[Apologies for cross-posting.]

Dear all,

Please find attached a vacancy for an advisor at headquarters here in
Amsterdam. We are looking for someone with field experience, an
understanding of the dilemmas of humanitarian assistance and a rights /
protection background. Please circulate to anyone you think might be both
interested and qualified.

The deadline for applications is 18 June 2007.

With many thanks,

Kate Mackintosh
Humanitarian Affairs Department
Medecins Sans Frontieres
(Operational Centre Amsterdam)
+31 20 520 8908

______________________________________________________________________________


                                  Vacancy

Within the context of shared operationality and the structure of
decentralised field driven operations, the MSF Operational Center Amsterdam
(OCA) currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in 29
countries. Overall MSF OCA projects deploy over 1100 international and
approximately 6000 national staff (2005 figures) with a financial volume,
which has risen from 47 million euros in 2002 to a planned 99 million euros
in 2006.

With immediate effect MSF OCA has a vacancy for the position of

                    Humanitarian Affairs Advisor (100%)


ORGANIZATIONAL POSITION

The  Humanitarian  Affairs  Department  works  closely  with  the MSF field
operations  of  the  OCA  to  promote  humanitarian  responses  guided by a
critical  understanding  of MSF's positioning within the given context, and
to develop and implement the witnessing, protection and advocacy components
of MSF's work.

The humanitarian affairs advisor (HAA) is a member of the Humanitarian
Affairs Department (HAD), which consists of three advisor positions
focussed on direct support to the field, and two positions focussed on
thematic support to the organization. The HAA is hierarchically and
functionally accountable to the head of the department.

OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION

The overall objective of this function is to strengthen MSF humanitarian
mission in the field. This objective will be accomplished by the provision
of quality, timely advice to the field teams and through training, the
development of tools, background research and development and indirect
support in order to:
   - enhance the understanding of protection needs and key issues affecting
   humanitarian action within a given dynamic context;
   - strengthen and further develop MSF's capacity to witness, protect and
   advocate;
   - contribute to the two-way exchange between the organization and the
   larger humanitarian arena.


DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Humanitarian Affairs Advisor is responsible for promoting critical
humanitarian engagement in MSF missions, safeguarding the integration of
the temoignage and medical components of MSF's work, and assuring that
MSF's operations reflect core organizational principles and values. The
HAA:
   - directs the witnessing and protection role of MSF in conjunction with
   field teams, assures the development and implementation of advocacy
   strategies;
   - acts as a sparring partner to the Country Management Team and
   Operational Manager on protection issues, humanitarian principles and
   organizational positioning;
   - conducts academic and operational research to develop and challenge
   organizational thinking/approaches on that confront humanitarian action;
   provides legal and practical advice and training on international
   humanitarian law, refugee law, human rights, humanitarian principles and
   bearing witness;
   - assists the field in drafting of letters, position papers, briefing
   documents, reports, etc.;
   - advises on the process of the gathering, analysis and synthesis of
   information/data;
   - contributes to the development of training materials and facilitation of
   courses;
  -  initiates and contributes to (inter) national debates, academic
   workshops and conferences, writes articles, gives presentations, etc.

PROFILE

  - Law degree in the field of international humanitarian and/or human
  rights law; OR relevant academic degree (e.g., law, humanitarianism,
  political science, international relations) AND proven familiarity with
  humanitarian and human rights approaches;
  - Field experience in the types of countries where MSF is active (prefer
  at least 2 years);
  - thorough knowledge of the humanitarian sector and current
  debates/dilemmas around humanitarian assistance;
  - strong analytical and advisory skills and the ability to translate
  complex context analysis into clear conclusions and recommendations;
  - able to travel to the field for periods of up to 3 weeks;
  - excellent verbal and written communication skills;
  - affinity with and knowledge of MSF positions and operations in the
  field;
  - fluency in English, passive knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic or
  another language; fluency in Dutch an advantage;
  - sense of humor, good team-player, flexible, ability to work
  independently and under pressure.

WE ARE OFFERING

- A contract for three (3) years with a fulltime appointment based on 5 days
   per week.
- A gross salary in scale 6 of a minimum of Euros 2.678 and a maximum of Euros
   3.965 per month, based on relevant work experience, for a fulltime
   employment (based on a 40-hour week).
- A stimulating, professional working environment in an international
   organisation.
- Ample holiday leave, a premium free pension scheme, childcare support

FURTHER INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

Additional information can be requested from Kate Mackintosh (Head HAD),
tel. +31 20 520 8908. If you are interested in this position please send
your written application and cv before 18 June 2007 to HRM Office, for the
attention of Mr. Marco Visser (Personnel Advisor Office), PO Box 10014,
1001 EA Amsterdam, or by e-mail: [log in to unmask] mentioning
`Humanitarian Affairs Advisor'.

Interviews are planned for week 25.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Note: The material contained in this communication comes to you from the
Forced Migration Discussion List which is moderated by the Refugee Studies
Centre (RSC), University of Oxford. It does not necessarily reflect the
views of the RSC or the University. If you re-print, copy, archive or
re-post this message please retain this disclaimer. Quotations or extracts
should include attribution to the original sources.

List archives are available at:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/forced-migration.html