SPINCO Logistics Product Information Specialist

Location: Any MSF Office*

Contract: 100%

Duration: The term of this assignment is intended to be for a period of 16 months, nevertheless, the duration of the contract may be subject to the employment regulations and labor laws of the country where the selected candidate is based.

Starting date: 01st September 2026

Deadline to apply: 12th of July 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 candidate will be offered a contract in the MSF office of their country of residence at the time of application.

I. MSF INTERNATIONAL

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural disasters. MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

MSF International is the legal entity that binds MSF’s 23 sections, 25 associations and other offices together. Based in Geneva, MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested.

II. POSITION BACKGROUND

SPINCO is the driver for effective collaboration across the movement contributes towards MSF’s social mission through the provision of a central source of trusted product information that enables continuous procurement process improvements. Proposed and developed by the logistics and medical departments, SPINCO was officially recognised at International level in 1994 and integrated into MSF International in 2006. In 2016, UniData has been implemented, which is the unique central article database of MSF.

UniData details all item codes (standard, non-standard and non-standard local articles) created in MSF, avoiding duplication, and shares product information of all articles available for the field to all layers in the organization. The product data quality and visibility provided by UniData enables assortment management, improves supply chain performance and increases overall interoperability and quality of care, whilst reducing duplications of effort.

III. PLACE IN THE ORGANISATION

The Logistics Product Information Specialist reports to the Logistic Product Information Team Leader and will be interacting with the SPINCO team, the data-owners in the European supply centres (ESC referents), and the international working group technicians in the MSF Operational Centres (OC), as well as with representatives in the field.

The SPINCO Logistics team will consist of three Logistics Product information Specialists reporting to the Logistics Product Information Team Leader. The Product information Specialists act as a ‘1st line point of contact’ for all counterparts requesting new codes, code changes or article descriptions. Each have their own portfolio of technical fields (Energy & electricity, Transport, Cold chain, Safety, Nutrition, Water & Sanitation, Construction & Shelter, Field ICT & GIS, Safety, Telecom) and will work together with the related working groups.

IV. OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

The Logistics Product information Specialist role contributes to MSF's social mission by ensuring the availability of trusted, standardized, and high-quality product information for the whole MSF movement. This role supports field operations, supply chain performance, and interoperability through centralized data stewardship, data ownership, product portfolio management, product owner of the central source of product information and collaboration with diverse MSF stakeholders. The position ensures that MSF's logistical products meet quality, regulatory, and operational standards, enabling effective humanitarian response and resource optimization.

The SPINCO Logistics Product information Specialists role is to safe-guard the integrity and quality of the logistical article database and keep it in line with the codification rules.

He/she will do so by creating/validating new logistical articles for the operational centres (OCs) of MSF in UniData and by improving and augmenting existing product information. He/she will act as primary point of contact and follows-up on all requests for new articles or improvements on article information, related to the technical fields of his/her portfolio.

V. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Product Information Management according to logistical portfolio

• Monitor, evaluate, and process requests for new, modified, or removed products in alignment with MSF guidelines, protocols and standards.

• Consolidate and validate information on product description, quality, pricing, field testing, and maintenance requirements.

• Manages the data product lifecycle

• Prioritizes improvements and manages changes over time

2. Harmonization and Interoperability

• Collaborate with intersectional platforms, supply centers and field operations to standardize products across MSF operations.

• Facilitate product/article sharing between different OC’s/OD’s and enable intersectional field operations by ensuring product harmonization/standardisation.

• Promote responsible use of product data to balance efficiency, cost, and humanitarian mission.

3. Data Stewardship

• Ensure and maintain the high quality of product information in terms of accuracy, validity, consistency, completeness, uniqueness and accessibility of product information in the UniData tool, MSF's central article database.

• Ensure UniData serves as the single source of truth for downstream systems (e.g., ERP, order tools).

• Govern the central database and ensure compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., EU norms, ISO standards, IATA transport regulations).

• Promote consistency and usability by maintaining aligned definitions (Knowledge database, KPIs) and making data fit for decision-making.

• Support continuous improvement by identifying data issues, proposing enhancements, and acting as a bridge between operational needs and IT.

4. Data ownership: accessibility and visibility

• Responsible and accountable for the accessibility and visibility of product information

• Publish product information on accessible platforms (web, intranet, offline tools) for global MSF staff.

• Act as the focal point for central database governance and user support.

5. Process Design and Improvement

• Responsible and accountable for data governance: how product information is defined, created and used

• Design, implement, and enhance processes related to data requirements, product codification, and multilingual labelling.

• Pushing data governance by setting the direction and objectives

• Actively promoting improved data governance practices (RACI).

• Ensure product information data supports reliable operational & strategic decision-making

• Publish periodic logistical product changes reports.

• Develop policies, guidelines, and training materials for approximately 1,700 database users.

• Collaborate in the implementation of a new ecosystem (central master data system replacing UniData). Ensuring the final solution delivers maximum value to its users and aligns with MSF's operational goals. Participate to the user acceptance testing of the new ecosystem

6. Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with OC working group technicians, ESC data owners, MSF field staff, headquarters, QA teams, and international platforms to ensure product standardization and quality of product information.

Technical Expertise

• Master's degree in a relevant field e.g., supply chain management, or in one of the following logistical fields: mechanics, electronics, energy, water and sanitation

• At least five years of professional experience in a technical role: supply chain management, or in one of the following logistical fields: mechanics, electronics, energy, water and sanitation

• Field experience preferably with MSF or NGOs in developing countries 

• Strong knowledge of Logistics Product Information, preferably MSF Product Information

• Proficiency in regulatory compliance (EU norms, ISO standards, IATA transport regulations).

• Technical writing and computer proficiency, including database management tools.

• Fluent (written and spoken) in English and French

Collaboration and Communication

• Excellent collaboration, diplomacy, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Ability to work effectively with diverse teams across MSF's international platforms.

• Self-motivated, proactive, flexible and an effective organizer

• Good team worker, but, at times, also able to work with minimum supervision

• Able to travel internationally

• customer oriented, resilient, good people skills: to deal with (re-)explaining rules, guidelines and governance to demanding stakeholders

• Problem solving & initiatives taking attitude

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 and to appropriate screening checks. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her/their understanding of these recruitment procedures.