MSF Speaking Out Case Studies (SOCS) Research Officer

Location: Any MSF office (*)

Contract: permanent at 100%

Start date: January 2025

Deadline to apply: 13th December 2024

Compensation and benefits: MSF practice is to offer the C&B package 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, 28 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.

II. POSITION BACKGROUND

The MSF Speaking Out Case Studies (SOCS) is a series of studies from Médecins Sans Frontières that openly examines and analyses the organisation’s actions and decision-making process during humanitarian emergencies that have led it to speak out or not. The Speaking Out Case Studies document critical humanitarian dilemmas, constraints and controversies surrounding speaking out throughout the history of MSF.

The SOCS project assists all MSF members, and a growing external audience in understanding how speaking out articulates with humanitarian interventions.

14 case studies and 3 podcast series are available in English and French at www.msf.org/speakingout

SOCS based learning courses are accessible on TEMBO, the MSF learning platform: https://tembo.msf.org/

The SOCS Project is under the responsibility and the supervision of the MSF International Board (lB); its management is delegated to the IB treasurer and the IB/SOCS Steering and Editorial Committee liaison, supported by the SOCS Advice on Steering and Editorial Committee.

III. PLACE IN THE ORGANISATION

The SOCS research officer is part of the SOCS team of MSF International. He/she reports to the SOCS director and works closely with the SOCS project manager, the SOCS learning and development manager and the SOCS communication and production assistant.

IV. OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

The purpose of the position of SOCS research officer is to produce case studies and support the SOCS team in producing podcasts and learning and development courses based on these studies.

The studies take the form of a montage of document extracts and interviews.

Their production requires endurance and sense of concrete necessary to historical research.

V. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

The SOCS Research Officer will :

Research internal documents including videos for the Speaking Out case studies.
Conduct interviews for the Speaking Out case studies.
Write chapters of the Speaking Out case studies according to the methodological requirements.
Review layout proofs of the Speaking Out case studies in English and French.
Review and facts checking of podcast scripts, learning courses adapted from Speaking Out case studies in English and French.
Disseminate knowledge within and outside MSF including presentations, participation to debates, webinars, etc.

VI. JOB REQUIREMENT

Experience

5 years experience in the humanitarian sector at international or national level.
2 years MSF experience with knowledge of MSF inner workings is an advantage.
2 years experience researching archives including audio-visual.
2 years experience producing publications.
Experience in translation

Education

Academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree preferably in history, possibly in political sciences, social research, development studies.

Knowledge ans skills

Fluent in English and French.
Proof of excellent writing and editing skills in English and French.
Strong attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality outcomes.
Strong capacity to work, in fact checking /analyse rather than opinion making.
Demonstrated ability to remain unbiased when documenting or analyzing the roles and contributions of various stakeholders, ensuring accurate and fair representation.
Ability to establish priorities for personal workload and work independently.
Ability for flexible teamwork.
Excellent interpersonal communication skills including public speaking.
Networking.
IT literacy.
Travel international and Domestic.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

At MSF, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.