MSF Luxembourg Is Hiring Its Next General Director

Médecins Sans Frontières Luxembourg is looking for its next General Director. You would lead the entire Luxembourg section, guide its strategy, and represent MSF at home and abroad.

It is full-time and based in Luxembourg, with frequent travel abroad. The mandate runs 4 years, extendable by up to 2 more. The gross salary is between €75,600 and €90,600 per year, depending on your MSF experience.

Applications close on 31 October. If you are a senior humanitarian leader who speaks fluent English and French, read on.

The key details at a glance

What the General Director actually does

This is not a behind-the-scenes desk job. You are the person the whole section looks to.

You lead MSF Luxembourg’s strategy and make sure it is carried out. You work closely with the Board and the Management Team, and you report to the Board on performance, risks and finances.

The Management Team covers LuxOR research, the foundation, communication and fundraising, public engagement, HR, finance and IT. You keep them pulling in the same direction.

You are also the public face of MSF Luxembourg. That means speaking to the media, meeting government officials and donors, and building relationships with universities, humanitarian organisations and civil society.

Within the wider MSF movement, you keep Luxembourg connected — strengthening the partnership with the Operational Centre Brussels and taking part in the AKWABA Operational Directorate, while protecting the section’s own identity. Finally, you make sure everything follows Luxembourg law, from statutes to financial audits.

Check yourself: could this be you?

The page lists a long set of requirements. Read them honestly.

You are a strong fit if you:

• Are deeply committed to MSF’s principles and humanitarian mission
• Have senior leadership and management experience, ideally 10 years or more
• Have worked inside MSF (international or headquarters level) and/or in the humanitarian or non-profit sector
• Understand MSF’s medical operations and humanitarian challenges
• Have built and carried out strategy, not just followed it
• Have managed senior teams and led organisational change
• Are good at managing stakeholders, networking and building partnerships
• Have strong analytical, political and negotiation skills
• Can manage finances and run an organisation’s budget responsibly
• Communicate well in public and speak with confidence
• Work well in complex, international, multicultural settings
• Are fluent in both English and French
• Can travel frequently

Luxembourgish or German is a plus. Knowledge of the Luxembourg scene and high-level advocacy experience are desirable, not essential.

You should probably not apply if:

• You have never held a senior leadership role
• You are not fluent in French — it is listed as essential, not optional
• You cannot travel frequently
• You want a permanent contract — this is a fixed mandate of 4 years

The salary and contract in plain terms

The salary range is gross, which means it is the amount before tax and social charges are taken off. Where you land in the €75,600–€90,600 range depends on your MSF experience.

On top of the salary, the page lists several concrete benefits. You get 29 days of paid leave per year. You can telework up to 2 days per week.

Medical insurance is complementary and includes hospitalisation. You also receive 18 lunch vouchers per month worth €10.80 each, with MSF covering two thirds. There is also a public transport allowance, and a relocation package if it applies.

The contract itself deserves attention. It is a mandate of 4 years, extendable for a maximum of 2 more years.

That means the longest possible stay is 6 years. This is a leadership mandate, not a permanent position — plan accordingly. The preferred starting date is January.

What the application form asks for

You apply through a form on the MSF Luxembourg website, uploading your CV and a cover letter. The form asks for your diplomas, humanitarian experience, the largest team you have managed (direct and indirect combined), and whether you have managed senior leadership teams. It also asks for the highest annual budget under your responsibility, your English level, and your earliest possible start date.

Three pieces of advice for this form. First, answer the team-size and budget questions with real numbers — they are designed to test the scale you have worked at.

Second, use your cover letter to show strategy and change leadership, not just a list of jobs. Third, the English-level question is self-declared, but do not overstate it — fluency in English and French is an essential requirement and will be tested. If you have questions, the page gives a contact email: jobs@msf.lu.

Looking for more international roles? See the Danish Refugee Council Country Director role in Yemen, UNICEF’s Security Officer post in Caracas, and the AfDB 2027 Internship Program.

Questions applicants ask