HEAD OF UNIT RECRUITMENT & POOL MANAGEMENT

Médecins Sans Frontières, founded in 1971, is an international medical humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from health care. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of medical professionals, logistics, administrative and various other professions, all guided by our medical ethics and our principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.

MSF WaCA, created in 2019, is the first MSF headquarters in Africa, and responds to the desire to reinvent the MSF movement after 50 years of humanitarian actions in the world, for more access to care, more reactivity and proactivity for greater medical coverage of affected populations in the world.

Why join us?

You are preparing to become a member of the MSF family, with over 50 years of emergency medical action that earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

We are an inclusive organization that considers social and professional well-being a right for all and provides an environment that considers the diversity of each member.

MSF WaCA claims an African anchorage that considers the local expertise with which it contributes to the implementation of its activities and makes each member, a key actor of the new dynamics of the humanitarian action in the world.

Diversity, Inclusion & Safe Recruitment

MSF offers equal recruitment and development opportunities without any form of discrimination based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, geographical origin, physical disability or any other discriminatory ground.

Female candidates who meet the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply, and reasonable accommodations are available upon request.

MSF is committed to applying Safe Recruitment principles, ensuring transparent, fair, and respectful recruitment processes that protect candidates, the organization, and its beneficiaries.

We Are Looking for: HEAD OF UNIT RECRUITMENT & POOL MANAGEMENT

Department: Human Resources

Direct Manager: HR Director

Functional Manager: HR Director

Working %: 100%

Position Based in: Abidjan, HQ

Mobility: All WaCA’s Interventions Zones

Type of Contract: Fixed-Term Contract under Ivorian law; Renewable

Position to be filled: As Soon As Possible

Objectives

The Head of Unit, Recruitment & Pool Management (R&PM), leads a team of Recruiters and Pool Managers to ensure effective sourcing and matching for both International Mobile Staff (IMS) in the field and HQ staff. This role oversees the full recruitment lifecycle. For IMS, it includes pool management, career advising, and professional development. The Head of Unit will drive innovative approaches to talent acquisition, retention, and workforce planning, ensuring WaCA’s capacity to respond to operational demands with a competent and diverse workforce.

Main responsibilities

1.Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive recruitment, pool management, and career management strategy aligned with MSF WaCA's operational priorities.
• Lead and manage the team of recruiters and pool managers to achieve organizational and departmental objectives.
• Monitor recruitment and workforce planning trends and best practices to ensure WaCA remains competitive and innovative.

2. Recruitment Oversight

• Oversee and guide the recruitment team in sourcing, selecting, and onboarding candidates for both field (IMS) and headquarters positions.
• Ensure recruitment processes are efficient, inclusive, and compliant with MSF policies and standards.
• Develop creative sourcing strategies to attract high-calibre candidates, including those from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds.
• Maintain and enhance applicant tracking systems to ensure data integrity and accurate reporting.

3. Pool Management

• Ensure alignment between operational needs and pool capacity in terms of both staffing levels and competencies.
• Oversee statistical analysis of talent pools to anticipate short- and long-term workforce needs.
• Collaborate with technical referents to develop and maintain talent pools that meet the evolving requirements of field operations.
• Facilitate the integration of global workforce solutions, including international staff, mobile national staff, and headquarters staff.

4. Team Leadership and Development

• Provide coaching, performance management, and development plans to support the professional growth of team members.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture with a strong focus on innovation and solution-oriented approaches.
• Ensure continuous learning and development opportunities for the team, aligned with MSF WaCA's mission and values.
• Provide backup support for the responsibilities of the Pool, Mobility and Career Manager and the Talent Acquisition Manager.

5. Career Management

• Design and implement career development policies to support the retention and career progression of IMS and mobile staff, in collaboration with the Learning & Development (L&D) team and the Pool, Mobility and Career Managers.
• Ensure the implementation of career management interviews for International Mobile Staff (IMS) and mobile staff, and collaborate with the Learning & Development (L&D) unit on individual development plans that balance organizational needs with personal aspirations.
• Oversee talent review processes and ensure alignment with MSF's learning and development programmes.

6. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build strong relationships with MSF sections, regional hubs, and other partners to facilitate knowledge sharing and resource alignment.
• Serve as the primary HR focal point for recruitment and pool management matters.
• Represent MSF WaCA in international HR forums and working groups, contributing to the development of global HR strategies.

7. Safeguarding

• Ensure that all recruitment and mobility activities are conducted in accordance with safeguarding principles, fostering a safe environment free from abuse for all staff and collaborators.

8. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

• Actively contribute to embedding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) principles within recruitment and mobility processes by promoting equitable representation, ensuring impartial treatment of candidates and colleagues, and proposing improvements to mobility procedures where appropriate.

Job requirements

Education

• Master’s degree in human resources management, Business Administration, or a related field.

Competencies

• Ability to adapt to the international humanitarian sector and to new environments.
• Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to drive change, promote continuous improvement of the HR function, and deliver results.
• Experience managing multicultural teams.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to read, understand, and summarize complex documents.
• Agility and proficiency in the use of information technologies.
• High standards of ethics, social intelligence, and fairness.
• Strict commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of personal and professional data, in accordance with internal policies and applicable regulations.

Professional experience required

• Minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in recruitment, pool management, or talent acquisition.
• At least three (3) years of leadership experience, including managing teams in international and multicultural environments. Proven experience in workforce planning, talent development, and diversity initiatives.
• Experience in the humanitarian or non-profit sector is highly desirable.

Languages Skills

• Working proficiency in English and French

Computer Skills

• MS Office suite (mainly MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint)
• Proficiency in online communication and collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, SharePoint, etc.).
• Familiarity with Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), such as Odoo, Ligo, ERP systems, and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

N.B.: This job description provides a framework for the main responsibilities and primary activities of the position. It is not exhaustive. Therefore, the responsibilities and activities of the position may differ from those described in this job description due to organizational and operational needs.

Deadline: 11th August 2026 18:00 GMT
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted