Join Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF Ubuntu) Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, is recruiting a Head of Community Engagement for its newest Operational Directorate, MSF Ubuntu. This senior management position is based in Johannesburg or Nairobi and offers a unique opportunity to shape people-centred humanitarian action across complex emergency settings. Application Deadline: 6 March 2026Contract Type: Full-timeTravel Requirement: 20%–50% annually About MSF Ubuntu MSF is an international, independent medical humanitarian organisation providing emergency healthcare to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, and exclusion from healthcare—without discrimination. MSF Ubuntu represents a new operational approach grounded in the philosophy of “I am because we are.” With a blended base across Southern and Eastern Africa, the directorate places communities at the heart of medical humanitarian decision-making, emphasizing equity, protection, interdependence, and sustainable outcomes. Role Overview: Institutionalising Community Engagement The Head of Community Engagement (CE) reports directly to the Director of Operations and serves as a member of the Executive Management Team. The core mandate is to strategically and operationally embed community engagement across all departments, including: Operations Medical Advocacy Communications Human Resources This leadership role ensures that people-centred approaches, accountability to affected populations (AAP), protection, safeguarding, equity, and empowerment are systematically integrated into MSF Ubuntu’s projects and decisions. Key Responsibilities 1. Strategic Leadership Lead the development and implementation of the Ubuntu Community Engagement Framework Institutionalise community-centred principles across departments Integrate Information, Education, Communication, and Health Promotion (IECHP) strategies Advise senior leadership on CE performance and alignment Promote cross-departmental collaboration across safeguarding, inclusion, protection, and accountability workstreams 2. Context Analysis & Security Support Provide community-level insights to inform security risk assessments Support access negotiations in hard-to-reach and contested areas Build trust-based community networks to strengthen acceptance-based security management Analyse local power dynamics and community perceptions 3. Technical Guidance & Operational Support Integrate CE into project planning, implementation, and evaluation Strengthen participatory structures such as community committees and dialogue platforms Supervise health promotion campaigns and culturally relevant communication materials Incorporate social science and qualitative research into operational design 4. Safeguarding & Inclusion Ensure ethical and protection-sensitive engagement practices Support meaningful inclusion of marginalized and historically excluded groups Collaborate with safeguarding and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) teams Build partnerships with external humanitarian and protection networks 5. Knowledge Management & Capacity Building Develop a Community Engagement learning and knowledge strategy Mentor CE focal points and programme leaders Oversee training materials, toolkits, and learning modules Document and share best practices across MSF platforms 6. Representation & Partnerships Represent MSF Ubuntu in international CE technical forums Build partnerships with civil society, community-based organisations, academic institutions, and patient networks Strengthen collaboration across MSF operational centres and external partners Required Qualifications Education Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Anthropology, Public Health, Development Studies, International Relations, or related field(Equivalent professional experience may substitute formal qualifications.) Experience Minimum 7 years working with communities in humanitarian or public health contexts At least 2 years in senior leadership roles in Community Engagement Proven experience developing and implementing CE or AAP frameworks Strong background in mentoring, coordination, and cross-functional leadership Experience with MSF or similar humanitarian organisations is highly desirable Languages Essential: English Desirable: Swahili, Arabic, French, or other MSF working languages Core Competencies The ideal candidate will demonstrate: Strategic vision and leadership Commitment to MSF principles Cultural competence Conflict resolution and dialogue facilitation Results-oriented performance Strong communication and influence skills Innovation and initiative Safeguarding and Inclusion Commitment MSF maintains a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and misconduct. Given the high-risk level of contact with patients and communities, successful candidates will undergo rigorous safeguarding and background checks. MSF Ubuntu actively encourages applications from historically underrepresented groups and is committed to creating a safe, inclusive workplace. Salary and Benefits Compensation and benefits are aligned with MSF’s hosting entity (Eastern or Southern Africa) and reflect a senior management grade. The role involves significant travel across projects and regional programmes. Why This Role Matters Community engagement is central to ethical and effective humanitarian action. By institutionalising community-centred approaches, the Head of Community Engagement will directly influence how MSF Ubuntu delivers healthcare in crisis contexts—ensuring interventions are inclusive, accountable, and grounded in local realities. This position offers a rare opportunity to shape operational strategy within one of the world’s leading humanitarian medical organisations. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply before 6 March 2026. APPLY HERE For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization hiring for the position. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.