[Hiring] International Secretary Support Officer @MSF International

Role Description

The position of International Secretariat Support Officer will support the International Secretary General and the Senior ExCom Officer on tasks which allow them to focus on the development and follow-up of key executive dossiers. These tasks include some foundational administrative support, but the International Secretariat Support Officer supports far beyond administrative coordination - they act as a strategic partner, proactively anticipating needs, streamlining decision-making, developing substantial background briefings, and helping to ensure the International Secretary General’s time is focused on the highest impact priorities.

Accountabilities

• Support to the International Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General (70%):
  • Serve as a trusted partner helping to prioritise initiatives and manage competing demands, anticipating needs and proactively resolving issues.
  • Provide proactive full diary management, full travel management, and full administrative support; act as a “gatekeeper” protecting the ISG and DSG’s time.
  • Support with annual international administrative planning.
  • Prepare briefing materials, agendas, and follow up actions for non-ExCom internal and external ISG/DSG meetings.
  • Track key initiatives, follow up with stakeholders, maintain visibility into progress, and conduct research and synthesise information.
  • Draft, edit, and proofread correspondence (emails, letters, social media, and reports) with a high level of accuracy.
• Support to the Senior Executive Committee Officer (30%):
  • Serve as a trusted partner helping to prioritise initiatives and manage competing demands.
  • Provide administrative support for the coordination of the Executive Committee; proactive scheduling, vote and record-keeping, information-sharing.
  • Initiate and lead on logistical arrangements for Core and Full ExCom F2F meetings.
  • Produce content as requested, including email and outcome drafting.
• Other tasks as requested by the International Secretary General and Senior Executive Committee Officer.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience:
  • Essential:
    • Demonstrable experience of managing complex, dynamic calendars with an emphasis on strategic time allocation.
    • Experience in coordinating cross-functional teams and liaising with stakeholders at all levels.
    • Experience preparing briefings, reports, presentations, and meeting materials with a high level of accuracy.
  • Highly desirable:
    • Extensive experience working as an Executive Assistant to Director / CEO level.
• Competences and interpersonal skills:
  • Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to anticipate needs and plan.
  • Strong time-management skills and an ability to coordinate multiple concurrent projects.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication.
  • High level of discretion, judgement, and emotional intelligence.
  • Confident decision-making and the ability to act autonomously when required.
  • Skilled at filtering information, prioritising tasks, and maintaining momentum across multiple workstreams.
  • Flexible team player, willing to adapt to changes.
  • Ability to work in a disciplined and organised fashion, under pressure, with conflicting priorities.
  • Experience in the practical use of personal IT equipment and Microsoft Office 365 suite.
• Language: Excellent English (written and spoken) is essential. French and other languages are further assets.

Safeguarding Requirements for the Role

• Contribute to a safe, supportive, fair, inclusive, equitable, diverse, respectful, and healthy working environment free from abuse and other misconduct.
• Ensure that all relations and behaviour towards anyone came into contact with in one’s role with MSF are respectful, non-discriminatory, and professional.
• Not engage in any form of abuse or misconduct, including those detailed in MSF Typologies of Abuse.
• Highlight the importance of a member of staff’s duty and responsibility to safeguard, report and promote appropriate behaviours.

Compensation and Benefits

• MSF practice is to offer the compensation and benefits package in line with the MSF entity offering 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.
• If no MSF office exists in their country of residence, the successful candidate will be expected to relocate to a country where an MSF office can issue a contract.

Company Description

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.