HR CELL MANAGER (W/M) – BASED IN NAIROBI AT MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES (MSF)

HR CELL MANAGER (W/M) – BASED IN NAIROBI AT MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES (MSF)

SEO Title: HR Cell Manager Job in Nairobi at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Meta Description: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is hiring an HR Cell Manager based in Nairobi. The role covers HR management across Kenya, South Sudan and Chad and requires strong humanitarian HR experience plus French and English proficiency.

SEO Slug: hr-cell-manager-msf-nairobi

JOB DETAILS

Job Title: HR Cell Manager (W/M)

Company: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Job Type: Full Time, Fixed-Term Contract

Contract Duration: 2 Years

Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Experience: Minimum 4 years in a relevant HR coordination or comparable humanitarian HR role

Job Field: Human Resources / HR

Posted Date: September 4, 2026

Deadline: Not Specified

Salary: Not Specified

Travel: International travel to MSF field missions required

JOB OVERVIEW

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, is seeking an experienced HR Cell Manager to be based in Nairobi.

The successful candidate will have direct responsibility for Cell-level HR management supporting MSF missions in South Sudan, Kenya and Chad. The position combines strategic HR leadership with hands-on operational support, requiring the ability to work across complex, multi-mission humanitarian environments.

The HR Cell Manager will work closely with HR Coordinators, Deputy HR Coordinators, Administrative Managers and the Cell HR Coordinator to strengthen HR strategies, staff development, workforce planning, HR systems, international mobile staff management and employee engagement.

ABOUT MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES (MSF)

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian medical organisation providing assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters and limited access to healthcare.

MSF operates in challenging environments and relies on multidisciplinary teams to support humanitarian operations around the world.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Mission HR Management

- Take direct responsibility for Cell-level HR management across South Sudan, Kenya and Chad missions.

- Work closely with HR Coordinators in each mission.

- Hold regular one-on-one meetings with HR Coordinators.

- Provide practical, field-focused HR guidance and support.

- Mentor HR Coordinators and Deputy HR Coordinators.

- Conduct regular follow-ups with field HR and administrative teams.

- Support the development and review of mission-specific HR strategies and action plans.

2. Strategic HR Partnership

- Work as a strategic partner to the Cell HR Coordinator.

- Contribute to Cell-level HR strategy and planning.

- Lead or co-lead strategic HR initiatives, including duty of care, gender and diversity.

- Identify emerging HR challenges and escalate strategic issues appropriately.

- Help design HR interventions suited to individual mission contexts.

- Contribute to workforce planning, HR policy discussions and operational priorities.

3. Field Coverage and Continuity

- Provide HR coordination support when HR Coordinators are absent.

- Serve as backup to the Cell HR Coordinator when required.

- Represent the Cell HR team in internal and external meetings when delegated.

- Help maintain continuity of HR leadership across field missions.

4. Learning and Development

- Lead Learning and Development activities across Cell 6 missions.

- Support and supervise L&D Managers and L&D Specialists.

- Ensure mission L&D strategies are aligned with wider capacity-building priorities.

- Promote continuous learning and career development.

- Drive implementation of performance management processes.

- Ensure effective staff onboarding and orientation.

5. Operational HR Management

- Oversee HR operations including recruitment, contracts, disciplinary processes and staff separation.

- Support field HR teams with practical HR guidance.

- Promote consistent application of HR policies and procedures.

- Ensure compliance with relevant national labour laws.

- Support HR teams operating in complex humanitarian environments.

6. International Mobile Staff Management

- Support the matching of International Mobile Staff to field positions.

- Assist missions with international staff placements.

- Lead onboarding and offboarding processes for international mobile staff.

- Coordinate with relevant travel, movement and field administration units.

- Maintain accurate international staff matching documentation.

- Support the management of international staff throughout their field assignments.

7. HR Systems and Knowledge Management

- Strengthen documentation and sharing of HR practices across missions.

- Promote effective use of HR information systems.

- Work with platforms such as Ligo and Homere where applicable.

- Maintain high-quality HR data.

- Support accurate HR reporting and decision-making.

- Strengthen HR information management processes.

8. Internal Communication and Staff Engagement

- Contribute to internal HR communication strategies.

- Promote consistent information flow across missions.

- Encourage transparency and inclusion.

- Support meaningful staff engagement and dialogue.

- Help strengthen communication between HR teams and employees.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate should meet the following requirements:

- At least 4 years of significant experience as an HR Coordinator, strong HR Deputy Coordinator, or Project Coordinator with a substantial HR/Administration background.

- Experience in MSF or a comparable international humanitarian organisation.

- MSF field experience is an added advantage.

- Significant experience in HR project management.

- Experience in an HR Cell position is desirable.

- Demonstrated experience in International Mobile Staff management.

- Experience in field HR operations.

- Experience supporting or implementing Learning and Development initiatives is an advantage.

- Strong knowledge and experience in human resources management.

- Experience with HR information systems such as Ligo and Homere is desirable.

- Strong management and supervision capabilities.

- Excellent negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.

- Project management and change management skills.

- Understanding of humanitarian operations and emergency response.

- Ability to analyse complex situations and provide clear recommendations.

- Strong leadership, vision and anticipation.

- Ability to identify strategic and operational priorities.

- Strong listening, dialogue and interpersonal skills.

- Ability to work effectively across multiple missions and complex environments.

- Resilience and adaptability.

- Ability to provide hands-on support while respecting mission-level autonomy.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Language proficiency is an important requirement for this position:

- French: Minimum C1 level – fluent.

- English: Minimum B2 level – intermediate.

Applicants should therefore ensure their CV clearly demonstrates their proficiency in both languages.

KEY SKILLS

Key competencies for the HR Cell Manager role include:

- Strategic Human Resource Management

- HR Coordination

- Humanitarian HR Management

- International Staff Management

- Learning and Development

- Performance Management

- Workforce Planning

- Change Management

- Project Management

- Leadership and Team Management

- Conflict Resolution

- Negotiation

- HR Information Systems

- Employee Engagement

- Staff Development

- Data and HR Reporting

- Strategic Communication

- Problem Solving

- Cross-cultural Collaboration

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

This position is particularly suited to experienced HR professionals who have worked in international humanitarian organisations or similarly complex environments.

Candidates should be comfortable balancing strategic HR responsibilities with hands-on field support and should have the ability to work across multiple countries and missions.

This is not an entry-level HR position. Applicants should have substantial HR coordination experience and strong exposure to humanitarian or international operations.

CONTRACT AND WORK ARRANGEMENT

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Work Arrangement: Full Time

Contract: Fixed Term

Duration: 2 Years

Travel: International travel to MSF field missions required

Salary: Not specified in the vacancy

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CV

Applicants targeting this position should tailor their CV specifically to senior humanitarian HR management.

Your CV should clearly highlight:

- HR Coordinator or Deputy HR Coordinator experience.

- Humanitarian or international NGO experience.

- Countries or field missions where you have worked.

- International Mobile Staff management experience.

- HR project management experience.

- Learning and Development initiatives.

- Performance management experience.

- Recruitment and employee relations.

- HRIS experience, particularly Ligo or Homere if applicable.

- Leadership and team supervision.

- Conflict resolution and negotiation.

- Experience working in complex or emergency environments.

- French and English language proficiency.

- Strategic HR planning and policy development.

Avoid submitting a generic HR CV. The employer should be able to quickly see evidence of your experience managing HR in complex, multi-country or humanitarian settings.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) recruitment process.

The vacancy source indicates that applications should be submitted through the MSF application platform.

Link. https://www.msf.fr/en/get-involved/work-with-us/all-employment-opportunities/hr-cell-manager-wm-based-in-nairobi?utm_source=MyJobMag

Application Deadline: Not Specified

Applicants should carefully review the official vacancy requirements before submitting their application.

JOB SUMMARY

Category| Details

Job Title| HR Cell Manager (W/M)

Organisation| Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Location| Nairobi, Kenya

Job Type| Full Time

Contract| Fixed Term – 2 Years

Qualification| Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Experience| Minimum 4 years relevant experience

Job Field| Human Resources / HR

Languages| French C1, English B2

Travel| International travel required

Salary| Not Specified

Posted| September 4, 2026

Deadline| Not Specified

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What position is MSF recruiting for?

Médecins Sans Frontières is recruiting an HR Cell Manager (W/M) based in Nairobi.

2. Where is the position based?

The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, with international travel to MSF field missions.

3. Which countries will the HR Cell Manager support?

The role provides HR leadership and support across South Sudan, Kenya and Chad.

4. How much experience is required?

The vacancy requires significant HR coordination experience, with a minimum of 4 years as an HR Coordinator, strong HR Deputy Coordinator or comparable Project Coordinator with HR/Admin experience.

5. Is humanitarian experience required?

The position specifically seeks experience in MSF or a comparable international humanitarian organisation. MSF field experience is an advantage.

6. What languages are required?

Applicants need at least C1 French and B2 English proficiency.

7. Is this a permanent position?

No. The position is a two-year fixed-term contract.

8. Is international travel required?

Yes. The role is Nairobi-based but requires international travel to MSF field missions.

9. What is the application deadline?

The vacancy does not specify an application deadline.

10. Is the salary provided?

The salary is not specified in the available vacancy information.

IMPORTANT JOB APPLICATION WARNING

Job seekers should be cautious of individuals who claim to represent MSF and request money for recruitment, interviews, training, certificates, travel arrangements or job placement.

Always use the organisation's official recruitment process when applying and verify suspicious recruitment communications before sharing sensitive personal or financial information.

For more job description visit: jobopenings.co.ke