Humanitarian Affairs Advisor (civ-mil)

About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients.

MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.

Overview of role

The Humanitarian Affairs Advisor (civ-mil) monitors the implementation of US defense strategy, doctrine and policy across the Pentagon, the Joint Staff and the combatant commands, and assesses the implications for MSF patients, staff and medical facilities. The position develops and maintains relationships across the US defense sector through which MSF can raise operational concerns. The Advisor works in support of MSF-USA and MSF operational centers, ensuring that engagement in Washington reflects and responds to the experience of MSF teams in the field.

Relationships

The Humanitarian Affairs Advisor reports to the Humanitarian Representative to the United States

Main Responsibilities

• Lead on MSF humanitarian notifications to the US military, in coordination with the Humanitarian Representative to the US, MSF operational centers and field teams, including submission, confirmation of receipt and follow-up.
• Monitor the functioning of humanitarian notification and deconfliction arrangements, document cases where they do not operate as intended, and raise these with the relevant US military counterparts.
• Monitor US military doctrine, policy, operational concepts, force development and practice, and report on developments with implications for civilian protection, humanitarian access and the delivery of impartial medical care.
• Analyze developments in the military and geopolitical environment and provide timely assessments of their relevance to MSF.
• Ensure that observations from MSF field operations inform engagement in Washington, and that relevant developments in Washington are communicated to MSF operational teams.
• Support MSF dialogue with the Department of War and the combatant commands on respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, medical personnel, patients, humanitarian staff and other protected persons and objects.
• Present operational evidence and concerns from MSF projects in that dialogue, including on the conduct of hostilities, precautions in attack, protection of medical care and humanitarian access.
• Identify opportunities for international humanitarian law and the protection of medical care to be reflected in military doctrine, training, exercises, operational planning and lessons-learned processes.
• Advise the Humanitarian Representative on opportunities for humanitarian dialogue and on how MSF positions should be framed.
• Develop and maintain a network of interlocutors across the US defense sector, including military legal, policy, operational, training and academic communities, anticipating where access will be required.
• Deliver briefings and provide training to relevant US audiences, including military schools, warfighting and mission rehearsal exercises, and pre-deployment briefings.
• Undertake other humanitarian affairs bodies of work as required.

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum ten years of professional experience, including at operational and/or strategic level within the US military or a related government department, such as a combatant command, the Pentagon or other parts of the US interagency.
• A military background, or a substantial civil-military background gained through humanitarian work.
• Practical knowledge of the structure and functioning of the Department of War, in particular the Office of the Secretary, the Joint Staff and the combatant commands.
• Operational humanitarian experience. MSF experience a bonus.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze military doctrine, policy and global developments and to identify their relevance to an organization such as MSF.
• Working knowledge of international humanitarian law and relevant international human rights law, with practical experience of its application, including on the mitigation of civilian harm in armed conflict.
• Strong analytical, drafting and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships within large institutions.
• Availability to travel within the United States for short periods, and overseas for courses, formal engagements or supportvisits.

Location

Washington, DC (On-site or Hybrid; Hybrid – In Office is Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

This role is based in our Washington DC office

Travel Requirements

International travel as required

COMPENSATION

$124k - $139k; In alignment with MSF USA’s compensation framework, new hires are generally offered between the minimum and midpoint of the range based on relevant experience, skills, and internal equity.

Equal Opportunity and Accommodations Statement: MSF-USA is dedicated to creating a diverse, impartial, and inclusive workforce. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences as per applicable laws.

We seek a diversity of experience and skills for our workplace and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our openings.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at [email protected].

We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.

Safeguarding Statement:

All Employees and Representatives of MSF USA have a duty to treat the individuals, families, and communities with whom we interact and serve with dignity and respect, and to ensure their safety and protection. We are committed to fostering a workplace and organizational culture that is safe, inclusive, and free from harassment, abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. This commitment is supported by policies and procedures that promote an environment where misconduct and abuse are not tolerated.

Employment may be contingent upon satisfactory reference checks and/or background screening appropriate to the responsibilities of the role.