Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Advisor

AI Disclosure Statement

We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically screen or select candidates for interview. AI may be used in the hiring process to assist our recruitment team by:

• Summarizing recruiter or hiring manager notes and
• Conducting limited keyword searches for specific jobrelated criteria.

However every application is reviewed by a qualified human to assess transferable or similar experience regardless of any AIassisted preliminaries.

Vacancy Notice

This posting is for a an existingposition and is not intended to create an ongoing candidate pool for future openings. Qualified applications will be individually assessed for this role only.

Application deadline: Monday 4 May 2026 by 9am EDT

Location: Ottawa
Status: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full-time)
Reports to: Humanitarian Affairs Representative to Canada
Anticipated start date: mid June 2026

About Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Canada

MSF Canada is a people-focused global humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical care and support to people affected by conflict epidemics disasters or exclusion from healthcare.

We are proud to offer a diverse collaborative and inclusive work environment grounded in our core values of Humanity Integrity and Results. We believe that diversity strengthens our impact and are committed to equity in employment and fostering meaningful lasting work relationships with all our staff.

Our Values

Our work is guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity impartiality neutrality and independence rooted in universal medical ethics.

We bring these principles to life through the way we treat each other work and relate to the global MSF movement:

• Respect Integrity Inclusion fostering a workplace grounded in equity and belonging
• Discovery Learning Boldness embracing curiosity innovation and courageous action
• Impact Transformation Shared Responsibility driving meaningful change and collective accountability

These values shape our culture and guide everything we do to uphold MSFs social mission.

Position Summary

The Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Advisor helps shape MSF Canadas policy positioning and analysis on humanitarian issues in Canada that are relevant to MSFs global medical-humanitarian priorities and helps develop advocacy strategies to influence Canadians especially policy makers and other stakeholders to take actions that will positively impact MSFs patients and operations around the world. Drawing on a knowledge of international humanitarian contexts of the global aid system and of humanitarian policy at Canadian and global levels the Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Advisor reports directly to MSFs Humanitarian Representative to Canada and will build relationships and work collaboratively with experts inside and outside of MSF to improve Canadas response to global humanitarian needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a subject-matter expert: on the humanitarian contexts around the world where MSF conducts operations; on the principles-based international humanitarian system and the architecture of global aid; on MSF positioning and advocacy messaging related to the operational contexts prioritized by MSF Canada; and on relevant Canadian policy and political developments.
• Develop relationships and networks both inside and outside of the global MSF movement to support the humanitarian advocacy work of MSF Canadas Humanitarian Affairs team.
• Provide analyses of key updates from operational contexts to inform MSF Canadas reporting advocacy representation and public communications.
• Develop advocacy and representation strategies that speak to the Canadian context given current operational events and conditions under the strategic direction of the Humanitarian Representative to Canada.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in the humanitarian sector with experience in advocacy and/or fundraising/institutional funding
• Experience in a role with specific responsibilities in developing advocacy strategies and actions within the field of humanitarian assistance
• Knowledgeable of the Canadian policy environment as it relates to humanitarian assistance foreign affairs international assistance funding and MSFs work
• Excellent strategic communication and advisory skills preferably in a public advocacy environment
• Diplomatic with strong negotiation and communications skills
• Analytical with the ability to synthesize complex and sensitive material accurately
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex issues into public-facing messaging
• Strong ability to manage expectations and secure buy-in on proposed solutions
• Comfortable interacting professionally with counterparts in diverse settings (e.g. government academic institutions pharmaceutical industry NGOs etc.)
• Familiarity with MSFs humanitarian medical work and principles-based advocacy and operational activities
• Fluency in English (verbal and written)
• Proficiency in French is an asset

Working Conditions

• Regular hours Monday to Friday (9 a.m.5 p.m. core hours 10 a.m.3 p.m.); occasional evenings or weekends.
• Domestic travel (5%) and international travel (5%).
• Designated desk in communal work-share space available.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary grade: Level 16 in the MSF Canada Salary Grid $87850 in first year
• Benefits include:
  • Comprehensive group insurance (health dental life AD&D Peace of Mind plan)
  • 5% RRSP contribution (no matching required)
  • starting 4 weeks vacation annually
  • Health & Lifestyle Spending Accounts
  • Flexible work hours and hybrid model
  • Annual Professional Development budget
  • Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
  • Access to internal Psychosocial Care resource

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada; MSF Canada is not able to support or relocate candidates from outside Canada.

NOTE: Any questions or concerns regarding accommodation and accessibility may be addressed to the Human Resources team.

MSF adopts a safeguarding culture where personnel and communities are and feel safe and valued throughout their involvement with the organization where individuals know who to go to with any concerns and are confident that they will be listened to and heard without personal or professional repercussions and where the organization strives to adopt the highest standards of practice across all areas of safeguarding rather than setting for the minimum standard in order to be legally compliant.

Application questions are in lieu of a cover letter. Please provide only your resume.