Head of Communications

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. We offer assistance based on need alone, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

MSF Taiwan focuses on four pillars: public engagement and advocacy on global humanitarian crises; recruitment of Taiwanese medical and non-medical staff for field deployment; fundraising to support MSF's social mission; and technical exchange with medical audiences.

Communications sits at the heart of MSF's identity. Beyond awareness and fundraising, our work is rooted in témoignage — bearing witness to humanitarian crises and speaking out on behalf of the people we serve. The department connects Taiwanese audiences with MSF's projects around the world, raising awareness of neglected crises, humanitarian principles, and the access to healthcare. We do this through media, public engagement, advocacy, and storytelling — honestly, principally, and grounded in what we witness in the field.

The team of nine includes Communications Manager, Digital Manager, Public Engagement Officer, and Youth Engagement Officer.

Head of Communications

The Head of Communications is a strategic leadership role reporting directly to the General Director. You will shape and sustain MSF Taiwan's identity and communications positioning — connecting Taiwanese and broader Mandarin-speaking publics with MSF's social mission in service of humanitarian principles — whilst developing a high-performing team and contributing to organisational direction as a member of the Local Management Team.

Your role is to build on a strong foundation — strengthening MSF Taiwan's voice, advancing témoignage, and ensuring our communications remain principled and independent in a complex and sensitive environment.

Major Responsibilities

• Strategy & Leadership
  • Develop and lead the communications strategy and annual plans, aligned with MSF Taiwan's strategic goals and global MSF positioning.
  • Contribute to MSF Taiwan's strategic and annual planning as a member of the Local Management Team.
  • Build and maintain active connections within the MSF International communications network to ensure Taiwan's voice informs global strategies.
  • Advance MSF Taiwan's témoignage — ensuring our public communications bear honest witness to the crises MSF responds to and the humanitarian principles that guide our work.

• Brand, Identity & Reputation
  • Safeguard MSF's public image and brand integrity, ensuring all communications uphold MSF's principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality.
  • Lead crisis communications response — anticipating reputational risks, maintaining a live risk register, and coordinating rapid, principled responses to critical incidents locally and globally.
  • Ensure MSF Taiwan's communications remain independent and principled, including in politically sensitive contexts where MSF's positions may be challenging or unpopular.

• Execution & Editorial Quality
  • Oversee implementation of all communications activities across media relations, digital content, campaigns, events, and public engagement.
  • Ensure editorial excellence, ethical standards, and strategic messaging across all platforms and audiences.
  • Guide the team on media relations, content development, public engagement, and operational communications in support of MSF's emergency preparedness activities.

• People Management
  • Lead, develop, and support a team of nine, fostering creativity, accountability, and alignment with MSF's values.
  • Identify and develop talent across the team; build a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement.

• Cross-functional & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Partner closely with Fundraising, Programmes, HR, and Field Human Resources to ensure coherent, integrated messaging.
  • Build and sustain relationships with media, partners, civil society, and external stakeholders to amplify MSF's voice.
  • Represent MSF Taiwan in regional and international communications forums.
  • Monitor audience perception and public awareness; use data to adapt strategies and demonstrate impact.

Requirements

Essential

• Minimum 7 years' experience in communications, journalism, or public relations, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership or management role.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing communications strategies that drive measurable public engagement.
• Strong crisis communications capability — experience managing reputational incidents with calm, speed, and principled judgement.
• People leadership experience — proven ability to develop and motivate teams.
• Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken).
• Demonstrated commitment to humanitarian principles — including the ability to communicate MSF's positions on sensitive or politically complex issues with independence, clarity, and principled conviction.

Strong Advantages

• MSF or INGO/NGO field or headquarters experience.
• Familiarity with Taiwan's media landscape, civil society, and the political and social dynamics of the region.
• Mandarin proficiency.
• Experience navigating politically sensitive communications environments.
• Digital and data literacy — comfort using audience insights and analytics to inform strategy.
• Regional networks across East or Southeast Asia.

How to apply?

Please apply with a letter of motivation (in English) and full resume (in English) on our website.
The applications will be closed on March 25. Applicants not invited for interview within 4 weeks may consider their applications unsuccessful. All information collected is solely for recruitment purposes and be treated in strict confidence.

At MSF, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

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.

Due to the nature of this role, the recruitment process includes a personality assessment. The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate the candidate’s fit with the role and the team. The assessment will not include any information unrelated to job performance, nor will it request private or sensitive personal data. The results will be kept strictly confidential and will be used only as one reference point in the overall recruitment evaluation, not as the sole basis for a hiring decision. Candidates must agree to and complete the assessment in order to proceed to the next stage of the selection process.

All personal information (photos, education and work experiences, letter of motivation etc.) received will be used solely for recruitment purpose. Your personal data will be strictly protected, please refer to our Privacy and Individual Data Protection Policy.