Emergency Pool Coordinator

The Emergency Pool Coordinator leads the Emergency Pool within MSF Operational Centre Brussels, managing rapid responses to acute crises including conflicts, epidemics, and natural disasters. The role involves strategic leadership, operational management, team development, and representation of MSF in emergency contexts.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the Epool Intervention Framework with the Directors of Operations
• Contribute to OCB operational strategy and emergency positioning
• Lead the annual strategic review including priorities, capacity and resources
• Ensure the Epool adapts to evolving crisis typologies
• Develop tools and approaches to strengthen emergency response capacity
• Decide on activation and adjust engagement level with the Directors of Operations
• Hold overall management of Epool-led interventions, including security, duty of care and quality
• Participate in key emergency assignments and evaluations
• Ensure security governance and escalate risk decisions when required
• Oversee downscale and exit processes including continuity of care and communication
• Ensure After Action Reviews and operational debriefings
• Support emergency preparedness planning and scenario definition
• Define intervention modalities jointly with Cells
• Provide expertise and adjust support based on evolving needs
• Ensure availability of trained personnel
• Promote sharing of learning across the Operations Department
• Recruit, manage and develop Epool team members
• Promote knowledge sharing within the Epool
• Ensure staff well-being and duty of care
• Set objectives and contribute to cross-departmental initiatives
• Maintain strong collaboration with all OCB departments
• Ensure learning is integrated into standards and tools
• Contribute to governance bodies and strategic initiatives
• Support development of emergency-specific tools and procedures
• Ensure safeguarding is systematically integrated from the start of every intervention
• Work with the Safeguarding Unit on mitigation strategies
• Ensure Duty of Care for all staff including Locally Hired Staff
• Lead ‘speaking out’ efforts for Epool contexts
• Ensure communication is grounded in medical evidence and programme realities
• Align communication strategies with key stakeholders
• Contribute to internal and external debates on humanitarian response
• Monitor emerging crises and maintain analysis networks
• Lead exploratory assessments
• Define scenarios and preparedness tools
• Support training and promote preparedness principles
• Encourage innovation to improve response mechanisms
• Oversee intervention budgets and unit budget
• Contribute to allocation discussions
• Represent MSF in key internal and external fora
• Coordinate with other MSF Operational Centres
• Engage with authorities, UN agencies and partners
• Ensure visibility and understanding of Epool operations internally and externally

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years’ experience with MSF in a senior management role such as Country Coordinator, Country Representative, Emergency Coordinator, Medical Coordinator, or at HQ as Emergency Coordinator (EmCo) or Coordinator of Operations
• Experience at HQ level is a strong asset
• Experience in managing complex emergency responses across multiple crisis typologies, including conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and population displacement
• Strong knowledge of MSF, including its organisational structure, operational approach, and contexts in countries of operation, particularly in emergency intervention environments
• Experience in managing multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, including remote management
• Proven track record of working across institutional boundaries, including collaboration with multiple departments, MSF sections, and external partners
• Strategic vision with the ability to translate direction into operational practice under uncertainty and time pressure
• Collective leadership able to work across disciplines and cultures, build trust quickly and ensure shared accountability
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a clear sense of dialogue internally and externally
• Moral courage and empathy with the ability to take difficult decisions under pressure while upholding the dignity of affected populations
• Resilience under pressure sustaining performance in challenging conditions and recognising when to redistribute responsibilities
• Anticipation and prioritisation able to identify key priorities and act before situations escalate
• Analytical and writing skills capable of producing concise high-quality documents such as Concept Notes strategic reviews and AARs in emergency contexts
• Representation and influence able to represent MSF credibly and defend its positions in complex environments
• Proficient level in French and English both written and spoken is mandatory
• Good knowledge of Arabic, Portuguese or Spanish is an asset

Skills

• Emergency Response
• Crisis Management
• Interdisciplinary Team Management
• Multicultural Team Leadership
• Virtual Team Management
• Strategic Planning
• Operational Leadership
• Cross Departmental Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Emergency Intervention Implementation
• Conflict Response
• Epidemic Response
• Natural Disaster Response
• Population Displacement Management
• Analytical Writing
• Concept Note Formulation
• After Action Review
• Advocacy and Representation
• Bilingual Communication
• Language Proficiency in French
• English Language Proficiency

Languages

French, English, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish