Médecins Sans Frontières Suisse is looking for a Senior Researcher (French-speaking)

Join MSF OCG as a Senior Researcher!

We are looking for passionate candidates ready to contribute to our humanitarian mission.

Below, you will find the job details and the qualifications we are looking for.

Inclusivity and Diversity at MSF

Do your qualifications and experience not exactly match all requirements of the job?

At MSF OCG, we are committed to an inclusive culture that supports and amplifies the diverse voices of our staff members. We strive to create workplaces where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together to advance MSF's social mission and create better outcomes for our patients and the communities we work with.

We understand that some people may hesitate to apply for employment if they don't meet all listed job requirements. Research shows that this is especially true for women. If you believe your profile is a good match for this position, we invite you to apply even if you don’t fulfil every listed qualification.

We encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will undergo reference checks.

Context & mission

Médecins Sans Frontières is an independent, international medical and humanitarian organization that provides care to people in need, people affected by natural or man-made disasters, and victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and without regard to race, religion, creed or political affiliation (MSF Charter).

The “Unité de Réflexion sur les Enjeux et Pratiques Humanitaires” (UREPH) is an internal research and reflection group of MSF OCG in charge of analyzing key humanitarian issues met in the field, stakeholder policies and their consequences on vulnerable populations, as well as critically reflecting on our internal practices of assistance and their limits. It regularly publishes external and internal papers to this effect, represents MSF in conferences or workshops, organizes events to disseminate findings and stimulate awareness, debate and change. The UREPH also supports operational teams to foster better understanding of their environment and help them respond to the most acute challenges and dilemmas they meet in the field. Prominent themes of research include, among others, humanitarian and medical ethics, forced displacement, safety and security of humanitarian staff, Sexual and gender based violence against women.

It stimulates an internal culture of debate, critical thinking and exchange, and contributes to the public positioning of MSF OCG by being part of a platform reviewing the most important advocacy challenges and initiatives, and by participating to key decision-making in this area.

The UREPH is led by a Head of Unit acting part-time as one of the senior researchers.

The Senior researcher is responsible for leading, developing and capitalizing research according to the UREPH’s work program and annual plan. He/She represents MSF-CH in various foras regarding the research topics under his/her responsibility and makes himself/herself available to carry out field assignments and visits and other functions within the conduct of his/her research/reflection work.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Project Develop in collaboration with the Head of UREPH the strategic plan of the unit

Participate in the identification and formulation of research issues and parallel debate

• Produce and publish research articles, through academic journals or newspapers Study design and formulation of methodology
• Field collection of specific data as needed
• Collection of bibliography
• Article writing (as main contributing author)
• Article submission and editorial correspondance
• Article finalisation according to peer reviews
• Article publication

Present research results in internal (MSF) and external meetings, and lead/contribute to associated or ensuing debate

• Submission of abstracts
• Participation in conferences or other meetings relevant to research topics.

Contribute to building partnerships between MSF and humanitarian organizations, academic institutions, and think tanks

• Representation of UREPH in external meetings, workshops or consultations
• Lectures on history / contemporary humanitarian action, epidemiology history, or related topics.

Other

• Adapts research priorities to operational requests as necessary
• Liaise with other MSF sections on themes of common interests
• Stimulate critical thinking on these issues and push forward the development and improvement of adequate responses to these challenges
• Active participation in international discussions on research issues
• Fait emerger de nouvelles thématiques de recherches en lien avec les objectifs de l’organisation et l’actualité
• Represent OCG in various forums if needed
• With the Head of UREPH manage short-term researchers/experts or interns on specific research issues.

Your profile

Education

• PhD or Masters degree in social sciences (history, political science, global studies, international relations)
• Health background is a bonus.

Experience

• Experience in research in low- and middle-income countries
• 10 years of operational experience in the field and HQ with MSF
• Experience and ability to build and animate a network of resources
• Academic experience (peer review publications, academic articles…)
• Management experience.

Languages

• Fluency in English and French (written and spoken) are mandatory.

Skills/ Technical competencies

• Ability to write reports and peer-review publications
• Ability to represent and to animate teams
• Ability to understand and deal with institutional issues
• Ability to understand operational and humanitarian stakes
• Flexibility to redirect work priorities when required for operational reasons.

Personal qualities

• Team spirit while able to work autonomously
• Organized and structured way of working.

Terms of employment

• Full-time position 100% (40h/week)
• Open-ended contract
• Working place: Geneva, Switzerland
• Ideal start date: September 1st, 2026
• Gross annual salary (for 100%): from CHF 110’652.- to CHF 126’228.- (salary commensurate with equivalent experience and internal salary grid)
• Paid vacation: 25 days per year, prorate temporis, plus any Swiss public holidays falling within the contract period.
• Pension plan: pension contribution covered 3/4 by MSF, 1/4 by staff member.
• Relocation support available for eligible candidates.

How to apply

Candidates are invited to submit their application exclusively through our recruitment platform, following these guidelines:

• CV (maximum 2 pages)
• Cover letter (maximum 1 page)
• Documents must be submitted in either English or French.

The application deadline is May 25th, 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier if we receive a sufficient number of quality applications.

All applications will be treated confidentially.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please note that we do not wish to use the services of recruitment or placement agencies.

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