Engagement Manager

Job purpose and context

Since its establishment in 2018, MSF Lebanon has transitioned from a regional hub to a recognized institutional entity, focusing on Lebanon's medical, communications, human resources, operational support, and advocacy potential. The team has made substantial progress in rooting MSF in Lebanon and the MENA region, building its identity and Arabic voice, and contributing to the development of its international mobile workforce. MSF Lebanon has defined the following 3 overarching strategic pillars:

1. Institutional Rooting, ensuring that key target audiences recognize and accept MSF as a well-known, credible, trustworthy, and independent medical humanitarian organization in Lebanon and the wider MENA/WANA region.

2. Operational Support, providing relevant technical and strategic support to operations, benefiting from the expertise and resources available in the region.

3. Movement Contribution, launching and supporting initiatives to optimize resources and improve intersectional collaboration in and from the MENA/WANA region to enhance MSF operations.  

Today MSF Lebanon consists of a Human Resources team with a core mandate to secure and develop a mobile workforce from the region deployable to  MSF operations worldwide, a Communications team that provides communication advisory and capacity to meet MSF’s institutional and operational communication needs, a Finance, Compliance and Support team who is responsible for the financial health and operational legality of the office, a Medical Unit that is focused on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in MSF’s global portfolio and an Advocacy and Engagement Unit, that contributes to analysis, advocacy and external engagement in support of MSF Lebanon strategy.

MSF Lebanon comprises of around 50 staff (including decentralized positions) from which most of them are located in Beirut with a smaller team in Cairo.

The Engagement Manager is part of the Advocacy and Engagement Unit and reports to the Executive Director. She / He is responsible for supporting MSF Lebanon strategy through the development of targeted engagement strategies.

The job purpose includes:

• Conducting analysis and producing reports to inform engagement strategies.
• Developing and maintaining stakeholder mapping to support engagement and networking.
• Designing targeted engagement strategies to increase awareness, enhance recruitment of the mobile workforce, and support advocacy initiatives.
• Organizing and coordinating outreach activities such as exhibitions, conferences, and panel discussions.
• Leading initiatives that bring external expertise to inform MSF’s regional perspective.
• Supporting the Executive Director in networking and external relationship management.

Accountabilities

Analysis

• Monitor, analyze, and report on political, social, and medical-humanitarian developments in Lebanon to strengthen MSF Lebanon’s understanding of the operating context and inform strategic decisions.
• Produce high-quality thematic analysis reports to guide the design of targeted engagement strategies.
• Develop briefing papers and reports on local and regional trends, assessing their implications for MSF’s operations and public communications.

Stakeholder Mapping

• In collaboration with MSF Lebanon departments and operational teams, conduct and regularly update comprehensive stakeholder mapping to identify actors relevant to MSF’s presence in Lebanon and the MENA region.
• Analyze and categorize external stakeholders by interest, influence, power, attitude, and impact on MSF Lebanon’s strategic objectives. This includes medical communities, health professionals, foundations, civil society organizations, grassroots networks, INGOs, UN agencies, government officials, policy-makers, donors, syndicates, activists, advocacy groups, and academic institutions.
• Conduct internal stakeholder mapping to identify MSF units and individuals who can contribute to MSF Lebanon’s objectives.
• Maintain an organized stakeholder database, ensuring accessibility to authorized positions and compliance with MSF standards for confidentiality and ethical data handling.

Engagement

• Design and coordinate tailored engagement strategies for priority stakeholder groups in collaboration with HR, Communication, and Medical departments.
• Co-develop strategies with Communication to increase visibility, raise awareness of MSF’s work, mobilize action, and build long-term support for MSF’s social mission.
• Partner with HR to support recruitment initiatives and position MSF as an attractive employer for the mobile workforce.
• Collaborate with the Health Analysis and Advocacy Manager to develop engagement strategies supporting medical-humanitarian advocacy.
• Provide strategic engagement support for pre-identified advocacy initiatives within operational entities.
• Identify opportunities for MSF representation on key platforms and coordinate participation.

Outreach

• Plan, organize, and coordinate outreach activities aligned with engagement strategies and MSF Lebanon’s objectives, targeting stakeholder groups such as medical professionals, activists, donors, and students.
• Lead the successful delivery of outreach initiatives, including exhibitions, conferences, recruitment events, panel discussions, public debates, documentary screenings, joint events with medical associations, and cultural collaborations.
• Oversee external service providers (designers, production companies, animators, printers) and coordinate internal resources for flawless execution.
• Work with the Communication team to produce tailored content, visibility materials, and media plans for each outreach activity.

Internal Events

• Organize and coordinate internal sessions (webinars, workshops, roundtables) with external subject matter experts to inform MSF’s regional perspective.
• Manage internal events in collaboration with MSF entities in Lebanon and the region, including associative activities.
• Support the Executive Director and Management Team in preparing and executing internal platforms and meetings.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation framework for engagement strategies and outreach activities, ensuring alignment with MSF Lebanon’s strategic objectives.
• Define clear success indicators for each initiative and track performance against objectives.
• Conduct regular evaluations to assess relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability; recommend improvements based on findings.
• Prepare timely reports summarizing impact, lessons learned, and actionable recommendations.

Networking

• Support the Executive Director in external relationship management, including preparing briefing notes, talking points, and background materials for high-level meetings and events.
• Identify and secure invitations to strategic forums and platforms aligned with MSF Lebanon’s objectives.
• Coordinate follow-up actions from external meetings to maintain and strengthen stakeholder relationships.
• Maintain a calendar of networking opportunities and advise the Executive Director on visibility and influence strategies.

Other Duties

• Collaborate with the Health Analysis and Advocacy Manager to contribute to MSF Lebanon’s Strategic Vision and annual planning, including budget preparation.

Key Interactions

Internal stakeholders

MSF Lebanon Departments (Human Resources, Communication, Finance), the Middle East Medical Unit (MEMU), Operational, advocacy and communication teams in Lebabon and the region, MSF Associative members.

External stakeholders

Academic institutions (universities, research centers) , Civil society organizations and grassroots networks , Foundations and philanthropic organizations , International NGOs and UN agencies , Government officials and policy-makers, Advocacy groups and activists , Potential donors and supporters, Professional associations and medical syndicates, Media and cultural institutions.

Job Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, humanitarian affairs, international relations, political science, social science or any equivalent.

Master’s degree is a strong assest in the above fields.

Experience

5 years of professional experience in engagement, advocacy and / or oureach and events in Lebanon, preferably within the aid sector.

Languages

Fluent in English and Arabic, French is an asset (both spoken and written)

Competencies

• Peoples Management, level 3
• Service Orientation, level 2
• Strategic Vision, level 2
• Behavioural Flexibility, level 3
• Teamwork & Cooperation, level 3
• Analytical Thinking, level 3

Knowledge

• Solid understanding of the social, political and humanitarian context in Lebanon and the region.
• Possess a strong network among key external stakeholders.
• Good understanding of the communications environment in Lebanon and the Middle East.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the humanitarian sector.

Functional/

Technical Skills

• Exceptional and proven writing skills in Arabic and English.
• Strong coordination skills to work with HR, Communications, Medical, and Advocacy teams.
• Expertise in organizing outreach activities such as exhibitions, conferences, and recruitment events.
• Skilled in designing and implementing engagement strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
• Ability to work under pressure, managing multiple projects within tight deadlines.
• Excellent networking skills.