaviour, lack of integrity and financial misconduct in its work and care spaces. MSF expects all staff to share this commitment and promote an environment where abuse and misconduct is not tolerated.

We are committed to removing barriers for people with specific accessibility needs. If you need an adjustment to the recruitment process to be considered for the role, please let us know from the beginning of the selection process.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to reference checks, including Human Resources, and to appropriate screening checks. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her/their understanding of these selection procedures.