Location: Any MSF office*
Contract: Fixed-term contract at 100%
Duration: 12 months
Starting date: 01st of September 2025
Deadline to apply: 22nd of June 2025
Compensation and benefits: MSF practice is to offer the conditions current in the MSF entity establishing 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 24 sections, 6 operational entities, 27 associations and 18 branch offices together. MSF International provides political oversight, coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implementing international projects and initiatives as requested.
I. CONTEXT
Procurement of products and services is a critical activity for MSF operations and represents approximately half of MSF’s expenses. Therefore, MSF has undertaken significant efforts in recent years to strengthen and re-organize its procurement function, which have led to the creation of the Global Procurement Unit (GPU). The primary aim of the GPU is to streamline procurement activities and increase compliance, efficiency, and risk management.
Situated within MSF International Office, the role of the Global Procurement Unit is to lead global procurement strategies, to coordinate procurement efforts in the organization and to support the development of the procurement function across all MSF entities to efficiently contribute to MSF's social mission.
As part of the Global Procurement Unit, the Global Indirect Strategic Buyer will:
Report hierarchically to the Head of the Global Indirect Procurement.
Work closely with MSF’s platforms, Heads of departments and budget holders requesting advice or delegating the performance of the procurement activity to the buyer, and with the Global Indirect team and the HQ / Indirect buyer community throughout MSF.
Interact with other stakeholders within the MSF movement: International Legal department (ILD), Data protection coordinator, Sustainability team and Supply chain analytics team.
II. PURPOSE OF THE JOB
The overall objective of this position is to perform global procurement activities in line with the needs of the HQs and the Global Indirect procurement action plan, to manage and optimize the procurement spend of their scope of work, to ensure that they are pertinent, efficient and respond to the global needs of MSF.
III. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
1. Build a comprehensive analysis of the scope of work and a strategy that responds to the needs of MSF entities and that is in line with the strategic objectives of the Global Procurement Unit.
Build a global picture of the scope of work to provide an analysis on current situation and priorities.
Establish the right channels of communication and processes to capture the needs from the different entities.
Based on the above and on the strategic objectives of the GPU, formulate the strategic priorities for the scope.
Operationalise these strategic priorities into an action plan. Anticipate risks, resources and stakeholders to be engaged.
2. Perform procurement activities in line with the needs of the HQs and the Global Indirect procurement action plan.
Gather the needs from the HQs and align information required to perform supplier selection process (specifications…).
Analyze spend and identify strategic suppliers and categories.
Participate in the definition of the priority categories, plan procurement activity and ensure availability of the concerned teams in the entities.
Lead tenders according to the priorities defined in the Global Indirect Procurement action plan.
Define, in collaboration with the requesting departments and the other indirect buyers, the best procurement strategy.
Guide the requesting departments in the needs analysis: volumes and technical specifications.
Guide the requesting departments in the sourcing of potential suppliers.
Launch tenders, lead the analysis of the offers and the negotiations with suppliers.
Participate in selecting the most relevant supplier based on pre-established selection criteria.
Set up the required contracts or agreements and ensure relevant endorsement of them.
Support the different departments in their relationship with their suppliers if needed (negotiation, dispute etc.).
Define, monitor and analyse the key indicators to follow their activity. Ensure that they respond to the needs of the entities, identify improvement areas and capitalize on them.
3. Ensure a smooth collaboration between procurement stakeholders working in the different HQs.
Facilitate regular meetings.
Ensure alignment of the HQs and GPU on the procurement strategy and objectives.
Ensure the proper involvement of the key stakeholders in order to have a successful implementation of the contract or agreement.
Timely communicate on issues, opportunities or any important update related to intersectional procurement activity.
Ensure technical support for their area of activity and provide support to staff of the HQs in order to contribute to the development of procurement best practices and capacity building.
IV. PROBLEM-SOLVING
Being able to develop and maintain close links with the various departments and focal points of 6 OCs and 15 partners sections to ensure an in-depth understanding of multiple entities needs.
Inside the frame of the strategic orientations of the GPU validated by the Executive Supply Chain Committee (ESCC), autonomy to lead the strategic procurement activities for the assigned scope of work to respond at best to MSF global needs.
Capacity to operationalize this strategy in action plan in coordination with all MSF entities and platforms involved.
V. DIMENSIONS
Average 10M Euros of procurement spend coordinated.
Average 5 projects to lead.