Head of the HRM department Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent, medical, emergency relief organisation that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and to offer medical care to victims of disasters, wars and epidemics. Working together with local staff, we give direct support to the population. MSF also appeals to those in power, including governments and international organisations, and speaks out about the abuses we encounter in the course of our work. The Dutch organisation ‘Artsen zonder Grenzen’ (MSF-Holland) is a member of the international organisation ‘Médecins Sans Frontières’.

MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in 25 countries. On a yearly basis MSF-Holland deploys approximately 900 international staff and employs 6,100 national staff. At headquarters in Amsterdam, around 180 employees offer their support to the projects.

The Human Resources Management department is the key player in recruitment, selection, deployment, training and development of all our staff, in the field projects and in headquarters. The department works in close cooperation with the HRM departments of the partner sections in United Kingdom and Germany to achieve its ambitions. The department in Amsterdam consists of approximately 36 staff (33 fte) divided over the units HRM-Field, HRM Administration & Services, HRM Pool Management & Development, MSFH Recruitment, Psycho Social Care and HRM Office.

Over the last years the HRM department has been faced with some major challenges. The external environment in humanitarian work is changing and the ‘war on talent’ is happening also in our field of work. Recruitment and retention models suitable for the past probably need adaptation for the years to come.

At this moment Operational Centre Amsterdam is implementing its new strategic plan 2011 – 2014. A major theme in this plan is the alignment of our HR strategies with new operational realities and our operational ambitions. In the strategic plan, a clear implementation scheme for these new strategies is foreseen.

We are looking for a motivated, experienced candidate for the position of:

Head of the HRM department (40 hours per week)

based in Amsterdam

The HoD HRM reports to the Director Resources and is accountable for the efficiency, transparency and quality of the HRM policies and work processes of the department. In this capacity (s)he line-manages the coordinators of the units, HRM Advisor and Officers for HQs, and the Policy Officer. His/her main responsibilities are:

• Promoting the formulation of the overall HR strategy in line with MSF’s overall strategy, including maintaining an ethical framework for HRM activities;
• Realisation of the overall HR strategy and objectives set out in the strategic plan 2011-2014;
• Development and consistent execution of HRM policies and standard HRM procedures at headquarters and in field projects;
• Management and quality of the HRM support and advise to the field projects and to the headquarters;
• Qualitative development of the organisation (in the field of employment conditions, human accounting, recruitment and selection, assessments and personal coaching);
• Contributing to the development of functional (management) structures and systems for sharing of operations management across the Operational Centre Amsterdam (including Berlin and London);
• Leading the department and its staff; responsible for the integral human resources management in the department. Manages 7-9direct reports;
• Developing strategic, tactical and operational collaboration with HRM functions in other (operational) MSF sections;
• Maintaining and updating a trustworthy information system that provides the line management with timely, accurate, complete information about the situation as regards personnel matters relating to projects, the headquarter departments and the support sections.

Profile

We are looking for a candidate with a thinking and working level up to academic standards. The candidate must be able to demonstrate strong proven skills in management and leadership and will have extensive experience in a relevant management position.

You preferably have knowledge of and experience with HRM, change processes and (Dutch) labour law issues in a dynamic international work environment (preferably in a NGO setting).

You are capable of conceptual and analytical thinking and have proven skills to translate concepts into practice.

This is a fast paced working environment where persuasiveness, a result-oriented focus and an innovative approach are required. You can act as a coach and inspire staff.

Good communication and presentation skills are essential as well as an excellent command of the English language, both written and spoken. Active knowledge of Dutch or French is an asset.

At the international level, the head of the department will liaise with counterparts throughout the MSF network on HRM related themes such as international remuneration. For this purpose you are available to do international trips and field visits.

We offer

• A fulltime position in a challenging international environment;
• A contract for three years (with a renewal option of two years) based on a fulltime appointment;
• A salary in grade 9 with a gross monthly salary of maximum € 5.520 depending upon relevant professional experience, based upon a 40-hour working week;
• Other benefits include 30 holidays and a premium free pension.

Application

For more information about this position, please contact Floris van Spengler, Director Resources on phone 020-520 8028.

If you are interested in this position and believe that you meet the requirements of the profile, please send by email your letter of application and curriculum vitae in English to officejobs@amsterdam.msf.org for the attention of Marco Visser, Personnel Advisor.

Please mention “HoD HRM” in the subject line. Could you also mention in your e-mail where you came across this vacancy? An assessment can be part of the selection procedure.

The application deadline is 20^th of December. The interviews will be planned soon after.