Job Offer
(strictly no recruitment agencies)
Join MSF OCG as a Head of General Public Fundraising (maternity cover)!
We are looking for passionate candidates ready to contribute to our humanitarian mission.
Below, you will find the job details and the qualifications we are looking for.
Do your qualifications and experience not exactly match all requirements of the job?
At MSF OCG, we are committed to an inclusive culture that supports and amplifies the diverse voices of our staff members. We strive to create workplaces where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together to advance MSF's social mission and create better outcomes for our patients and the communities we work with.
We understand that some people may hesitate to apply for employment if they don't meet all listed job requirements. Research shows that this is especially true for women. If you believe your profile is a good match for this position, we invite you to apply even if you don’t fulfil every listed qualification.
We encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.
MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will undergo reference checks.
The purpose of the role is to provide strategic leadership to the General Public Fundraising Unit, driving individual donor engagement, sustainable fundraising growth, and the effective management of people and resources in alignment with organisational objectives.
The unit is one of the nine units within the Communication and Fundraising Department of Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland. The Head of Unit develops, recommends, and oversees the implementation of direct marketing, middle donor, and donor care strategies, as well as the unit’s annual action plan and budget, to support the retention, offline acquisition, and reactivation of individual donors.
Together with the team, the Head of Unit is responsible for ensuring the effective preparation, implementation, and evaluation of donor retention, offline acquisition, reactivation, and conversion campaigns, as well as for overseeing the day-to-day management of individual donor relations and gift administration.
Strategic Leadership & Fundraising Oversight
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Define and lead the definition and implementation of the overall General Public Fundraising strategy in alignment with the strategic objectives of Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland.
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Oversee retention, acquisition, reactivation, and conversion actions for general public donors, middle donors, and legacy donors.
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Identify strategic priorities and opportunities to support the growth and sustainability of fundraising revenue.
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Lead the coordination and follow-up of departmental action plans ensuring the achievement of strategic and budgetary objectives.
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Ensure alignment of the unit’s donor acquisition, engagement, and retention activities with those developed by the digital and regular donor acquisition teams Oversee resource allocation and ensure optimal use of unit budgets and resources.
Team Leadership & People Management
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Manage, coach and support the coordinators/managers of the Direct Marketing, Donor Care, and Middle Donors teams.
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Oversee the overall coordination, performance, and engagement of a broader team composed of staff members and volunteers.
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Define the strategic direction of the team, set objectives, and monitor team effectiveness and managerial performance.
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Support managers in optimizing processes, working methods, and team organization.
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Support the development of skills, autonomy, and expertise of managers and their teams.
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Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across the department.
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Ensure effective communication and information sharing across teams.
Fundraising Campaigns & Operational Oversight
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Oversee retention, acquisition, reactivation, and conversion campaigns led by the fundraising teams.
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Ensure overall oversight of projects and activities included in the unit action plan.
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Ensure consistency and quality across fundraising activities for all donor segments.
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Oversee external service providers and ensure the quality of partnerships and deliverables.
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Validate operational priorities and support teams in the management of strategic projects.
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Ensure operational efficiency across fundraising activities and promote continuous process improvement.
Performance Management, Reporting & Innovation.
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Define Objectives and key results (OKRs) and key performance indicators (KPIs) related to donor acquisition, engagement, retention, service quality, and fundraising performance.
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Oversee reporting frameworks, performance analysis, and monitoring systems for fundraising campaigns and activities.
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Provide strategic recommendations based on data analysis, donor trends, and operational performance insights.
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Identify opportunities for optimization, innovation, and continuous improvement across teams.
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Ensure oversight of data quality and promote best practices in donor data management and analysis.
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Monitor sector trends, innovations, and best practices related to fundraising and donor relations.
Cross-functional Collaboration & Representation
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Ensure effective collaboration and alignment across the Direct Marketing, Donor Care, and Middle Donors teams and with other units of the department.
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Foster information sharing, knowledge exchange, and best practices within the Communication & Fundraising Department and across other departments.
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Represent the General Public Fundraising department in internal meetings, cross-functional projects, and institutional initiatives.
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Maintain active relationships with external professional networks, including Swissfundraising.
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Participate in international meetings and working groups related to fundraising and donor engagement activities when relevant.
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Contribute to strengthening cross-department collaboration and the development of transversal initiatives.
Other Responsibilities
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Participate in strategic meetings and projects within the Communication & Fundraising Department.
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Provide regular reporting to Management on departmental performance, challenges, risks, and resource needs.
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Identify and escalate key issues impacting departmental activities and propose appropriate solutions.
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Contribute to organizational development and institutional projects related to fundraising and donor engagement.
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Undertake any additional projects or responsibilities assigned by Management.
Education
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University degree or higher education qualification in marketing, fundraising, project management, or a related field.
Experience
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At least 7 years of experience in fundraising and direct marketing within the humanitarian or non-profit sector, including direct mail, telemarketing and digital engagement activities.
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At least 5 years of experience in team management and staff development within complex organisational environments.
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Proven experience in managing cross-functional projects and external service providers.
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Strong understanding of humanitarian issues and commitment to humanitarian principles.
Languages
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Full professional proficiency (written and spoken) in at least two of the following languages: French, German, and English. Proficiency in all three languages is a strong asset.
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Knowledge of Italian is an asset.
Skills/ Technical competencies
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Solid understanding of donor database management and CRM environments.
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Strong knowledge of direct marketing retention techniques and communication tools applied to fundraising within a non-profit organisation.
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Proficiency in project management and reporting tools.
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Strong numerical and analytical skills with advanced proficiency in MS office software, particularly Excel.
Behavioral & Managerial Competencies
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Strong people management and leadership skills.
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Strong strategic and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively and adopt a systemic and holistic approach.
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Ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement.
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Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a positive and collaborative approach.
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Proactive approach with a strong sense of autonomy and accountability.
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Flexibility and ability to work effectively under pressure.
Terms of employment
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Full-time position 90% (36h/week)
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Fixed-term contract, 9 months
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Working place: Geneva, Switzerland
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Ideal start date: August 17th 2026
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Gross monthly salary (for 100%): from CHF 9997.- to CHF 11217.- (salary commensurate with equivalent experience and internal salary grid)
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Paid vacation: 25 days per year, prorate temporis, plus any Swiss public holidays falling within the contract period.
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Pension plan: pension contribution covered 3/4 by MSF, 1/4 by staff member.
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Relocation support available for eligible candidates.
Candidates are invited to submit their application exclusively through our recruitment platform, following these guidelines:
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CV (maximum 2 pages)
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Cover letter (maximum 1 page)
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Documents must be submitted in either English or French.
The application deadline is June 21st, 2026.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier if we receive a sufficient number of quality applications.
All applications will be treated confidentially.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please note that we do not wish to use the services of recruitment or placement agencies.
