Deputy Nursing Science Referent

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation. 
Deputy Nursing Science Referent (m/f/x) – Brussels – MSF Academy for Healthcare
CONTEXT 
The MSF Academy for Healthcare is a MSF intersectional initiative that has been created with the aim to increase the quality of healthcare in health care services directed or supported by MSF by strengthening the skills and competencies of healthcare workers through structured, competency-based and recognized or accredited learning programs. The Academy has a growing portfolio of learning programmes addressing specific learning needs and objectives for different categories of healthcare staff in MSF managed or supported healthcare services. All these projects are chosen in line with overall MSF medical operational priorities.  

A large focus is on MSF’s national staff but increasingly includes also staff of ministries of health, especially in the countries with the largest gaps in human resources for health (HRH) capacity. Presently, a lot of effort goes to nursing care and maternity care staff in MSF hospitals or MSF supported hospitals and to staff working in out-patient care in primary healthcare facilities. The Academy develops adapted comprehensive curricula and invests a great deal in clinical mentorship in the healthcare services of practice. Beyond MSF projects, the Academy connects also to health authorities to work on recognition of its learning programmes and organises occasionally also financial, organisational and pedagogical support (through e.g. sponsoring scholarships) to existing schools for training of healthcare workers.  

Discover more about it on MSF Academy for Healthcare.   

We have a growing “global team”, composed of the director, deputy director, resource manager, MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) manager, communication and information officer, project managers, training coordinators as well as a strong technical team comprising of medical experts and learning science experts to support our projects, as well as a group of distance-learning clinical mentors for the AMR programme and tutors for PGDIP courses. In the countries where a training program is implemented, strong country teams are present. The global team counts around 30 staff, and the program-based teams have around 70 staff.  

As the MSF Academy Deputy Nursing Science Referent, you provide strategic and operational support for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of Nursing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes across MSF Academy for Healthcare projects. 

This includes contributing to the development, rollout, and quality assurance of programmes such as Basic Clinical Nursing Care (BCNC), Operating Theatre (OT), Neonatal Nursing Care, and other advanced nursing curricula, ensuring high-quality learning aligned with MSF standards. 

As focal point for Neonatal Nursing Care, you lead content development, implementation, and integration into field-based learning, ensuring technical accuracy, pedagogical coherence, and operational relevance. 

Working under the Nursing Science Referent, you collaborate with pedagogical referents, programme managers, and field teams to ensure consistent programme design, implementation, and monitoring. 

In absence of the NS Referent, you assume full leadership on nursing science matters within the MSF Academy, ensuring continuity in technical guidance, decision-making, and programme oversight. You also support implementation in selected countries, with responsibilities agreed jointly with the Referent. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 
Curriculum development and revision 

Support the strategic development, rollout, and quality assurance of all nursing CPD programmes 

Lead the development and continuous improvement of neonatal and paediatric nursing content 

Contribute to the design, revision, and harmonisation of curricula, learning materials, and assessment tools 

Ensure curricula reflect field realities, updated clinical guidelines, and MSF operational priorities 

Organise and support needs-based curriculum reviews, integrating feedback from projects and evaluations 

Adapt and contextualise learning resources (including digital and e-learning formats) 

Ensure quality assurance and intersectional validation of all nursing curricula 

Document curriculum evolution and contribute to knowledge capitalisation and best practices 

Technical guidance and support to programme implementation 

Support project teams in conducting comprehensive learning needs assessments 

Contribute to defining and adapting training strategies aligned with operational contexts and Operations Directorate (OD) nursing advisors 

Provide technical support for programme planning, preparation, and implementation 

Support or facilitate Training of Clinical Mentors and Clinical Facilitators, strengthening field capacity 

Contribute to discussions on programme validation and accreditation, ensuring compliance with MSF Academy standards 

Support the design and follow-up of post-training strategies to sustain impact 

Collaborate closely with pedagogical referents and project managers to ensure coherent implementation and monitoring 

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Quality Improvement 

Monitor programme implementation across countries using programme frameworks and indicators 

Analyse project data to identify trends, gaps, and areas for improvement 

Provide structured feedback to projects and stakeholders to strengthen programme quality 

Participate in programme evaluations, including:  

Learner competency assessments 

Satisfaction surveys 

Impact on clinical practice and health facility performance 

Support follow-up on recommendations from field visits, ensuring continuity and alignment 

Contribution to HR processes and capacity building 

Participate in the recruitment and selection of Clinical Mentors and Pedagogical Managers 

Contribute to briefing, induction, and onboarding of staff 

Provide guidance on clinical practice support and professional development pathways 

Support capacity building of field teams to ensure sustainable programme delivery 

Leadership and representation 

Act as technical lead for Neonatal Nursing Care within MSF Academy 

Ensure alignment and coordination across programmes, projects, and stakeholders 

Represent nursing technical perspectives in internal discussions and decision-making processes 

Ensure continuity of leadership in the absence of the Nursing Science Referent 

REQUIREMENTS 
Education & Experience 

Bachelor’s degree in nursing sciences with a specialization in paediatric and/or neonatal nursing care 

Minimum 5 years of clinical experience in paediatric and/or neonatal nursing 

Minimum 2 years of international experience with MSF in different contexts, including one experience in a leadership position 

Demonstrated experience in hands-on clinical mentorship and/or preceptorship is mandatory 

Experience in learning and development, including curriculum design, training facilitation, or teaching is an asset 

Experience in programme or project management is an asset 

Experience with the MSF Academy, or in a managerial role within projects where the MSF Academy was actively involved is a strong asset 

Competencies 

Excellent communication and persuasion skills 

Strong organisational abilities with a solution-oriented mindset 

Highly pragmatic and adaptable in complex environments 

Strong team player, able to collaborate effectively and interact with different stakeholders at all levels  

Empathic, interpersonal understanding and respect 

Cross-cultural awareness 

Languages 

Proficient in both English and French, with strong written communication skills in one of the two languages 

Knowledge of Arabic is considered an asset 

CONDITIONS 
Expected starting date: As soon as possible 

Locations*: Brussels (Belgium) 

* Other locations where there is an MSF entity within maximum 2 hours’ time zone difference from Brussels could be exceptionally considered. The final outcome depends on the residency of the candidate, the local legal limitations (residency, work permit, etc.) and on the agreement with the hosting MSF entity of these locations 

Mobility: up to 50% per year to projects and HQ 

Contract type: Open-ended contract - Full-time 

Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid 

Homeworking is possible as per MSF policy 

Meal Vouchers - Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs 

Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment 

Adhere to the MSF Behavioural Commitments 

Deadline for applications: 9 July 2026 

How to apply?  
Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button   

You will be directed to the online application form for this position   

It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter in English or French ready to upload (in PDF format) 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted 

MSF values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.  

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