Chief Executive Officer, MSF USA

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent, international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Against a backdrop of the proliferation of armed conflicts, highly dynamic spread of infectious disease, global climate change, and unprecedented disruption to like-minded organizations, the work of MSF has never been more urgent.

 International project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. MSF actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality; at the same time, teams bear witness and speak out about the experiences of colleagues and patients.

 MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, programmatic support and communications. Founded in 1990, MSF USA now has more than 250 staff working at their headquarters in New York City and offices in Washington, D.C. and Oakland. MSF USA is governed by an association made up of current and former MSF staff members who elect the Board of Directors, which in turn defines strategic direction, and holds the team accountable for their work. In addition, there is a US Advisory Board, which is made up of volunteers who lend their time and expertise to support the medical humanitarian mission. These independent advisors are not involved in governance decisions.

 Today, MSF USA is a significant contributor to the global movement’s revenue, operational capacity, and public profile. They rely entirely on individual donors and private institutions for financial support—and do not accept funding from the U.S. government. In 2023, of the 7.3 million donors and private institutions who raised over $2.5 billion for MSF globally, U.S. donors contributed more than $745 million; 87 percent of this was directed to programs ($147 million spent in the United States), 12 percent to fundraising, and 1 percent to cover administration. And, in 2024, U.S. donor contributions increased to $750 million. MSF USA advocates on behalf of patients and communities through public communications and direct engagement with representatives of the U.S. government, United Nations, multilateral institutions, and civil society organizations.

 For more insight, please visit https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

KEY MSF FACTS

• 70+ countries and territories are home to our medical humanitarian projects
• 16,459,000 medical consultations were conducted by humanitarian teams in 2023
• 1,368,700 patients admitted to MSF hospitals or clinics around the world in 2023

MSF USA seeks a visionary and collaborative Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead this storied organization in a time of unprecedented change domestically and internationally. The need for independent and impartial lifesaving medical humanitarian action has never been greater, and few organizations are as uniquely positioned as MSF USA to meet this moment. The CEO will partner with the MSF USA board and staff and the broader MSF movement to forge a path that positions the organization for long-term viability to deliver the greatest impact for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural and human-made disasters, and exclusion from healthcare.  

The CEO is responsible for providing strategic leadership for MSF USA, which is intrinsically linked to MSF.

They will be a trusted, independent and persuasive advocate and partner capable of building broad-based coalitions; a skillful leader of people who can motivate and partner with a dedicated staff in realizing the organization’s mission and goals, as well as clarifying the organization’s priorities and cementing confidence in the organization’s current and future trajectory; and a persuasive communicator able to generate enthusiasm and support for the mission and programs, and serve as the lead fundraiser for the organization. With bedrock commitments to inclusion, transparency and collaboration, the CEO will be a skilled institution builder who excels at creating, maintaining and leveraging relationships with a broad and diverse range of constituents both within the movement and externally, with a focus on further raising the impact and efficacy of the MSF USA where it is needed most. They will serve as a thought leader and be the primary spokesperson for MSF USA, representing the organization to key constituents at the national and international levels.

 The CEO will be based in New York City and requires frequent travel, both nationally and internationally.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES and Desired Outcomes

• Drive MSF USA’s vison and strategy that positions the organization to deliver the greatest good. In parallel, navigate the changing humanitarian and geopolitical landscape, and identify risks and trends and outline steps that can be taken to protect the organization and its medical mandate.
• Persuasively collaborate and partner within MSF to shape coherent, high-impact responses and positions. This requires prioritization and the ability to link decision-making and resource allocation to strategy that will serve as a benchmark for independent, non-aligned humanitarian organizations.  
• Continuously adapt advocacy efforts that will spotlight and foster coordination to address global health crises, access to high-quality medical humanitarian aid and the safeguarding of patients and healthcare workers in precarious contexts.
• Sustain excellence in fundraising by enlarging and deepening the existing donor base, engaging with major donors, implementing new fundraising strategies and ensuring transparency and excellence in reporting mechanisms and tools.
• External engagement by ensuring a robust external presence; cultivating and maintaining relationships with national and international constituents, effectively communicating through various media channels and providing compelling thought leadership.
• Encourage a more inclusive community and engage with broad global audiences around a forward-looking DE&I framework that is woven into the fabric of the movement’s policies and culture.
• Lead and optimize the team to develop and implement MSF USA's strategic plan, ensuring alignment with MSF's overall strategic direction. Shape a culture defined by high performance, empowerment, belonging and collaboration.
• Leverage technology and drive innovation to accelerate ways MSF USA can work effectively and safely, as well as persuasively engage audiences. Leverage data-driven decision making to improve impact.

At this pivotal time for humanitarian rights worldwide, MSF USA needs an exceptional leader who is deeply committed to its mission and has experience interacting with senior leaders both within the MSF movement and external constituents with credibility, integrity, wisdom, judgement and calm. The next CEO of MSF USA will be a bold, strategic, substantive and inspirational leader who brings credibility, expertise and commitment to medical humanitarian issues. They will have a global mindset and experience successfully managing and leading a complex and diverse organization. The CEO will be capable of building and expanding the fundraising base that will enable the organization to continue delivering impact.

The next CEO will refine and strengthen a powerful strategy with a clear set of priorities to guide the organization over the long term. They will be a skilled diplomat capable of forging common ground and building strong alliances among different constituents, both internally and externally. This leader will have highly sophisticated communication skills, with the ability to remain agile in addressing various humanitarian topics and to adapt their style to different audiences globally. They must engender tremendous followership and inspire confidence in others. The CEO will have a compelling, collaborative and inclusive management approach and a proven ability to develop and lead a high-performing and diverse team. They will be engaged and decisive, with a commitment to achieve ambitious goals, make difficult decisions and collaborate with their leadership to deliver the greatest possible impact.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Executive Leadership Experience

Demonstrated strategic and executive leadership to support an organization’s progress, raise its profile and elevate its impact. Comfort leading through direct oversight, participatory leadership, or persuasion, depending on the situation. The ability to galvanize and sustain the commitment of teams through significant change and ambiguity.

Understanding of Humanitarian Organizations

Experience with leading international humanitarian organizations; or proven crisis management expertise with the skills and ability to make time-sensitive decisions in unstable and volatile humanitarian contexts. Medical backgrounds, health administration, public health or related areas are a strength but not required. Exposure to or experience with affected communities is preferred.

External Engagement and Inspirational Communication

Demonstrated ability to serve as an ambassador for the organization with a variety of audiences (employees, governments, donors, media, etc.) and instill trust.

Resource Development

Experience transferable to fundraising and the ability to be a catalyst for resources by leveraging mission, vision and storytelling to demonstrate an organization’s impact.

Team Leadership

Demonstrated ability to recruit, support and retain top talent and foster a healthy organizational culture that is inclusive and equitable, in addition to a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Board Experience

Experience working with and helping to energize and further develop a highly involved, deeply passionate board of directors is key to the success of this role.

CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Strategic Thinking

Shifting challenges in the U.S. and around the world require that the CEO:

• Shapes and evolves forward-looking strategies for the organization underpinned by an unwavering moral compass and canny pragmatism. Flexible thinking, risk tolerance and the ability to frame arguments will be key to position MSF USA—and indeed the movement—for success in this era of dramatic geopolitical shifts.
• Provides clear direction for the organization, translating the strategy into achievable and measurable objectives and actions.
• Demonstrates awareness and understanding of the legacy inequities that shape our world and humanitarian efforts, to ensure that MSF’s strategy is designed to help address this with humility, commitment and effectiveness.
• Demonstrates exceptional thought leadership, providing visionary guidance internally and externally and addressing complex global challenges with foresight and creativity.

Collaborating, Influencing and Leading Change

In a highly relationship-based enterprise, the CEO:

• Builds trust, credibility and confidence with constituents, both internally and externally; builds and leverages a network of relationships and partnerships on behalf of the organization.
• Communicates a compelling case for change to gain buy-in and brings others along; adapts plans and theories of change to the organization’s political realities and constraints.
• Listens thoughtfully and engages in dialogue that is adapted to different audiences to build consensus or buy-in. Catalyzes and accelerates change both in terms of culture and organizational structures as well as how work is executed.

Driving Results

This leader will bring sharp focus on impact and prioritization in the ability to:  

•  Set ambitious yet realistic goals for the organization and consistently deliver or surpass expectations.
• Establish processes that ensure operational excellence; constantly work to increase efficiency and impact by adapting processes as needed over time.
• Measure and communicate the organization's progress and its impact; connect the efforts and contributions of constituents to specific outcomes to stimulate additional engagement.

OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Courageous, decisive and bold in taking smart risks, making decisions and working to deliver impact on behalf of MSF USA.
• Strong EQ and empathetic style with the ability to manage to the best outcome in times of conflict or tension.
• High interpersonal awareness, with an ability to “read the room” effectively and understand agendas and motivations among constituents.
• High integrity and trustworthiness—possesses unquestionable ethics; inclusive and transparent.
• Agile, flexible and resilient; calm under pressure.
• Clear and unfaltering evidence of a personal and professional commitment to the mission of MSF; demonstrated purpose-driven leadership of mission-driven organizations and experience working for the greater good.

COMPENSATION

Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications and will be in the range of $325,000 to $400,000.   

PROMOTING A WORK ENVIRONMENT FREE OF HARRASSMENT, EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE

MSF leadership has unequivocally committed to reinforce mechanisms and procedures to prevent and address abuse and harassment. The integrity of the organization is upheld by the good conduct of each individual staff member, in any location, with full respect for the communities they serve.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMODATIONS STATEMENT

MSF USA is dedicated to creating a diverse, impartial and inclusive workforce. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences as per applicable laws. We also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at the email address mentioned below. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.

The next CEO will refine and strengthen a powerful strategy with a clear set of priorities to guide the organization over the long term. They will be a skilled diplomat capable of forging common ground and building strong alliances among different constituents, both internally and externally. This leader will have highly sophisticated communication skills, with the ability to remain agile in addressing various humanitarian topics and to adapt their style to different audiences globally. They must engender tremendous followership and inspire confidence in others. The CEO will have a compelling, collaborative and inclusive management approach and a proven ability to develop and lead a high-performing and diverse team. They will be engaged and decisive, with a commitment to achieve ambitious goals, make difficult decisions and collaborate with their leadership to deliver the greatest possible impact.

To contact the team with questions, to submit your own application or submit candidate recommendations and nominations, please email: MSFUSACEO@Spencerstuart.com.