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.
This position has been created in the context of an organisational restructuring aimed at reinforcing MSF Belgium as an autonomous entity, with strengthened leadership, management capacity and institutional positioning in relation to its Operational Center/Directorate (OCB). Within this framework, MSF Belgium is focusing its activities on Belgian audiences and the Belgian market, with an enhanced role in public & bilateral engagement, positioning, fundraising and institutional relations at national level.
As part of this evolution, the Head of Communications is fully integrated into MSF Belgium’s organisational structure and joins a dedicated MSF Belgium management team, with its own leadership and decision‑making dynamics, distinct from OCB. The role supports MSF Belgium’s strategic priorities in public positioning, engagement, and resource mobilisation, while ensuring constructive coordination with OCB and alignment with the broader MSF movement, in line with the organisation’s speaking‑out mandate.
As the Head of Communications & Engagement, you lead a multidisciplinary team of seven communication and engagement specialists, supported operationally and technically by a dedicated Support & Solutions Team providing tools, systems, analytics, and workflow enablement to strengthen overall communication performance. You play a central role in directing MSF Belgium’s public narrative, leading strategic public mobilisation and political influencing campaigns, and ensuring strong alignment with advocacy, fundraising, and associative priorities. You also lead the Strategic Editorial Meeting of MSF Belgium and oversee the editorial line and governance of msf.be, the organisation’s main public communication platform.
As a member of MSF Belgium’s Management Team, you contribute to organisational strategy and decision-making. At international level, you participate in the MSF Director of Communications platform (gathering all the Heads of Communications of the MSF sections worldwide), supporting movement‑wide strategic coordination.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership & Vision
Develop MSF Belgium’s communication and engagement strategy in alignment with OCB operations and MSF’s international frameworks
Participate in organisational strategy and decision‑making as a member of the MSF Belgium Management Team, championing forward‑looking approaches and encouraging innovative practices across communication and engagement functions
Ensure strategic alignment between communication, fundraising, advocacy and associative initiatives
Lead MSF Belgium’s Strategic Editorial Meeting, defining editorial priorities and aligning content across departments
Oversee all public-facing editorial governance, risk assessment and ethical representation
Provide full editorial oversight of msf.be, including strategic editorial planning, content quality control and audience relevance
Lead MSF Belgium’s public engagement and mobilisation strategy to strengthen awareness and societal involvement
Develop and run public mobilisation and political influencing campaigns, in close collaboration with advocacy, aiming to influence public opinion and political decisions in Belgium
Support youth engagement, civil society relations, community participation and event‑based mobilisation
Lead, mentor and develop a team of six communication and engagement professionals:
2 Press Officers
Copywriter & Community Management Officer
Web Content Editor (NL)
Youth Engagement Officer
Promote an inclusive, collaborative and high‑performing team culture
Ensure ongoing capacity building in media, digital engagement, mobilisation, editorial quality and crisis communication
Media Relations & Spokesperson Duties
Direct media relations, crisis communication and narrative positioning
Serve as senior spokesperson when needed
Coach MSF leadership and experts for media exposure
Digital Strategy & Community Engagement
Lead the digital strategy for public engagement including social media and digital mobilisation
Ensure editorial coherence, quality and ethical standards for all msf.be content
Use data analytics to improve audience reach, website impact and engagement
Ensure responsible digital storytelling and community interaction
Partner with the Head of Fundraising to ensure unified and ethical narratives supporting donor engagement.
Work with the Advocacy Manager on aligned political influencing strategies and messaging
Collaborate with the Associative Team to support member‑led engagement and strengthen MSF’s associative identity in Belgium
International Movement Engagement
Represent MSF Belgium within the MSF International Directors of Communications Platform
Contribute to global communication coordination and joint movement‑wide campaigns
Interface with Operational Communications to ensure accurate representation of project countries’ realities
REQUIREMENTS
Education & Experience
Master’s degree in Communication, Journalism, International Relations, Political Science or related area of study
Equivalent senior experience is an asset
Experience
8–10+ years in senior communication, public mobilisation, public affairs or media roles
Minimum of 3 years’ experience leading multidisciplinary communication teams
Strong experience leading mobilisation and political influencing campaigns
Solid understanding of humanitarian action
Strong experience in digital strategy, media relations and editorial governance
Experience designing and implementing lead generation strategies, including audience segmentation, funnel optimisation, and data‑driven engagement approaches
* Strategic vision and political/contextual awareness
* Excellent editorial judgement and communication skills
* Collaborative leadership aligned with MSF’s values
* Strong capacity for cross‑functional influence and partnership
* Skilled spokesperson with crisis communication experience
* Solid understanding of fundraising, including donor engagement, ethical considerations, and the role of communications in income generation
Languages
Proficiency in French, Dutch and English, both spoken & written is mandatory
CONDITIONS
Location: Brussels (Belgium)
Contract Type: Open-ended contract – Full-time
Homeworking possible as per MSF policy
Salary according to MSF-OCB (HQ) Head Office grid
Meal Vouchers - Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
Deadline for applications: 10th of June 2026
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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