MSF Ubuntu is looking for a Head of Logistics
Do your skills and experience not precisely match the requirements? At MSF Ubuntu, we strive to create a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace, recognising 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 organisation from all forms of abuse, including Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH), we will take all necessary steps to ensure that confirmed perpetrators of abuse will not join the organisation, enabled through rigorous vetting processes.
For this position, contact level with patients and children is categorised as Medium Risk and will be monitored with this in mind.
Introduction
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organisation that assists 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 (OD) of Médecins Sans Frontières, grounded in the principles of Ubuntu – “I am because we are”. With a base blended between the offices of MSF Southern Africa and MSF Eastern Africa and a strong emphasis on interdependence, interoperability, and maximising sustainable outcomes, MSF Ubuntu seeks to add a new approach to the delivery of medical humanitarian action to the movement by placing communities at the heart of decision-making.
Purpose of the Role
The Head of Logistics ensures that MSF Ubuntu has operationally sound, context‑adapted, and high‑quality logistics systems, and that missions receive appropriate logistics support, tools, and capacity building to operate safely, effectively, and in line with MSF Ubuntu values. This role provides strategic oversight, inter-OD alignment and coordination, and contextual adaptation of logistics systems, while relying on and working closely with OCB as the primary provider of logistics support. The role serves as the logistics focal point and operational reference within MSF Ubuntu, focusing on system coherence, implementation follow‑up, and continuous improvement, rather than direct technical delivery.
Reports to: Director of Logistics and Supply.
Department: MSF Ubuntu Logistics & Supply
Tasks & Responsibilities:
1. Logistics Systems, Information & Knowledge Management
- Contribute to the development of operational logistics standards, guidance, and technical references, ensuring coherence with MSF frameworks, Ubuntu-OCB logistics & technical standards and Ubuntu strategic orientations.
- Adapt and contextualise existing MSF global tools to MSF Ubuntu operational realities (energy, fleet, facilities, supply interfaces, …) in close collaboration with partner ODs to maintain coherence and collective system ownership.
- Maintain a simple, centralised set of Ubuntu‑specific logistics tools and templates, ensuring they remain usable, mission‑adapted, and fully complementary to existing systems, and support coherent, light, and operationally driven reporting.
- Identify system‑level logistics gaps or risks and ensure they are addressed with relevant stakeholders.
- Promote and facilitate the capitalisation and systematic dissemination of logistics lessons and good practices, strengthening peer‑to‑peer learning and cross‑country knowledge sharing.
2. Technical Partnership and Inter‑OD Interface
- Act as MSF Ubuntu’s technical and operational interface with other MSF Operational Directorates (ODs) on logistics matters, representing Ubuntu in relevant intersectional platforms and coordinating access to technical support and systems across the Movement.
- Collaborate with partner ODs to maintain coherence between logistics support and other logistics‑related domains outside the Ubuntu/OCB logistics partnership’s scope.
- Facilitate two‑way technical exchange by bringing Ubuntu field realities, lessons learned, and locally rooted practices into inter‑OD technical discussions.
- Support joint technical workstreams or pilots with partner ODs, as mandated by the Logistics & Supply Director.
3. Quality Assurance & Mission Support
- Support missions in analysing logistics risks, gaps, and needed improvements.
- Monitor adherence to essential standards (Log Basics, safety, maintenance).
- Support logistics reviews, audits, follow-ups, and readiness assessments.
4. Knowledge & Information Management
- Maintain a simple, centralised set of Ubuntu logistics templates & tools.
- Ensure logistics reporting is coherent, light, and operationally useful.
- Document lessons learned and good practices from missions for internal use and sharing with partners.
5. Localisation & Contextual Adaptation
- Support context‑adapted planning.
- Ensure logistics systems integrate local actors, technicians and markets.
- Adapt organisational charts and roles using the Ubuntu Log Org Design Guide (staffing guidance/ staffing model) in line with operational realities and project scale.
- Promote context‑appropriate and sustainable logistics solutions that are compatible with local systems, capacities, and regulatory environments.
6. Logistics in Operations
- Work closely with Medical, Supply, Fin/HR, ICT, Security and Ops to embed logistics as a core operational partner rather than a support function only.
- Provide hands-on operational logistics support where coordination structures are limited or still being built.
- Contributes to defining and refining Ubuntu’s logistics operational model, grounded in field realities.
- Ensure logistics delivers tangible added value to operations through pragmatic, timely support.
- Support missions directly during start-up, transition, and scale-up phases.
- Identify operational bottlenecks and gaps in logistics delivery and propose pragmatic adjustments to tools, processes, and ways of working.
7. Capacity Building
- Identify and prioritise learning and development needs for LogCos, LTLs, technical staff, national logisticians, and relevant community‑based actors, in coordination with L&D, partner ODs, and intersectional platforms.
- Provide briefings, coaching, and targeted support to LogCos and LTLs, strengthening leadership and technical capacity.
Liaise with L&D, partner ODs, and intersectional platforms to ensure the availability of practical learning tools and training opportunities for mission use. - Promote on‑the‑job learning, peer exchange, and use of existing MSF training platforms.
- Support the development of national staff capacity pathways aligned with operational needs and local context.
8. Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Identify and support bottom‑up, field‑driven logistics improvements.
- Integrate relevant local innovations into logistics practices and capitalise on lessons learned by sharing them within MSF Ubuntu and with partners where appropriate.
- Promote simple, field-tested ways of improving workflows.
- Identify and propose opportunities for further collaboration with other ODs.
Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Logistics, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related field.
Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in humanitarian logistics, including:
- Field‑based logistics coordination roles in complex or insecure contexts
- Technical support, advisory, or headquarters‑based logistics roles
- Experience working across multiple missions or regions
Demonstrated experience in:
- Designing and adapting logistics systems and tools
- Supporting and coaching field logistics teams
- Working in interdependent or matrix organisational settings
- Strong MSF field logistics background, including participation in 3–5 missions, ideally in a Logistics Coordinator (LogCo) role.
Key Competencies
Technical & Systems Competencies
- Solid technical knowledge across core logistics domains (fleet, energy, facilities, construction, supply interfaces, maintenance, safety)
- Strong understanding of MSF logistics standards, Log Basics, and field operational realities
- Strong logistics systems thinking and problem‑solving skills
- Ability to translate global standards into practical, field‑adapted solutions
- Quality assurance mindset, with attention to safety and compliance
- Skilled in systems thinking, practice design, and simplification of tools
Collaboration & Interdependence
- Strong ability to work collaboratively across departments and with other MSF Operational Directorates
- Experience acting as a technical interface or connector between entities
- Excellent cross‑cultural communication and collaboration skills
- Respectful and constructive engagement with partners and stakeholders
Localisation & Capacity Building
- Knowledge of localisation approaches, capacity‑building methodologies, and context‑adapted system design
- Commitment to strengthening national staff capacity and leadership
- Ability to integrate local actors, technicians, and markets into logistics systems
- Coaching and facilitation skills
- Experience in community‑based design is an asset
Behavioural/General Competencies
- Alignment with MSF values and Ubuntu principles
- Cross-cultural awareness and security sensitivity
- Strategic vision
- Results and quality orientation
- Service orientation
- Planning and organising
- Initiative and innovation
- Teamwork and cooperation
- People management and development
- Networking and relationship building
- Ability to work autonomously within a clear accountability framework
- Pragmatic, flexible, and solution-oriented approach
Languages:
- Essential: Proficiency in English
- French is a strong asset
Conditions and benefits:
- Location: Johannesburg or Nairobi (with frequent travel to field missions and partner platforms)
- Contract: Full-time.
- Position Grade/Level: 11 (Senior Management).
- Starting Date: To be confirmed (aligned with Ubuntu operational rollout).
- Travel: 20% to 50% a year (projects and inter-hub Programmes).
- Salary and Benefits: Based on the compensation and benefits package in the MSF hosting entity (Eastern Africa / Southern Africa).
- May be required to work extended hours during emergency operations
Application details:
- The vacancy closing date is: 04th of May 2026.
- This vacancy is open to Local and International Applicants.
- By applying to this position, the applicant confirms they have read, understood and agreed to fully comply with the MSF Charter, MSF Behavioural Commitments and Data Privacy Policy.
- In line with MSF’s Safeguarding Principles, successful candidates undergo a rigorous vetting process that includes background checks and self-declaration.
- If you recognise yourself in this profile, we welcome you to apply.
- The vacancy can be found on various MSF websites, digital channels, ReliefWeb and other job boards.
- Applicants are required to upload a Letter of Motivation and a Curriculum Vitae (in English) in the prescribed formats. Applications missing the motivation letter will not be considered.
- If you have any questions regarding your application, don’t hesitate to get in touch with recruitment.team@joburg.msf.org
before the vacancy closing date. Kindly use this email only for technical issues related to your application, for example, if you do not receive an automated response or encounter problems uploading documents. Applications sent directly to this email will not be considered.
