Join MSF OCG as a Strategic Communications Advisor for Emergencies!

We are looking for passionate candidates ready to contribute to our humanitarian mission.

Below, you will find the job details and the qualifications we are looking for.

Inclusivity and Diversity at MSF

Do your qualifications and experience not exactly match all requirements of the job?

At MSF OCG, we are committed to an inclusive culture that supports and amplifies the diverse voices of our staff members. We strive to create workplaces where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together to advance MSF's social mission and create better outcomes for our patients and the communities we work with.

We understand that some people may hesitate to apply for employment if they don't meet all listed job requirements. Research shows that this is especially true for women. If you believe your profile is a good match for this position, we invite you to apply even if you don’t fulfil every listed qualification.

We encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will undergo reference checks.

Context & mission

Based in Geneva within the Communications and Fundraising Department, the Strategic Communication Advisor (SCA) is one of six public positioning focal points, providing strategic advice, coordination, and implementation from a public positioning perspective—at local, regional, and global levels—during emergencies and crises.

The Strategic Communication Advisor acts as the main referent and first point of contact for public positioning and communications (internal and external) for a portfolio of countries and/or themes, within either the emergency cell or a regular operational cell.

The SCA leads on public relations strategies for OCG countries and themes, developing compelling messaging for public audiences as well as media strategies and partnerships, in line with MSF’s Telling It as It Is vision.

Under the leadership of the Program Manager (PM) and in close collaboration with the Advocacy Advisor, the SCA plays a senior role in providing analysis, positioning inputs, and strategic advice on communications approaches. Positioning discussions primarily take place between the PM, SCA, and Advocacy Advisor, with additional contributions from other functions (negotiation, UREPH, Dirop, General Director, etc.) as relevant.

The SCA ensures the timely validation and dissemination of information on MSF’s humanitarian responses, both internally within the Movement and externally. They liaise with international media in partnership with relevant units in Operations and Communications and Fundraising, as well as with other operational cells and hubs.

The SCA undertakes field visits to cover MSF emergency responses in assigned countries and acts as a strategic sparring partner to Program Managers, Heads of Mission, and field communications staff.

The Strategic Communication Advisor reports to the Head of Operational Communications and provides back-up support to other team members during periods of absence.

MSF Switzerland operates through five regular operational cells and one emergency cell. Operational cells are responsible for managing and supporting field missions.

Regular cells oversee country missions over the long term, while the emergency cell manages short-term, acute emergency responses, both in countries where MSF Switzerland (OCG) is already present and in new operational contexts.

The emergency cell is a multidisciplinary team composed of a Program Manager, Deputy Program Manager, Medical Program Manager, and specialists in Human Resources, Finance, Logistics and Supply, as well as an Emergency Strategic Communication Advisor.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Under the leadership of the relevant Program Managers and in close collaboration with the Advocacy Advisor, initiate, develop, advise on, and drive timely operational communications strategies and tactics.
• Define, propose, and lead the implementation of public positioning and communications plans, engagement strategies (local, regional, and global), key messages, and tools from an emergency perspective, in consultation with Program Managers, Heads of Mission, and field communications staff, to maximize impact.
• Gather, develop, and verify accurate information through thorough research and the identification of accessible and compelling narratives.
• Demonstrate strong news sense by identifying opportunities to tell impactful stories through engaging articles, video scripts or narration, and social media content, and by proposing appropriate formats, solutions, and dissemination strategies.

Emergency & Crisis Communications

• Act as a first responder for emergencies and crisis communications; on call 24/7 and available for rapid deployment.
• Provide strategic communications support to Emergency Program Managers, desks, and field teams to maximize operational and public impact.
• Serve as a primary information source for the Communications and Fundraising Department and the wider MSF network on assigned portfolios.
• Participate in crisis management teams; manage media relations, including handling requests and organizing journalist field visits in coordination with MSF media units.

Public Positioning & Strategic Communications

• Advise Program Managers and field teams on public positioning and communications strategies at local, regional, and global levels.
• Shape, validate, and lead coherent messaging and tools (press releases, opinion pieces, videos), identifying speaking out opportunities.
• Ensure monitoring, risk analysis, perception analysis, and alignment between MSF’s perceived and desired identity.
• Represent OCG operations in intersectional platforms and contribute to consistent positioning across the MSF movement.
• Translate complex operational and advocacy positions into clear, audience-focused messaging for internal and external use.

Senior Content & Media Management

• Design, coordinate, validate, and be accountable for timely production of high-quality communications materials (articles, press releases, Q&As, talking points).
• Act as a spokesperson and facilitate media opportunities for operational and specialist staff.
• Lead global public communications on OCG countries and themes; develop narratives and strategic content for the MSF network.
• Approve communications content within agreed frameworks, including social media, fundraising materials, and MSF annual reporting.

Field Communications & Capacity Building

• Provide mentoring, surge support, and temporary coverage for field communications roles.
• Conduct regular field visits to support communications strategy and country-level positioning.
• Design and deliver training for communications and operational staff; contribute to the Online Communications Toolbox.
• Support recruitment, management, and mentoring of field communications staff.

Your profile

Education

• University Master in a relevant discipline such as political science, international relations, journalism, communication management or public relations

Experience

• 5-8 years’ work experience journalism and/or communications, and/or content generation (inside or outside of MSF) in the humanitarian sector, and/or MSF ops experience
• Proven capacity to work in stressful environment and to tight deadlines
• A year of MSF and/or field experience a strong asset.
• Track record of developing successful communications

Languages

• Highly effective oral and written communication skills in English and French
• Other languages: An asset such as Arabic or any languages in our countries of operations

Skills/ Technical competencies

• Solid understanding of dilemmas associated with humanitarian assistance
• Strong knowledge of crisis communications and public relations skills
• Available to travel to the field with very short notice and 50 % of her/his time
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills including ability to accurately synthesize complex and sensitive material to produce content for publication in English
• Demonstrated understanding of how media works at national, local and international level
• Excellent public communications skills and sound knowledge of the media environment
• An understanding of humanitarian interventions, their principles and ethics.

• Ability to deliver multiple simultaneous projects

Personal Abilities/Qualities

• Aligns with the core values of MSF
• Able to work in a fast paced, high stress, rapidly changing context
• A sense of humour

• Demonstrates behaviours in ways of working: Articulate, creative, strive for impact, listen deeply, collaborate openly, innovate fearlessly, tenacious.

Terms of employment

• Full-time position 100% (40h/week)
• Open-ended contract
• Working place: Geneva, Switzerland, with frequent travel abroad
• Swiss residency while under contract mandatory (because of the frequent travel)
• Ideal start date: March 2^nd, 2026
• Gross annual salary (for 100%): from CHF 94’440.- to CHF 108’348.- (salary commensurate with equivalent experience and internal salary grid)
• Paid vacation: 25 days per year, prorate temporis, plus any Swiss public holidays falling within the contract period.
• Pension plan: pension contribution covered 3/4 by MSF, 1/4 by staff member.
• Depending on your current place of residence, a relocation policy may apply.

How to apply

Candidates are invited to submit their application exclusively through our recruitment platform, following these guidelines:

• CV (maximum 2 pages)
• Cover letter (maximum 1 page)
• Documents must be submitted in either English or French.

The application deadline is January 25^th, 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier if we receive a sufficient number of quality applications.

APPLY

All applications will be treated confidentially.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please note that we do not wish to use the services of recruitment or placement agencies.