MSF Ubuntu is looking for a Nursing Care Advisor
Do your skills and experience not precisely match the requirements? At MSF EA, we strive to create a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace, recognizing the need to increase access to professional opportunities for historically underrepresented groups. If you're interested in this position but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the selection criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the ideal candidate for this or other positions.
Firmly committed to safeguarding patients, community members, staff, and all those in contact with the organization from all forms of abuse, including sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH), we will take all necessary steps, through rigorous vetting processes, to ensure that confirmed perpetrators of abuse do not join the organization.
For this position, contact level with patients and children is categorized as High risk and will be monitored with this in regard.
Introduction
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organisation that provides assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, and natural or human-made disasters and excluded from healthcare. We provide this assistance without discrimination, irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.
About MSF Ubuntu
MSF Ubuntu is the newest Operational Directorate of Médecins Sans Frontières, grounded in the philosophy of Ubuntu – “I am because we are”. With a strong emphasis on interdependence, interoperability, and locally grounded action, MSF Ubuntu aims to strengthen medical humanitarian response by placing communities at the centre of decision-making.
Rationale/Objective for Position
The Nursing Care Advisor provides strategic, technical, and implementation support to ensure the delivery of high-quality clinical and nursing care across MSF Ubuntu programs. The role aligns with MSF International medical standards and MSF Ubuntu’s strategic approaches, with a strong emphasis on people-centered care, community participation, local partnerships, and sustainable solutions.
The position promotes clinical and nursing care that is respectful, ethical, safe, effective, and person-centered, embedded consistently across all MSF Ubuntu projects and country programs.
This position will be hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Head of Health Programs Unit or relevant unit head.
Tasks & Responsibilities
Strategic and Technical leadership
- Develop, implement, and monitor MSF Ubuntu clinical nursing care strategies that promote people-centered care and high standards of practice across country programs.
- Lead initiatives to improve the quality of clinical and nursing care in close collaboration with relevant technical advisors.
- Identify, develop, and implement essential tools, guidelines, and documents related to nursing care, including patient management and supportive care across levels of care.
- Provide guidance and technical support to projects and country programs, identify challenges and recommend evidence-based solutions using standardized tools and approaches.
- Ensure high standards of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) are applied at all levels, in close collaboration with IPC advisor/implementer.
- Ensure the medical master supply lists and catalogues remain updated and appropriate for program activities, promoting safe, rational, and efficient use of medical materials and equipment in close collaboration with section pharmacist/pharmacy team.
- Actively contribute to MSF Ubuntu’s medical operational vision, strategies, and programming as a member of the Health Department.
Nursing Care Management and Service Organization (in close collaboration with MSF Ubuntu advisors and other OC advisors supporting MSF Ubuntu programs)
- Identify, validate, and/or develop key tools and documents related to nursing care management, including clinical supervision, nursing standards, human resources organization, and resource management.
Program Support
- Provide expert technical advice to program teams and advisors on patient care, nursing practices, implementation of MSF nursing recommendations, and use of medical devices.
- Support field teams in maintaining quality of care through structured quality improvement processes, using tools such as SIPCA, Nursing Quality Indicators (NQIs), and the AMS Nursing Checklist.
- Support accurate collection, analysis, and use of nursing and IPC-related data to promote learning and continuous improvement.
- Promote hand hygiene awareness and support its implementation across programs.
- In collaboration with the Head of Health Programs Unit, support Med-Ops Cell managers (med)/health advisors in defining nursing care strategies during project design, reviews, and planning.
- Conduct briefings and debriefings with country program and relevant HQ staff on nursing care standards and activities.
- Undertake country program visits on a periodic basis or upon request, in agreement with relevant medical leadership (Country MedCo, Dep Med-Ops cell manager (Med), Head of Health Programs Unit).
Nursing Competency Development (In close collaboration with other advisors and MSF stakeholders such as L&D and MSF Academy)
- Identify priority nursing competencies and capacity development needs.
- Map training needs and contributes to the design of training strategies and learning activities.
- Support implementation of training, mentoring, and supervision activities at project level.
- Participate as a facilitator in MSF Ubuntu and international MSF training courses related to clinical and nursing care, when requested.
Representation and Coordination
- Represent MSF Ubuntu within intersectional nursing platform, community of practice (CoP), and relevant technical working groups.
- Lead or contribute to specific thematic initiatives and projects in line with agreed workplans, including participation in workshops and conferences.
- Build and strengthen networks with local institutions and organizations to promote collaboration, exchange best practices, and advance nursing care approaches.
Capacity Building and People Management
- Support recruitment, validation, mentoring, and development of nursing staff and talent pools, as required.
- Collaborate with L&D and nursing platforms to promote knowledge sharing and mentoring, including the development of nursing care training materials.
- Facilitate learning through workshops, webinars, and community of practice platforms for programs and headquarters staff.
- Build the capacity of programs teams on nursing care standards, systems, and tools.
Qualifications
Education
- A qualified Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nursing (BSc or MSc) is essential.
- Postgraduate qualifications in Pediatrics and/or Neonatology is essential.
- Postgraduate qualification or certification in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is an asset.
- Fluency in spoken and written English is essential; knowledge of French is an advantage.
- Demonstrated experience in cross-cultural communication and collaboration.
Experience
- Minimum of five (5) years’ relevant professional experience in clinical nursing care with MSF or international medical-humanitarian organizations (essential).
- Proven experience in nursing supervision, mentoring, and training, with strong pedagogical skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to multicultural collaboration, equity, diversity, inclusion, and continuous learning.
Competencies
- Technical Competencies
- Excellent skills in Office Suite (advanced MS Excel and others)
- Ability to produce high quality, succinct actionable reports with clear recommendations.
- Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills across diverse audiences.
- Behavioral/General Competencies
- Commitment to MSF’s Principles
- Cross-cultural Awareness
- Strategic Vision
- Results and Quality Orientation
- Service Orientation
- Planning and Organizing
- Initiative and Innovation
- Teamwork and Cooperation
- People Management and Development
- Networking and Building Relationships
- Security awareness and Management
Conditions and Benefits:
- The role requires more than 50% time spent in country programs.
- Travel at short notice may be required during emergencies, assessments or critical incidents.
- The post-holder may be required to work extended or irregular hours during crises.
- The role requires high levels of discretion, resilience, political judgement and emotional intelligence.
- The position will operate in a growing Operational Directorate and will require adaptability as MSF Ubuntu’s structures, systems and portfolio evolve.
- Job Location: The position will be based in either MSF Eastern Africa office in Nairobi (Kenya), or Johannesburg (South Africa) with more than 50% of the time spent supporting country programs.
- Contract: 3-year renewable, full-time contract.
- Start date: 01 October 2026.
- Annual Salary and other benefits: In line with MSF reward policy, Subjected to local conditions.