All-round logistician

Caption An MSF mechanic works on the underside of a vehicle at the MSF workshop in Juba, South Sudan. © Jason Rizzo / MSF

Working with us as an all-round logistician is a diverse and rewarding experience.

From human resources and finance through to management of communications equipment, supply management, vehicle maintenance and sometimes even water and sanitation, our all-round logisticians are often found on smaller Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) projects in which a limited team is required.

The role can include human resource, finance, and logistics managers, maintenance managers, project managers, support services managers, facilities managers, mechanics, electricians, builders and plumbers

Responsibilities

All-round logisticians, by nature of the position, come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common :  flexibility.

In a high-security context where only a team of four can be sent, an all-round logistician will usually be part of the team. In a small project which is winding down and being handed over to a local authority, it is an all-round logistician who will manage all non-medical aspects of the work. This makes it a fun and diverse job but requires people who can turn their hand to anything needed.

It’s an exciting role and you would be responsible for some or all of the following :

• Managing a team of day workers, supply assistants, technical logistics assistants, administration assistants, bookkeepers, waste zone operators and various others
• Planning supply needs
• Setting up aeroplane runways, bunkers and managing accommodation
• Ordering food and supplies for both the compound and the health facilities
• Managing security on exploration missions
• Siting and constructing hospital buildings
• Managing hospital waste
• HR, Finance and performance management for national staff
• Supervising hygiene promotion
• Assisting the PC with budget management
• As well as any other non-medical tasks needing to be done

As in all positions, training, supervising and managing local logistics staff is a key responsibility, and an all-round logistician will often manage all non-medical departments, so may have quite a few staff in their team and need to delegate much of the work to them.

They will need to build the capacity of these local staff in order to manage their departments, as well as ensure safe and fair working conditions and manage the administration of the departments.

Application guide

Read our guide on the application process for all overseas roles

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Role requirements

Languages​

We're currently looking for project coordinators with good  French  or  Arabic  skills.

If you can speak French or Arabic you're  much more likely  to be accepted onto our register.

Your language level may be tested during the recruitment process.