Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.

CONTEXT

Logistics at MSF aims at providing a safe, functional, and effective environment of care for our patients, the populations we assist and our teams through a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach. MSF operations are very diverse and constantly evolving, requiring the logistics team to continuously adapt to provide appropriate solutions.

For these purposes, the Logistics department at MSF Operational Centre Brussels (OCB) is composed of 3 main units:

The Logistics Support Unit (LSU) provides direct support to Logisticians in Operations in intervention and technical families and identifies needs to be tackled by other Log entities

The Workforce Unit (WFU) ensures that the Log workforce is available and prepared to contribute to operational ambitions

The Knowledge Management Unit (KMU) aims at improving access to information, knowledge, and the variety of support means for Logistics teams in the countries of operations.

The LSU is composed of two main teams to ensure that technical support is adapted to operational needs. On the one hand, it includes polyvalent Logisticians working in operational cells in a matrix set-up with the Operations department. On the other hand, teams provide support in the following technical families: Construction & Shelter, Energy, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning), Cold Chain, Medical Equipment Management, Motorized Fleet, Telecommunications, Health Facility Management, Water & Sanitation Techniques.

The dynamic created between the various technical teams and Logisticians in operations is key to ensure that the Logistic solutions are aligned with both Operations and Medical needs as well as Logistics qualitative standards. This support needs to be aligned with the strategic orientations (MSF-OCB orientations, Operations Prospect, Logistic orientations), and thus adapt to ongoing changes, accompanying Logistics teams towards new setups and dynamics linked to projects Empowerment, Shared Leadership, and Networked OD (Operating Directorate).

The Construction and Shelter team provides appropriate construction, rehabilitation and shelter solutions to respond to operational and medical needs. These requirements are translated into coherent, contextualised plans and technical solutions ensuring the creation of safe, functional and effective environments. These settings contribute to patient safety, drive quality improvement, and promote sustainability.

In line with this mission, the Construction & Shelter Team is dedicated to provide technical support when required, sharing tools and expertise, and fostering staff development through knowledge sharing and capacity building initiatives.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide second line support in the construction domain: 

Ensure the strategic follow-up of all construction projects of your portfolio:

Support to Cells, Country and Project teams to establish, upstream, a technical project strategy in line with processes and operational circumstances by proposing the best course of action and stakeholders to be involved at each step;

Follow-up on the established strategy and its possible variations by supporting Cells, Country and Project teams to ensure that resources and technical processes implemented in our countries of intervention are adequate and that the project cycle is well respected and managed

Provide tailored architectural support to country and project teams depending on the local setup and the category of construction at each stage of the construction process:

Support the medical focal point designated by the Cell, for the construction project, in the definition of the needs;

When a construction responsible is present: act as a technical reference, providing architectural input, design validation according to MSF guidelines, and strategic guidance in construction management.

When only generalist logisticians or non-construction staff are present: provide closer support including technical guidance, designs, checklists, and hands-on recommendations throughout the project cycle.

Review and advise on construction needs assessments, site selection, functional layouts, and materials appropriate to context (climatic, environmental, cultural, and operational)

Support the project team’s construction responsible during Feasibility Stages (contextual and environmental constraints identification, stakeholder analysis, timeline and budget drafts, preliminary sketch options, …).

Collaborate with the Log Cell to assess and recommend the most suitable construction type and shelter solution, considering project requirements, context, desired construction lifespan, and technical specifications;

Support the project team’s construction responsible in managing the Tender process (revision of timeline and budget, set of technical plans, technical specifications, bill of quantities, …).

Support project teams during the Construction Stage (technical support for site follow-up, implementation of the contract(s), as-built dossiers, etc.). Support the project teams during the Commissioning Stage and handover of the facilities and liaise with the HMSU (Hospital Management Support Unit) and the hospital management teams;

Provide technical support and advice to Log Cells/Med Cell to facilitate their decision-making processes

Provide support in designing and follow up of the HR:

supporting the Project/Coordination/Cell with the sizing of their construction HR set up and the revision of their drafted Specific Objectives for Construction positions;

supporting the Construction Team Leader in the adequate allocation of resources from the construction pool: providing criteria based on project background and status for profile selection once a position is open;

maintaining an overview of coming activities and HR needs;

Brief / debrief all construction resources being deployed as well as relevant stakeholders in the Project, Cell, LSU or other departments

In collaboration with the Log Cell ensure the long-term follow-up of construction activities and their capitalization:

Keep an overview of support requests and running activities within his/her projects portfolio and prioritizes the response;

Compile and archive the project’s technical documentation;

Keep track of the project’s developments and history;

Follow up and compiles handover reports

Contribute to 3rd line development (Knowledge Management, Innovation and Learning & Development) in the Construction and Shelter domain:

Ensure that the support provided by the Construction team is capitalized and shared within the Log Community. When deemed relevant, that the support is translated into 3rd line developments, thereby creating learning opportunities for the Logistics Community;

Actively engage in knowledge sharing, through the community of practice and develop or contribute to training materials and sessions focused on construction; Provide coaching and mentorship to construction profiles and generalist logisticians with construction responsibilities in the project

Contribute to the strategic vision of the family by integrating the evolution of the operational needs focusing on temporary, semi-temporary and modular designs

Support the implementation of innovative, low-carbon, or climate-resilient construction solutions suitable in MSF contexts.

Provide punctual first line support in the Construction and Shelter domain:

Reactive support to E-Pool requests and projects

Onsite ad-hoc support during projects visits

Contribute to the reflections and debate activities within the Log department and, where relevant, with other departments