Location: Any MSF Office*

Contract: Short term contract (maternity leave replacement) - Part time (50%)

Duration: 5 months

Starting date: June 24, 2024

Deadline to apply: 1st April 2024


*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 24 sections, 25 associations and other offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested.

The International Legal Department (ILD) is currently the only intersectional department of MSF. Primarily dedicated to support MSF operations, its field of expertise is varied, including international humanitarian law (IHL), medico-legal issues, medical research, labour law, commercial and administrative law, trademarks and international governance.


II. POSITION BACKGROUND

The ILD is divided in 6 Units specialized in different areas of law. The ILD Unit 2 aims at providing technical advice, policy expertise and support on medico-legal, patient’s rights and protection to MSF operations.

In the context of a maternity leave, the Unit 2 Legal Manager will be temporarily absent from her position. A temporary replacement position is therefore opened.

III. PLACE IN THE ORGANISATION

The Unit 2 Legal Manager is part of the ILD management team composed of 9 members. S/he reports to the ILD Director and works closely with key staff working in different departments in all Operational Centres of MSF (e.g., Medical, Operations, Communications, Advocacy Departments), other ILD members and external stakeholders.

The Unit 2 Legal Manager leads a team of 6 legal advisors working in different Operational Centres of MSF as well as in the field.

IV. OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

The purpose of the position of Unit 2 Legal Manager is to define, implement and monitor adherence to minimum legal standards regarding medico-legal, patient’s rights and protection issues across MSF missions. This includes:

Fostering and promoting patient-centered healthcare provision through the respect of patients’ rights and international medical ethics in MSF’s activities. Maximizing MSF operations’ understanding of medico-legal, patients’ rights, and protection frameworks of countries of mission. Minimizing risks for patients and staff arising from medico-legal, patients’ rights, and protection issues in countries of mission.

V. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead a remote multicultural team of 6 legal advisors providing technical advice, policy expertise and support on medico-legal, patient's rights and protection issues (e.g. medical confidentiality, consent, gender-based violence and harmful practices, torture and other forms of violence, sexual and reproductive rights, certification, rights of populations in situation of vulnerability, requests to access patient information, etc.) to humanitarian teams in more than 75 countries.Define strategies to ensure adherence to minimum legal standards regarding medico-legal, patient’s rights and protection across MSF missions.Manage projects and initiatives to foster and promote patient-centered healthcare provision through the respect of patients’ rights and international medical ethics in MSF’s activities.Provide strategic advice to MSF leadership during crises and emergencies, ensuring MSF upholds its medio-legal responsibilities towards its patients.Coordinates interdisciplinary platforms and contributes to intersection working groups, bringing together MSF experts from different backgrounds aiming at increasing collaboration and knowledge-sharing on health, legal and ethical issues.Enhance patient centered-healthcare by developing, facilitating, and coordinating trainings on medico-legal tools and principles.Develop and oversee implementation of strategies to disseminate and promote tools, best practices and materials developed by the ILD Unit 2.Participate and contribute to the ILD management team.Ensure the unit’s team meaningfully contributes to cross-cutting, inter-unit and interdepartmental projects and work.

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