Human Resources Director

Overview

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. As a partner section, MSF Italy is engaged in saving lives and alleviating suffering through fundraising; communication and advocacy, recruitment and deployment of field workers; as well as supporting international operations through expertise and other kinds of direct support.

The Human Resources Director (HRD) is accountable for the overall HR management of MSF Italy staff, ensuring individual development, high-quality support to MSF operations worldwide, and effective collaboration with all MSF Italy departments and with the MSF Movement. The HRD ensures that HR management complies with Italian labor law and with the HR policies of the MSF Movement. They define the working framework through the development and implementation of HR policies validated by the Management Team and the Board, fostering staff well-being through fair, inclusive, and supportive working conditions. To fulfil this mandate, the HRD relies on two units:

• Talent Acquisition and Development (TAD) , responsible for recruitment, career development, staff mobility, and professional development for all staff.
• Organization, Labor Relations and HR Administration (OLA) , responsible for compliance with Italian labor law and international MSF standards, labor relations, organizational coherence, the section’s HR budget, and the HR administrative management of all staff.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and implement MSF Italy's HR strategy in alignment with organizational strategy and MSF movement-wide policies.
• Member of the Management Team (MT).
• Act as a strategic advisor to the General Director and Senior Management Team on people related matters, organizational development, and change management.
• Contribute to organizational planning, risk management, and governance from a human resources perspective.
• Contribute to the organization’s strategy in particular to the management system necessary to achieve goals and defining priorities.

Human Resources Management

• Oversee all HR functions, including recruitment, career management, learning and development, performance management, compensation and benefits, employee relations, and staff well-being, personnel administration, labor relations, organizational analysis, HR budgeting.
• Ensure effective workforce planning to meet current and future operational and organizational needs.
• Promote best practices in people management, leadership development, and staff engagement.

Recruitment and Talent Development

• Ensure timely, equitable, and mission-driven recruitment processes for headquarters and field-related positions.
• Support succession planning and career development pathways for staff.
• Oversee training and development programs, with particular attention to leadership, managerial capacity, and humanitarian competencies.

Employee Relations and Well-being

• Ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment, in line with MSF values and safeguarding commitments.
• Manage employee relations, including conflict resolution, disciplinary processes, and grievance handling.
• Promote staff well-being initiatives, psychosocial support, and work-life balance policies.

Policies, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with Italian labor law, contractual obligations, and internal policies.
• Manage relationships with Unions when relevant.
• Adapt and implement MSF international HR policies within the Italian legal and cultural context.
• Identify and mitigate HR-related risks, including legal, reputational, and operational risks.
• Anticipate and resolve litigation risks taking decisions together with the GD.
• Deal with grievances and violations invoking disciplinary action when required.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Behavioral commitments and safeguarding

• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion across MSF Italy, translating commitments into concrete policies and practices.
• Monitor and report on relevant indicators related to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Responsible, jointly with the GD, to take decisions resulting from behavioral unit investigations and recommendations.

Team Leadership and Budget Management

• Lead, develop, and manage the HR team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Manage the HR budget, ensuring efficient and transparent use of resources.
• Plan and implement qualitative and quantitative analysis of the organisation (flows, processes, structures), rethinking the organisational structure in a lean and results-oriented logic.
• Oversees HR Department budget and HR work cost budget of MSF Italy.

Coordination within the MSF Movement

• Represent MSF Italy in HR-related forums within the MSF Movement.
• Collaborate with other MSF sections and partners to share best practices and contribute to international HR initiatives.
• Member of the PSCT (PS crisis Management Team) of MSF Italy.

Qualifications

Education/languages required:

• University degree in Human Resources, Law, Organizational Psychology, Social Sciences, or a related Field. Postgraduate qualification is an asset.
• Excellent command of English (C1 level) and working proficiency of Italian (B2 level). Knowledge of French or other languages is an asset.

Experience required:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in human resources, including senior leadership roles in the international cooperation, humanitarian assistance or no profit sector. Experience with MSF in leading roles is an asset.
• Proven experience in complex, values-driven, or international organizations; experience in NGOs or humanitarian settings.
• Solid experience of labor law and HR best practices.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic HR planning, organizational development, and change management.
• Extensive track record in leading, enabling and coaching staff members. Knowledge/experience in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion matters is a plus.
• Experience in organizational learning strategy.

Skills/competencies required:

• Cross-functional skills in all areas of HR.
• Strong competences in Project Management. Knowledge of Agile PM, PMBOK, Prince2 and/or specific PM certifications represent strong assets.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and influence at all levels.
• Strategic vision/thinking combined with operational excellence.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and ethical judgment.
• High degree of behavioral flexibility and cultural adaptability.
• Networking and relationship management skills.
• Results orientation with the ability to work by objectives.
• Stress, conflict, and complexity management skills.
• Commitment to MSF’s humanitarian principles and values.

Conditions Contract: Fixed-term 3-year contract (+2 years renewable), full-time. Level Dirigente of Italian CCNL Commercio Terziario.Gross Annual Salary: min 68.740€ - max 81.970€ (depending on experience of the selected candidate)Starting date: 01 October 2026Location: Hybrid, MSF Italy Rome or Milan office and from home. Domestic and international travel as needed.