Application Guide

How to Apply for Migration Project Manager - UniField

at Médecins Sans Frontières en Suisse

🏢 About Médecins Sans Frontières en Suisse

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent, international medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from healthcare. Working at MSF OCG (Operational Centre Geneva) offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to life-saving missions while being part of a diverse, inclusive, and values-driven team that prioritizes impact over bureaucracy.

About This Role

As a Migration Project Manager for UniField, you will lead the technical and organizational migration of MSF OCG's field information systems to a unified platform, ensuring seamless data flow and operational continuity across missions. This role is critical to modernizing MSF's data infrastructure, enabling more efficient decision-making and better patient care in the field.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a virtual stand-up with your migration team spread across different continents, reviewing progress and addressing blockers. You'll spend time coordinating with field IT officers, updating project plans, and preparing training materials for end-users, all while ensuring that data migration milestones align with the overall project timeline. Later, you might analyze migration test results or meet with stakeholders to align on change management strategies, always keeping the mission's needs at the forefront.

🎯 Who Médecins Sans Frontières en Suisse Is Looking For

  • Proven experience managing IT or data migration projects in complex, international environments (NGO or humanitarian sector preferred)
  • Strong project management skills (PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile certification) with the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and stakeholders remotely
  • Technical understanding of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, data integration, and field operations (experience with UniField, Odoo, or similar is a plus)
  • Excellent communication and change management skills, with the ability to train and support non-technical staff in diverse cultural contexts

📝 Tips for Applying to Médecins Sans Frontières en Suisse

1

Highlight any specific experience with UniField or similar ERP systems in your application, even if it was in a different sector—this will show you understand the core technology.

2

Demonstrate your ability to work in remote, multicultural teams by providing concrete examples of how you've managed stakeholders across time zones and cultures.

3

Emphasize your familiarity with humanitarian contexts or your motivation to work in such environments; MSF values candidates who are mission-driven, not just technically proficient.

4

If you don't meet all requirements, explicitly address how your transferable skills and experiences compensate, as MSF encourages applications from those who may not perfectly match the job description.

5

In your cover letter, mention specific MSF operations or values that resonate with you, showing you've researched the organization beyond the surface level.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for MSF's humanitarian mission and how your skills can directly contribute to improving field operations.", 'Your experience with data migration or system implementation projects, especially in challenging or resource-limited environments.', 'Your ability to manage change and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including field teams and headquarters.', 'Your flexibility and willingness to travel or work across time zones, as remote coordination is likely required.']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • Study MSF OCG's current IT infrastructure and any public information about the UniField project (e.g., blogs, reports, or webinars).
  • Read about MSF's principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and how they might impact data management decisions.
  • Look into MSF's recent field operations and any challenges they've faced with data collection or reporting, to understand the context of this migration.
  • Familiarize yourself with the specifics of the UniField platform (likely based on Odoo) and its typical implementation challenges.
Visit Médecins Sans Frontières en Suisse's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach migrating field data systems in a country with limited internet connectivity?
2 Describe a time you managed a project with conflicting priorities from different stakeholders—how did you resolve it?
3 What experience do you have with training non-technical staff on new systems? Provide an example.
4 How do you ensure data security and compliance when handling sensitive patient data during a migration?
5 Why do you want to work for MSF OCG specifically, and how does this role align with your career goals?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Avoid submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention MSF or the UniField project—this signals lack of genuine interest.
  • Don't underestimate the importance of change management; focusing only on technical aspects may make you seem one-dimensional.
  • Avoid ignoring the inclusive language in the job posting; don't self-select out if you don't meet every requirement—address your potential instead.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: September 6, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Médecins Sans Frontières en Suisse!