HR/finance administrator
Caption In South Sudan, MSF is present in Yida, next to the border with Sudan. This village hosts a camp of refugees who escaped shellings in South Kordofan. © James Keogh/Wostok Press
Being a human resources/finance administrator is a fun and varied job.
In an emergency, you may be required to arrange the tripling of the workforce in a project in a matter of weeks, while in a regular project you may work on building training programmes for local Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) staff.
You’ll take care of much of the day-to-day running of the project, from payroll to managing the international staff compound. Ultimately, you will be responsible for ensuring that the project has the right people to ensure its success.
Responsibilities
As an HR/finance administrator, you act as a support to the entire international team, managing their accommodation and food, supporting the project coordinator and liaising with the capital office to ensure that the project is run in line with local laws and customs.
In smaller projects, you may also manage the supplies for the project.
Management of local staff
As an HR/finance administrator, you work very closely with local staff - arranging for their recruitment, training, accommodation, contracts and payment.
A large part of your work is to build the capacity of these local staff as well as ensure safe and fair working conditions.
Day to day tasks
Our HR/finance administrators come from a wide range of backgrounds, from management and social sciences to finance and HR professionals.
They are usually based in the projects, and their tasks over the month may include some or all of the following:
1. Arranging payroll for all host country staff
2. Managing payment and administration of daily workers
3. Working with the domestic staff to ensure that the accommodation bases are in good order
4. Planning the HR for the project and arranging recruitment or terminations as necessary as the project evolves
5. Working with the department heads to ensure that host country staff are managed well
6. Managing the project budget
7. Support the project coordinator with the security and coordination of staff
It can involve long hours and hard work but is a wonderful opportunity to work closely with the staff across all departments, ensuring that the impact of MSF as an employer on the local community is a positive one.
Application guide
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Role requirements
Skills and expertise in the following areas:
8. Basic bookkeeping
9. HR management
10. Proven ability as a manager or team leader
11. Office and supply management experience are also desirable
12. Previous overseas volunteer experience within a humanitarian setting
13. Available for a minimum of nine months
14. Minimum of three months’ work, volunteering or travel experience in low-income countries
15. Willingness to work in unstable areas
16. Adaptable and able to work in a multicultural team
17. Flexible and able to manage stress
18. Able to provide training and supervision to others
19. Previous experience in training and supervising others
20. Fluency in English and a minimum of B1 level in French (according to CEFR)
Languages
We're currently only looking for HR/Finance Administrator with good French or Arabic skills.
21. Minimum (high) B1 level in French or Arabic
Your language level may be tested during the recruitment process.