Head of Staff Health & Wellbeing Unit (SHU)

Role Overview

The Head of Staff Health and Well Being Unit (SHU) is responsible for leading and coordinating MSF’s staff health policies, systems, and services to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of MSF staff. The role ensures that MSF East Africa (EA) and MSF Ubuntu staff have access to timely, confidential, high-quality staff health support before, during, and after assignments, aligned with medical standards and duty of care obligations. This position is hierarchically accountable to the Director of HR and Administration and functionally accountable to the Medical Director for MSF Ubuntu matters and the Senior Health Advisor on EA matters.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead strategic vision and long-term planning for Staff Health Unit operations for MSF East Africa and MSF Ubuntu, aligned with MSF global health and wellbeing mandates.
• Drive organizational transformation in staff health and safety through policy innovation, strategic development, and risk mitigation.
• Develop and implement staff health frameworks, policies, medevac SOPs, referral pathways, and reporting tools for MSF East Africa and MSF Ubuntu country programs.
• Coordinate and standardize staff health activities across MSF Ubuntu country programs, ensuring quality, consistency, and ethical management of medical information.
• Act as the focal point for staff health, liaising with management, finance and administration leadership, and the MSF international staff health network.

Technical and Operational Responsibilities

• Design and evaluate integrated staff health service models to ensure timely, equitable, and high-quality care across MSF operations.
• Lead crisis response protocols, including incident management, medical evacuations, and complex referral pathways.
• Provide executive oversight and mentorship to SHU teams, implement quality assurance systems and use data and stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure comprehensive physical, medical, and psychosocial staff health support for mobile and country-based staff.
• Oversee access to medical, psychological, and psychosocial support services, coordinating closely with medical departments and the international staff health network.
• Lead the coordination of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) systems, including prevention, early identification, and referral.
• Provide technical and clinical oversight for complex cases, including chronic conditions, discharge planning, and safe return-to-mission decisions.
• Liaise with referral hospitals and regional hubs for clinical risk assessment and quality improvement.
• Coordinate staff health responses to critical incidents (serious illness, injury, and death) in collaboration with HR, Security, and medical teams.

Strategic Partnerships & Interagency Coordination

• Build and manage strategic partnerships with MSF Operational Centers and external health institutions.
• Represent MSF EA and MSF Ubuntu SHU in high-level internal and external forums.
• Oversee financial and insurance coordination, including focal point engagement with International SOS and MSH International.

Organizational Development & Capacity Building

• Champion a holistic staff wellbeing agenda and psychosocial resilience programs.
• Establish clinical supervision frameworks and lead talent management for SHU staff.
• Provide case-based mentoring and technical guidance to Staff Health Officers.

Compliance and Performance

• Participate in the occupational health and safety (OSH) committee and ensure compliance with the OSH ACT.
• Integrate Duty of Care, EDI, and Safeguarding strategies into organizational processes.
• Ensure data processing activities comply with the Data Protection Act, 2019.
• Manage individual performance management processes for the SHU team.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A degree in Medicine or equivalent (MD).
• Minimum 6 to 8 years of experience in health service management, preferably in humanitarian settings.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.
• Experience working with multicultural teams and diverse populations.
• MSF experience as a medical coordinator or health advisor is preferred.
• Tropical Medicine course or equivalent is an advantage.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) application portal by visiting https://www.myjobmag.co.ke/apply-now/1187669.