HR Coordinator for Europe Programme (x/f/m) – Brussels – MSF Belgium
CONTEXT
MSF has currently diverse operations in Belgium, Poland and Serbia, and is willing to keep responding to migration health challenges in Europe, depending on the evolution of the migration dynamics and humanitarian needs.
With a regional scope, the MSF Europe programme also monitors cross-border crises, coordinating preparedness and support for emergencies.
The interest in this European region (excluding Southern Europe, which is outside of our portfolio) stems both from migration-related concerns and from emergency preparedness linked to an increasingly tense geopolitical landscape, where ongoing hybrid warfare, although currently low-scale, has become a reality.
The program considers a broader perspective across the Balkans and countries in Central, North and East Europe. By July 2026, active projects are in Belgium, Poland, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Each project has its own particularities, health contexts, and needs.
As the current projects are principally 'projects by choice', a major component of these operations is advocacy. In all contexts of ongoing operations, medical activities are explicitly linked to advocacy and bearing witness objectives.
Serbia and BiH-based project - Since 2014, MSF has provided humanitarian and medical care to People on the Move (PoM) transiting the Balkan Route, deploying Mobile Response Units (MRUs) across the North Balkans. These units offer consultations, mental health, sexual and reproductive health services, as well as water and essential items, addressing gaps due to limited access to healthcare services by the PoM, medical referrals, and shrinking humanitarian presence in the region.
Belgium-based project - Since 2017, MSF offers essential healthcare and other humanitarian services to excluded migrants: medical consultations, psychological support, health promotion and vaccination for adults and unaccompanied minors; medical support to migrants held in administrative detention centers; and infection prevention and control activities.
Poland-Based Project - MSF has been active in Poland since 2022, providing Emergency Medical Assistance at the Belarus–Poland Border. MSF has been providing emergency medical care to people on the move who have endured difficult journeys and violence while crossing the border. Due to a drastic change in context, leading to fewer to no people able to cross the border, the activities have shifted to a Telemedicine approach. The future modality and set-up of this activity and project is currently under discussion. In addition, the project strengthens the capacity of local civil society organizations by training volunteers to address the basic medical needs of migrants.
The team in Poland additionally provides administrative and logistic support to OCB's operations in Ukraine.
E-preparedness Project – With increasing geopolitical tensions and ongoing 'liminal' warfare on the eastern borders of the EU, we are building a network and offer support (mostly in the form of trainings) to state and non-state actors in Poland, with the idea to prepare for a crisis response.
As the Human Resource (HR) Coordinator for the Europe Programme, you will report directly to the Europe Country Coordinator and operate under the functional supervision of the HR Officer of Cell 4.
There are currently no positions under the line management of the HRCo. You will act as the functional supervisor for the HR managers overseeing projects in Belgium, Poland and the Balkans (Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina). In 2 projects, the HR Managers combine their role with that of the Finance Manager.
The role of the HR Coordinator is particularly a regional position. Although this role, along with a few others, is based in Brussels, the projects - and some of the other coordination positions - are spread across several countries.
As part of your main objective, you will support HR and management teams in shaping and implementing HR strategies in their projects within your geographical area.
Regular exchanges with other MSF migration projects within OCB and other OCs will also be essential to promote mutual learning and cross-collaboration.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Transversal role
* Is an active member of the Coordination Team for the projects based in Europe
* Design a transversal HR strategy for the geographical area, in particular in terms of knowledge transfer, mutualization of resources, operational agility and regional advocacy capacity
* Coordinate the human resources management and administrative issues of the coordination set-up
* Promote internal (inter-projects) and external (inter-programmes) mobility of key staff identified and support the development of plans to ensure mobility across the programme
Functional HR referent for the projects
* Is responsible for all HR management and administrative issues of the whole area, ensuring they are aligned with legal requirements, HR vision and responsible employer frame
* Accompany respective Annual Revision of Operations process
* With the support of the different subject matter expert (legal, comp.&.ben, etc.) and in collaboration with the HR managers and project management teams:
- Contribute to planning and definition of HR in the programmes, analyzing local capacities and supporting on identifying the optimum team set-up to properly achieve programmes' objectives and identifying key indicators in order to follow up the results, and revise the HR plan accordingly
- Is responsible for the follow-up of the HR budget and plan and accountable for both
- Define HR strategies at project level to ensure the programme counts with the capacities and competences needed, in the short, mid and long term (recruitment, remuneration, management and learning & development plans)
- Define local policies defining or adapting MSF standard policies to the national requirements
- Ensure implementation of all HR Policies and Management Guidelines
- Is the responsible and technical referent for HR and Administration related issues at project level (recruitment, management and development of teams, contracting of national and regional employees', remuneration of local and regional staff, etc.)
- Coordinate and accompanies the local implementation of MSF Rewards Review in the countries of intervention in accordance with local regulations ensuring legal compliance
- Provide expertise to coordinators, supervisors, and/or activity managers on how to manage HR (team management, conflict management, stress early detection, communication, meetings…)
- Make sure that cases linked to behavioural issues are prevented, detected and managed
- Take the lead in the safeguarding risks analysis and implementation of prevention measures
- Promote/facilitate set-up of and support focal points for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
REQUIREMENTS
Education and experience
* Master degree in HR management, administration, political science is an asset
* Minimum 2 years of international experience in MSF programmes, including HR experience with MSF OCB, and minimum 12 months international MSF experience as HR Coordinator is mandatory
Competencies
* Strategic vision: Capable of developing an operational HR strategy adapted to different contexts.
* Planning and organization
* Flexibility - Autonomy
* Innovative thinking and solution oriented
* Strong ability to analyse complex, multi-country HR set-ups, synthesise challenges clearly, and translate them into practical recommendations, decision points and follow-up actions.
* Proven capacity to prioritise and make timely choices and takes responsibility for decisions in diverse and often fast-changing context and agile response.
* Excellent structured communication skills, including the ability to present risks, options and needs clearly to diverse stakeholders across projects, coordination, cell and HQ levels.
* Demonstrated relational leadership, diplomacy and conflict-management skills, with the ability to maintain constructive, solution-oriented communication.
* Experience in stakeholder engagement and change management, particularly in contexts with evolving governance structures, role ambiguity and decentralised teams.
* Ability to foster team cohesion and a sense of belonging across geographically dispersed teams, while promoting collaboration, mutual support and responsible partnership practices.
* Knowledge of MSF OCB internal HR tools
* Strong computer literacy (Microsoft 365 tools, including Sharepoint/ digital desk)
Languages
* Proficiency in English, both written & spoken is mandatory
* Knowledge of French, Dutch, Polish or Serbian is an asset
CONDITIONS
* Expected starting date: As soon as possible
* Location: based in Brussels (Belgium)
* Due to legal administrative constraints, candidates must already have the permanent right as Belgian or EU national, and/or valid work permit with mention of "Unlimited access to the labor market" to work in Belgium
* Contract type: Fixed-term – Full-time
* Contract duration: 12 months (extension possible)
* Mobility: 10-30% travel with frequent visits to projects
* Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
* Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
* Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments
* Deadline for applications: 26th of July 2026
How to apply?
Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button on the MSF website. It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Please have your CV and motivation letter (preferably in PDF format) ready to upload.
Position only open to candidates with previous MSF experience!
Application link: https://www.msf-azg.be/en/job/hr-coordinator-for-europe-programme