Governance Manager
Governance Manager
Company Description
MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES UK
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides life-saving emergency relief and longer-term medical care to some of the most vulnerable and excluded communities around the world. As an independent medical humanitarian organisation, we deliver care based only on need, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or political affiliation.MSF relies on donations from private individuals and organisations for the majority of its income. This private funding gives MSF the freedom to respond where needs are greatest and to speak out publicly, free from any political interference.
MSF has around 67,000 local and international staff working in over 70 countries, in some of the most challenging places in the world. Our medical humanitarian projects are supported by offices in 44 countries, including the UK and Ireland. These teams recruit staff, organise fundraising, and raise awareness on the humanitarian crises our colleagues are witnessing, as well as running different and diverse support activities. MSF offices are spread across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.
At MSF UK/IE, we support MSF's operations by building relationships with our supporters, increasing awareness of our work, raising funds, providing specialist medical expertise, ensuring MSF staff have access to relevant higher education programmes, catalysing change on medical humanitarian issues, and recruiting field staff.
MSF UK/IE personnel are dynamic, hard-working, enthusiastic and committed to MSF's values and aims. In addition MSF continues to build upon its presence in Ireland to become a widely recognised, accepted and respected humanitarian organisation among Irish audiences, and within the Irish humanitarian and political sector.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING - If you are applying for a role and have applied for us before in the last 12 months, please email recruitment.uk@london.msf.org before applying so that we can re-set your applicant account. Please title your email “Reapplication request”. If this is your first application, there is no action to take – Thank you – The recruitment team
Position
At Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF UK), strong governance enables us to support life‑saving medical work in some of the world’s most complex and fragile contexts. We are looking for an experienced Governance Manager to play a central role in supporting our Board, Executive, and Association at an exciting moment in MSF UK’s development.
This is a rare opportunity to lead and strengthen governance in a values‑driven organisation that combines humanitarian action, medical ethics, and independent advocacy. As MSF UK delivers its new Strategic Direction 2026–31, good governance has never been more important.
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week, Mon-Fri
Duration: Permanent
Location: London - hybrid, 2 days per week in London office (including Wednesdays)
Salary: £52,866.48 - £64,614.57 per annum | Salary is offered in line with our pay framework and typically starts at the entry point of the band. Salary increases are considered annually and are subject to our appraisal and performance review process.
Job Purpose:
Reporting to the Head of Governance & Association and Company Secretary, you will lead the day‑to‑day operation of MSF UK’s governance framework. You will ensure the Board of Trustees, its committees, and the Executive are supported with high‑quality, timely and well‑judged governance advice and services.
This is a hands‑on leadership role, blending strategic oversight with practical delivery. You will:
- Lead and develop a small, high‑performing governance team
- Oversee Board, committee and executive governance cycles and meetings
- Ensure strong regulatory and statutory compliance
- Support trustee recruitment, development and effective decision‑making
- Work closely with senior leaders across MSF UK, MSF Ireland, and the wider international MSF movement
You will also play a key role in strengthening governance culture, visibility and understanding across the organisation and among MSF UK’s 700+ association members.
Please download the full job and person specification below for further details.
Requirements
Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
Essential
- Significant experience in a governance role.
- Practical knowledge of charity governance, trustee responsibilities and regulatory compliance, including the Charity Governance Code.
- Proven experience managing governance cycles, committees and statutory reporting.
- Excellent written communication skills, including drafting governance papers, policies, briefings and minutes.
- Excellent social and verbal communication skills; able to operate with integrity, diplomacy, tact, and empathy.
- Confidence working and negotiating with senior stakeholders, directors and trustees; ability to actively listen, understand and accommodate the views of others while still achieving governance objectives and asserting non-negotiable points diplomatically.
- Ability to act autonomously, focusing on the long-term challenge while delivering on the short-term quick wins.
- Ethical judgement, critical thinking, and ability to analyse risk and issues to produce recommendations.
- Ability to think systemically and structure information and workflow.
- Experience supporting team development and direct reports to develop individually and as a team.
- Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills including the ability to remain focused when managing competing and rapidly developing priorities.
- Demonstrable experience in the practical and effective use of personal IT equipment and the Microsoft Office 365 suite. The ability to effectively collaborate and communicate within a hybrid working environment utilising Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
Desirable
- Governance qualification or relevant professional development.
- Significant experience in a governance and/or secretariat role within a UK charity or not-for-profit organisation (eg. education, health, public service).
- Experience working in a complex international or globally federated organisation.
- Exposure to international governance environments.
Other information
HOW TO APPLY:
Please apply on our website by submitting a copy of your CV together with a letter of motivation (please upload as one document) by the closing date.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close applications before the advertised closing date, or if a suitable candidate is found.
Application checklist
Please check that you have included the following in your application:
- An up-to-date CV
- Letter of Motivation, which is a supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the key requirements of the role
Recruitment timetable:
- Closing date for applications: Sunday 19 April 2026, 11:59pm (BST)
- Interviews: w/c 27 April 2026
ADDITONAL INFORMATION
Accessibility
We are committed to removing barriers for people with specific accessibility needs. If you need an adjustment to the recruitment process to be considered for the role, please let us know by contacting recruitment.UK@london.msf.org
Examples of adjustments we can make:
- offering you an alternative if you are unable to use our online application system
- providing necessary information, such as the job description or assessment materials, in an alternate format
- allowing you to have someone with you during an interview for example, a Sign Language interpreter.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We are a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive organisation. MSF UK thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Please read our Equality & Diversity policy for more information.
MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community.
Safeguarding
MSF UK/IE is dedicated to safeguarding everyone who comes into contact with the organisation, for whatever reason and however brief. All posts are subject to safer recruitment process which include robust reference requests, scrutiny of employment history and where applicable criminal record and barring checks.
Our safeguarding commitment is underpinned by policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the organisation. On joining MSF UK/IE you will be required to attend safeguarding training to ensure responsibility for and maintaining safe working practice and to safeguard our teams, beneficiaries, and communities.
Right to work in the UK
Candidates must have the right to work in the UK. Employment sponsorship will NOT be offered by MSF UK for this role. Please click here to check whether you have the right to work in the UK.
For questions, issues or further information, please contact Recruitment.UK@london.msf.org.
Interviews will be held on a rolling basis. Please apply as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the application early if we find a suitable candidate.
We look forward to receiving your application!