Work in Canada 

Applying for a position at one of the MSF offices in Canada involves several selection stages, including a preliminary interview, a written assessment and a panel interview by video. This process may take four to eight weeks. Stages specific to each position are communicated to shortlisted applicants.

During the recruitment process, when job applicants are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process, they are notified that accommodations are available upon request. If a selected applicant requests accommodation, MSF will consult with the applicant and provide or arrange for suitable accommodation, considering the individual’s needs. MSF will notify successful applicants of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when making offers of employment.

Responses to demographic questions are voluntary and are not associated with individual applications – they have no impact in any way in hiring decisions. The data collected is used in aggregate only to help us identify areas of improvement in our recruitment process.

MSF Canada benefits packages include access to:

• a health spending account
• group insurance
• RRSP contributions – based on employment status
• short- and long-term -term disability
• starting four weeks vacation per year
• flexible work hours
• relocation packages (based on eligibility)
• a professional development budget
• an employee assistance program

… as well as a positive and innovative office culture grounded in our core values of humanity, integrity and results. We also offer comfortable physical workspaces with natural light, sit-stand desks, onsite bike storage, showers and wellness rooms.

Function:
The MSF Canada Legal Officer is a voluntary officer position on the Board of Directors.
The Legal Officer can be an elected director, or can be appointed co-opted for terms
which are not to exceed one year but which can be renewed annually. The position is
not mandated by the MSF Canada bylaws, but rather is filled at the discretion of the
Board.

The role of the Legal Officer is to assist the Board with legal questions that arise, to
support the proper functioning of the Board, and contribute a perspective rooted in
experience of legal practice. The legal officer is expected to contribute to Board
discussions broadly and not to be confined to issues requiring legal expertise. However,
when asked for guidance regarding matters of procedure, the legal officer is expected to
provide a fair and objective opinion maintaining detachment from the legal officer’s views
on the substance of the matter under discussion. The position is essentially an advisory
role and does not entail formal legal representation of the Board or the organization. The
Legal Officer is ordinarily expected to serve on the Governance Committee.

Duties:

• Assists the Board in the performance of its oversight role to ensure legal
  compliance by MSF Canada
• Remains watchful for possible legal issues affecting the Board or MSF Canada
  and identifies any concerns to the Board or the appropriate individuals
• Assists new Board members with orientation to their role and responsibilities and
  helps the Board to function in the model of an effective governance Board
• Provides guidance to the Board on procedural matters including proper conduct of
  Board meetings
• If requested, provides guidance to the Association membership on procedural
  matters arising at the AG or other meetings of the members and on proper conduct
  of meetings
• Develops familiarity with the MSF Canada bylaws and the formal policies and
  procedures of the Board for purposes of advising the Board and, where
  appropriate, assists in drafting of new policies and procedures
• Subject to any professional constraints, addresses legal questions or problems
  that arise from the Board, Board subcommittees, the Executive Director and (with
  the approval of the Executive Director) members of the management team
• Assists MSF Canada in respect of involvement of external counsel, if requested,
  including: assessing when it would be appropriate to retain external counsel,
  selecting and formally retaining external counsel; and liaising with counsel.
• Supports the FICTA department regarding legal document retention and other
  administrative functions with a legal aspect
• Supports the President, the Executive Director, and the Executive Committee as
  requested on legally sensitive matters
• Contributes a legal perspective to Board deliberations, particularly given that most
  Board members tend to be elected for their medical qualifications and field
  experience

Requirements:

• May not be actively involved in or employed by the executive of any MSF section
• Must actively participate in MSF Canada Board meetings (typically 4 face-to-face
  meetings per year plus 8 video conference meetings per year)

Qualifications:

• Lawyer licensed in Canada with five or more years of experience in legal practice
• Knowledgeable about the workings of Canadian charities or other not-for-profit
  organizations, including reporting and compliance requirements and practice and
  procedure relating to governance
• Demonstrated interest in humanitarian affairs
• Ability to challenge and bring new perspectives to executives and Board

Approval Date/Review:
This job description was approved by the Board on 31 May 2024.

Detailed job description