Social Science Team Lead

Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides life-saving emergency relief and longer-term medical care to some of the most vulnerable and excluded communities around the world. As an independent medical humanitarian organisation, we deliver care based only on need, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or political affiliation.

MSF relies on donations from private individuals and organisations for the majority of its income. This private funding gives MSF the freedom to respond where needs are greatest and to speak out publicly, free from any political interference.

MSF has around 63,000 local and international staff working in over 70 countries, in some of the most challenging places in the world. Our medical humanitarian projects are supported by offices in 44 countries, including the UK and Ireland. These teams recruit staff, organise fundraising, and raise awareness on the humanitarian crises our colleagues are witnessing, as well as running different and diverse support activities. MSF offices are spread across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

At MSF UK / IE, we support MSF's operations by building relationships with our supporters, increasing awareness of our work, raising funds, providing specialist medical expertise, ensuring MSF staff have access to relevant higher education programmes, catalysing change on medical humanitarian issues, and recruiting field staff. MSF UK / IE personnel are dynamic, hard-working, enthusiastic and committed to MSF's values and aims. In addition MSF continues to build upon its presence in Ireland to become a widely recognised, accepted and respected humanitarian organisation among Irish audiences, and within the Irish humanitarian and political sector.

Position

The Social Science Team Lead is responsible for steering the positioning of the social sciences within MSF. This includes managing a team of Anthropologists and Mental health professionals with the integration, transversality and professionalising of their disciplines inside MSF’s humanitarian operations. The objective is to foster a productive team environment, ensuring collaboration, communication and technical expertise to support OCA and other entities in MSF to deliver timely and contextualised medical humanitarian assistance.

Hours : Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Duration : Permanent

Location : London – hybrid working, 2 days per week in the office (office in Farringdon moving to Aldgate mid-January 2025)

Salary : £74,420.37 per annum

Internal Salary Grade : 19.1

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills & experience :

• Post-graduate qualification in social sciences (or equivalent experience in use of social science methods); medical or paramedical qualification desirable
• Proven experience in programmatic management of humanitarian activities.
• MSF or equivalent experience working in humanitarian contexts.
• Good understanding and knowledge of medical issues and challenges in humanitarian contexts
• Evidence of application of qualitative research skills in humanitarian settings.
• Experience in protocol development, implementation and dissemination of research.
• Team management experience including medical staff.
• Proven ability to prioritise.
• Excellent strategic planning skills.
• Proven networking and representation skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, listening and negotiation skills.
• Solid interpersonal skills with willingness and ability to communicate effectively with senior operational management, national authorities and other international organisations.
• Experience in the practical use of personal IT equipment and Microsoft Office 365 suite. The ability to effectively collaborate and communicate within a hybrid working environment utilising Teams, SharePoint, One Drive and Engage.

Other information

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive organisation. MSF UK thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Please read our Equality & Diversity policy for more information.

MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community.

Safeguarding

MSF UK / IE is dedicated to safeguarding everyone who comes into contact with the organisation, for whatever reason and however brief. All posts are subject to safer recruitment process which include robust reference requests, scrutiny of employment history and where applicable criminal record and barring checks.

Our safeguarding commitment is underpinned by policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the organisation. On joining MSF UK / IE you will be required to attend safeguarding training to ensure responsibility for and maintaining safe working practice and to safeguard our teams, beneficiaries, and communities.

Right to work in the UK

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK . Please click here to check whether you have the right to work in the UK. If you would like to discuss your right to work status further, please contact [email protected].

APPLICATION PROCESS

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply on our website by submitting a copy of your CV together with a letter of motivation by the closing date.

Recruitment timetable :

Accessibility

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 by contacting [email protected].

Examples of adjustments we can make :

We look forward to receiving your application!

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