Vacancy Announcement
Deputy Executive Director
Work Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka
About Us
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare.
MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality
JOB PURPOSE
The Deputy ED partners with the Executive Director in the implementation of the strategic vision, strategies and policies that govern MSF South Asia’s work. The Deputy ED would play a key role in implementation of the Strategic Plan 2026-2031 and contributes to leadership and performance of MSF South Asia. The Deputy Executive Director strengthens management team capacity and operational discipline, ensures the Executive Director has clear line of sight into culture signals, safeguarding patterns, risks, and performance, and supports the Executive Director in representing MSF South Asia internally and externally to reinforce the organisation’s cohesion, credibility, and networks.?
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Leadership and people management:
- The Deputy Executive Director (Dep ED) is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the MSF south Asia Section, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, and fostering a collaborative and effective organizational culture in collaboration with ED.
- The job holder is responsible for ensuring the effective development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the MSF SA strategic plan and annual plans,
- Drives management team agenda, ways of working and functioning as a collective, liaising closely with all directors to provide support and promote accountability, along with ED.
- Provide for all staff a strong day-to-day leadership presence, along with Management Team members, bridging departments to ensure cross-fertilization of skills, tactics and ideas, demonstrating an open-door policy for all staff.
Line Management Responsibilities:
- Line manages the Director of Finance, Director of HR, Director of Fund Raising including ensuring organizational resource health, oversight over finance and HR controls and department strategies; also participates in Board Finance and HR Audit and Risk Committee meetings in the absence of ED.
- Line manages the IT department, including the digital enablement strategy as per SP 2026-2031, compliance and oversight of IT and data privacy and protection practices.
- Line manages the Facilities department.
Legal and compliance oversight:
- Provides oversight of legal, data privacy, and compliance matters across Finance, HR and IT. Escalates high impact-risks to the ED.
Responsible for MSF SA Safeguarding and Culture dossiers:
- Leads Organization in developing MSF SA safeguarding and culture dossiers and steer the Management Team collectively along with Executive Director.
KEY DIMENSIONS
Financial Dimensions:
Responsible for Executive budget as per annual plan and resource management of the organization.
Other Dimensions:
Direct supervision of 3x Directors portfolios, 2 service dossiers (IT and Facilities) and transversal projects (DEI Consultant)
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
- Implementation of Strategic Plan 2026-2031 objectives as per timelines approved by the organization
- Support ED to steer transition of MSF SA regional partner section into an Operational Directorate as per timelines
- Supporting the ED with full functionality of department portfolios assigned
KEY INTERACTIONS
- Management Team - MSF South Asia
- Functional link with the MSF South Asia Board as required
- Compliance and legal teams in India and Sri Lanka in collaboration with HR-Fin Directors
- Relevant international platforms(OCA MT, Full Excom as required)
- Government bodies of India and Sri Lanka, other relevant Indian NGOs, INGOs established in South Asia, community groups, academia and institutions.
Requirements
Educational Qualifications:
- Bachelor's/ Master's degree required in relevant fields.
- Fluency in written and spoken English is essential
Functional / Skills and experience:
- Minimum 10 years of MSF or related INGO experience including experience at the field level in humanitarian/emergency contexts
- Extensive managerial experience (minimum 5 years in a senior position) and understanding of organizational issues and (team) dynamics
- Experience of strategy development and delivery to include strategic, budget and workforce planning
- Strong project management skills; ability to manage complex processes with attention to detail
- Direct experience with budgetary control, financial planning and data analysis
Other requirements:
- Priorities and responsibilities can shift significantly in response to changing demands, capacities and organizational priorities. Flexibility is thus a key aspect of the responsibilities.
- Familiarity with institutional governance, management of HR, understanding of safeguarding, Finance and Fundraising desirable.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills; team oriented with demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate
- Talented communicator with excellent presentation, negotiation and networking skills
- High integrity, presence and maturity with ability to respond effectively to sensitive/confidential issues
- Willingness to travel significantly
Competencies:
- Service Orientation
- Strategic Vision
- Planning and Organizing
- Analytical Thinking
- Result and Quality Orientation
Physical Demands:
- Work is generally carried out during the day, Monday to Friday (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) but this position may sometimes be required to work evenings, weekends or holidays
- Domestic and international travel (To other MSF offices, to field locations, between India and Sri Lanka)
- Duties require long hours sitting in front of a computer/ laptop screen
Benefits
We offer:
- Contract duration is three years with a possibility of contract extension for another three years.
- A stimulating, professional environment in a reputed international organization.
- Compensation gross per month range USD 3763 - USD 5365 (Salary is offered in line with our pay framework and typically starts at the entry point of the band. Salary increases are considered annually; final salary will depend on the scaling of the CV as per MSF criteria)
- 13th Month bonus (equivalent to one month gross) will be additional.
- Medical: MSF provides medical reimbursement for employees and their dependents as per MSF health care policy.
- This is an international vacancy with MSF South Asia and we provide MSF South Asia’s international package benefits of monthly housing allowance (USD 734 for single / USD 916 for family) , child education allowance (up to USD 417 per child, annual holiday ticket and relocation package
- All benefits (salaries, allowances, etc) are subject to tax deduction
** Non-Sri Lankan staff working in Sri Lanka and holding a resident permit are considered tax residents and are liable for income tax at progressive rates up to 36% on total income, inclusive of salary and benefits. As Sri Lanka operates on a self-assessment basis, staff are required to register for a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), make quarterly advance tax payments as applicable. **
HOW TO APPLY: Please send a copy of your updated CV together with a letter of motivation, which is a supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the key requirements of the role (both should be in one document) by clicking on the link below:
Closing Date: 30 October 2026
All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality. MSF South Asia is as organization committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and has equitable opportunities to contribute and thrive. MSF South Asia has zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse, bullying, and abuse of power. We welcome applications from women, people of all backgrounds and are committed to providing reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, where required.