Location: Toronto (Hybrid – up to 60% remote)
Status: 4-year contract, with possibility of extension
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full-time)
Salary: $148,353 annually
Reports to: Deputy Executive Director
Start Date: As soon as possible
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 MSF’s social
mission.
Position Summary
The Human Resources Director (HRD) plays a pivotal leadership role in achieving
MSF Canada’s strategic objectives. As a member of the Management Team, the HRD
defines and drives HR strategy across all areas of the organization, including
talent, change management, employee relations, workforce planning, total
rewards, learning and development, and culture.
The ideal candidate is a strategic, change-driven HR leader who demonstrates:
- Commitment to MSF’s principles and a values-based approach to leadership
- Cross-cultural awareness and the ability to foster inclusion across diverse
teams
- Resilience and composure under pressure, supporting the well-being of others
- Results and quality orientation, ensuring excellence in all HR practices
- Service orientation, balancing organizational needs with long-term staff
development
- Initiative and innovation, bringing forward new ideas and continuous
improvements
- Teamwork and cooperation, building strong, trust-based relationships across
the organization
- People management and development, leading by example and empowering others
to grow and perform
This role leads a team of dedicated HR professionals, fosters a high-performing,
inclusive, and people-first culture, and ensures compliance with all relevant
employment laws and internal policies.
Key Responsibilities
-
Strategic Leadership
-
- Develop and execute MSF Canada’s HR strategy aligned with organizational
goals.
- Lead change-management initiatives that support transformation and growth.
- Use HR analytics and workforce data to inform strategic decision-making.
- Provide proactive leadership and counsel on employee relations, compliance,
and HR best practices.
- Partner with the Executive Director’s Office, Management Team, and EDI
Strategic Advisor to steward MSF Canada’s Employment Philosophy and HR
vision.
-
Workforce & Talent Development
-
- Lead workforce planning, performance management, and talent-optimization
strategies.
- Design and manage recruitment, retention, mobility, and career-development
programs.
- Oversee total rewards, compensation, and benefits practices aligned with
evolving workforce needs.
- Advance initiatives supporting employee engagement, health, and wellness
across all mental, physical, social, financial, and organizational
dimensions.
- Ensure a strong duty-of-care framework and robust learning and development
programs.
-
People Leadership
-
- Lead, mentor, and develop the HR team, promoting a collaborative,
high-performance culture.
- Manage departmental budgets and resources effectively.
- Coach managers and leaders through organizational transitions and change.
- Identify and implement HR best practices and mitigate HR-related risks.
- Lead or support investigations and critical-incident response.
-
Partnership & Representation
-
- Serve as a key member of the Management Team and represent HR to MSF’s
Board, HR Committee, and international HR networks.
- Collaborate across MSF’s international movement to align HR priorities and
practices globally.
- Build and maintain relationships with external partners, NGOs, government
bodies, and professional HR networks.
- May travel domestically or internationally to support field operations and
HR collaboration.
Qualifications
Required
- Education: Post-secondary education in Human Resources, Organizational
Development, Business Administration, or a related field
- Minimum 10 years of progressive HR leadership experience, including at least
5 years in a senior HR Director-level role
- Proven success in strategic HR leadership, including workforce planning,
change management, and organizational design
- Deep knowledge of core HR functions: recruitment, compensation, benefits,
employee relations, and employment legislation
- Demonstrated experience applying Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and
Anti-Oppression / Anti-Racism (AOAR) principles
- Strong ability to analyze HR data and metrics to inform strategy and
decision-making
- Exceptional communication, coaching, and influencing skills
- Fluency in English (verbal and written) and functional proficiency in French
Preferred
- Professional HR certification (e.g., CHRP, CHRL, CPHR, SPHR, SPHRi)
- Experience in the non-profit, NGO, or international development sectors
- Knowledge of Canadian employment law across multiple provinces
- Background in total rewards, succession planning, or HR systems
implementation
- Experience working within unionized environments or international matrix
organizations
- Familiarity with MSF’s humanitarian principles and global HR frameworks
Working Conditions
- Hybrid model: up to 60% remote work, with a minimum 40% presence in the
Toronto office per week.
- 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 (~10%) and occasional international travel.
- Open-concept office with ergonomic equipment and modern workspace.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $148,353
- Benefits include:
- Comprehensive group insurance (health, dental, life, AD&D, Peace of Mind
plan)
- 5% RRSP contribution (no matching required)
- 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 Unit Services
Join Us
We'd love to hear from you if you are a strategic, people-centred HR leader
passionate about fostering inclusive workplaces and advancing humanitarian
impact.
👉 Apply now to help shape the future of MSF Canada’s workforce and contribute
to our global mission.
Application deadline: November 24, 2025 by 9am EST
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.
