HR Partner / HR Partneress

Join MSF OCG as an HR Partner!

We are seeking passionate candidates eager 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

At MSF OCG, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive culture that amplifies the diverse voices of our staff members. We strive to create workplaces where individuals from various backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas, and experiences collaborate to enhance MSF's social mission and improve outcomes for our patients and communities.

We understand that some individuals may hesitate to apply online using the form below if they do not meet all listed job requirements. However, we encourage you to apply if you believe you are a good match for this position, even if you don’t fulfill every listed qualification. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, beliefs, ability statuses, and other diversity characteristics.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse or any form 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 individuals in need, including those affected by natural or man-made disasters and victims of armed conflict, without discrimination based on race, religion, creed, or political affiliation (MSF Charter).

As the HR Partner for HQ teams in Switzerland, you will help shape and enhance people practices, working conditions, and operational effectiveness to support a positive employee experience. Collaborating with managers and staff members throughout the employee lifecycle, you will navigate people-related challenges and opportunities.

Guided by our HR values—Respect, Integrity & Accountability; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; and Proactivity & Agile Responsiveness—you will utilize HR expertise, people data, and organizational insight to inform decisions, advance HR initiatives, and contribute to coherent, context-appropriate HR frameworks. Additionally, you will maintain alignment between HQ and program HR approaches and provide ad-hoc support to other HQ hubs.

In essence, you will contribute to a values-driven HR function that acknowledges that responsible, people-centered practices enable our staff to work effectively, recognizing that MSF’s success is fundamentally rooted in its people. The scope and functions of this role may evolve in line with the HR transformation program and organizational changes within HQ HR, ensuring that the role’s overall purpose is maintained.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• HR Partnering & Service Delivery:
  • Act as the HR interface for HQ teams across the employee lifecycle, coordinating with HR specialist teams (C&B, Recruitment, L&D, HR Administration) to design and deliver integrated HR solutions.
  • Collaborate with managers and stakeholders to identify people needs and implement practical actions that support performance and sustainable work practices.
  • Participate in recruitment and onboarding processes.
  • Embed organizational imperatives such as safeguarding, DEI, and duty of care into HQ HR systems, processes, and daily practices, reinforcing both behaviors and outcomes.
• Employee Relations & People Risk Management:
  • Coordinate and support employee relations case management, ensuring compliance, documentation, and appropriate escalation.
  • Facilitate constructive resolutions of workplace conflicts and support mediation efforts as necessary.
  • Engage with staff representative bodies where applicable.
• People Data, Insights & Improvement Initiatives:
  • Analyze HR data to identify risks, trends, and improvement areas.
  • Translate insights into recommendations and contribute to HR initiatives that strengthen existing practices.
  • Support evidence-based decision-making across HR and management teams.
• HR Policy:
  • Provide guidance on HR policy interpretation and coherent application.
  • Contribute to the review and evolution of HR policies.
• Learning, Capability Development & People Management Support:
  • Coordinate the identification of learning and capability development needs with managers and specialist teams.
  • Support the delivery of learning and development initiatives.
  • Advise managers on people management and performance dynamics.
  • Co-design and drive targeted capability-building interventions in collaboration with specialist teams.
• Organizational Change Support:
  • Support organizational change processes, assessing people impacts and advising on transition approaches.
  • Advise managers on change implementation and risk mitigation.
• Other Responsibilities:
  • Support other HQ hubs as needed.
  • Undertake additional duties as requested by the Deputy Director of HQ HR.

Your Profile

Education
Essential: Tertiary degree in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Psychology, Business Administration, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
Desired: Professional HR qualification (e.g., Brevet fédéral, CIPD, SHRM, HRCI, GPHR, or equivalent).

Experience
Experience in HR Business Partnering or senior HR generalist roles within a complex, multicultural organization is essential, including employee relations and supporting organizational change. Experience in international and/or humanitarian organizations is desirable.

Languages
English and French are the working languages at MSF Switzerland headquarters. Fluency in one and a working level of the other (or willingness to learn) is required. Knowledge of German is highly desirable.

Competencies
Strong understanding of HR business partnering and employee relations.
Ability to analyze people data and complex situations and translate insights into clear HR interventions.
Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills, including mediation of difficult conversations in a multicultural environment.
Comprehensive understanding of HR administration and the Swiss employment framework.
A collaborative, empathetic, and human-centered approach with the ability to build trust and support teams through change.

Other Attributes
Strong alignment with MSF principles and values.
Sound judgment, integrity, and the ability to manage sensitive situations with discretion.
Openness, respect, and adaptability in a diverse environment.
Willingness to occasionally work across Geneva/Zurich and support HQ hubs as needed.

Terms of Employment

• Full-time position (40 hours/week)
• Open-ended contract
• Working location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Ideal start date: September 2026
• Paid vacation: 25 days per year, prorated, along with Swiss public holidays
• Pension plan: 3/4 pension contribution covered by MSF, 1/4 by the staff member
• Relocation support available for eligible candidates

How to Apply

Candidates are invited to apply online using the form below. We request the following:

• CV (maximum 2 pages)
• Cover letter (maximum 1 page)

Documents must be submitted in either English or French.

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.