Robert Walters Korea has been exclusively retained by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Korea to manage this executive search. All applications submitted through this page will be reviewed and processed by Robert Walters Korea on behalf of MSF Korea. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly by our team.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and implement the company’s strategies in alignment with the company's Charter and international agreements
• Oversee the entire budget, budgeting process, and mid- to long-term multi-year financial strategies to ensure sustainable financial management
• Supervise the development and implementation of multi-year and annual departmental strategies, budgets, and targets in line with the Strategic Plan
• Ensure all strategic documentation, budgets, and substantial decisions are submitted to the Board of Directors in due time for final approval in accordance with the company’s by-laws
• Provide overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of Directors and their departments
• Lead the Management Team and cultivate collective leadership and cross-departmental alignment
• Ensure effective and responsible management of the company’s financial and human resources
• Maintain organization-wide policies that support development, compliance, and risk management
• Identify, assess, mitigate, and report key organizational and operational risks to the Board
• Assume legal responsibility for agreements and contracts as delegated by the Board of Directors
• Represent the organisation externally in Korea with the company President, engaging senior stakeholders across media, government, academia, NGOs, and civil society
• Ensure strong internal communication, visibility, and staff engagement across the organisation
• Prepare for and lead the Crisis Management Team when activated
• Validate multi-year and annual investment and revenue plans proposed by the Fundraising Director before Board submission
• Ensure fundraising strategies, policies, and practices maintain strict ethical standards and the highest level of accountability
• Oversee revenue forecasting and the setting and review of investment and revenue targets
• Oversee the overall departmental structure design with the HR Director
• Ensure the development of HR plans, strategies, policies, and processes for recruiting, training, and retaining qualified staff
• Ensure all HR activities comply with local laws, regulations, and relevant international policies
• Maintain safeguarding standards that promote a safe, respectful, and compliant work environment
• Ensure the Finance and Compliance department supports the organisation in an effective, ethical, and accountable manner
• Review and validate reports and financial statements prior to Board submission
• Report annual budgets and periodic financial updates to the Board of Directors
• Monitor major legal risks and cases and escalate critical matters to the Board as needed
• Ensure IT and office services infrastructure adequately supports the organisation’s operations
• Ensure data management processes comply with privacy laws and regulatory requirements
• Guide and validate communication strategies to strengthen public awareness of the organisation’s activities and values
• Oversee the design and execution of high-level advocacy and representation strategies
• Deliver advocacy messages and conduct high-level representation as required
• Facilitate coordination of advocacy and representation efforts with other entities
• Report quarterly to the Board and relevant accountability processes
• Share updates on performance, progress, risks, and opportunities with key stakeholders
• Serve as the executive representative to the Board and Board committees as appropriate
• Ensure strategic contribution to movement resource needs and selected value-adding initiatives
• Support the administrative and strategic development of the association in Korea
• Represent the organisation in the Movement Executive Committee and relevant international forums
• Build productive collaboration and information flow with international partners
• Strengthen APAC partnerships to support regional strategies, resource growth, and operational support
• Support effective communication between the Management Team in Seoul and movement peers

Requirements:

• 10-15 years in directly relevant work experience in a humanitarian organisation
• More than 6 years of experience at the senior manager level
• A passion for and commitment to the humanitarian principles of the company
• Demonstrated and robust experience in management, especially of multicultural teams
• Good understanding of fundraising and communication
• Experience in budgetary control and financial planning
• Ability to lead, manage and motivate a growing team as well as empower managers and foster a creative, professional work environment
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries and complaints
• Proven analytical and political skills, including the ability to negotiate and advocate for diverse audiences
• Ability and willingness to travel
• Fluent level written and verbal English

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience in fundraising
• Strong knowledge of the Korean market, including biomedical, pharmaceutical, and medical research sectors, and the Korean NGO and political landscape in Korea
• Understanding of Korean or East Asian culture
• Proficient in Korean or French

DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organization created in 1971, providing medical assistance in conflict zones, epidemics, disasters and contexts of exclusion from healthcare. MSF operates in over 70 countries worldwide.
• Established in 2012, MSF Korea is responsible for growing and sustaining strategic, operational, financial, and associative contributions from the Republic of Korea to the MSF movement. MSF Korea focuses on five core pillars:

1. Mobilizing resources through diversified fundraising to support MSF’s medical humanitarian action.
2. Recruiting and developing Korean medical and non‑medical international staff for MSF field operations.
3. Communicating on humanitarian crises and MSF’s medical humanitarian action to the Korean public.
4. Engaging Korean stakeholders to support MSF’s social mission.
5. Develop cooperation with medical, pharmaceutical, scientific community in South Korea

• MSF Korea is an independent MSF section, and the Executive Director participates actively in MSF’s international governance, including the Full Executive Committee (Full ExCom) and international dossiers.
• It serves as a regional actor as a partner with MSF Japan, MSF Hong Kong and MSF Australia in MSF’s APAC project fostering collaboration, fundraising, communications and other operational support across the Asia-Pacific region.
• MSF Korea ED works to develop and cultivate meaningful, operations-centered partnerships with Operational Centre (OC) partners, strengthening collaboration in support of MSF’s humanitarian action.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

• The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for the strategic leadership, development, and representation of MSF Korea. The ED ensures MSF Korea’s high‑quality contribution to the MSF social mission across operational, financial, communications, advocacy and associative activities.
• The ED leads the Management Team and ensures the development, implementation, and monitoring of MSF Korea’s Strategic Plan and annual Plans of Action. The main purpose of this position is to:

1. Develop, lead, and deliver MSF Korea’s Strategic Plan.
2. Ensure effective delivery of annual plans, managing the Seoul office and ensuring alignment with Operational Directorates (ODs - MSF entities delivering operations) and international governance frameworks.
3. Represent MSF Korea nationally and internationally, acting as spokesperson and senior representative to Korean society and MSF’s global platforms.

Job Ref: X7622M

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