Senior Legal Officer

Join a Humanitarian Mission

We are seeking passionate individuals ready to contribute to our humanitarian mission. At MSF OCG, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that supports and amplifies the diverse voices of our staff. We strive to create working environments where teams of people with varied backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas, and experiences work together to advance our social mission and improve outcomes for our patients and the communities we work with.

We understand that some people may hesitate to apply if they do not meet all the requirements of the position. Research shows that this is particularly true for women. If you believe your profile is a good fit, we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet all the qualifications listed. We welcome applications from people of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, origins, religions, beliefs, disabilities, and any other diversity characteristics.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation or abuse, or any form of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will be subject to reference checks.

Context & Mission

Médecins Sans Frontières is an independent international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers care to people in need, to people affected by natural or man-made disasters, and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed, or political affiliation.

The MSF movement is organised around five operational centres, supported by 24 sections and offices around the world. The Operational Centre Geneva (MSF OCG) is one of these centres.

This role is part of the Public Fundraising unit, one of the four units of the Fundraising Division within the Communication and Fundraising Department of MSF Switzerland. Reporting to the Legacies Coordinator, the role involves handling the administrative and legal management of legacy and inheritance files, providing legal expertise, and helping optimise the follow-up of these files in close collaboration with the Legacies Officers.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage and follow up the administrative and legal aspects of legacy and inheritance files in French and German, in collaboration with the Legacies Coordinator and in tandem with the Legacies Officer.
• Contribute to optimising the management of donations, legacies, and inheritances, ensuring that all legacies and inheritances intended for MSF Switzerland are actually received and processed optimally and securely.
• Apply the processes and procedures relating to estates, in particular regarding the acceptance of inheritances and court decisions, while protecting the interests and reputation of MSF Switzerland.
• Act as legal point of reference for complex files, provide expertise and advice to the team, and take responsibility for the quality of file processing, including in the event of errors.
• Support the Legacies Coordinator with some of their tasks and work with various external partners, in particular notaries, lawyers, executors, and public authorities.
• Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with current and potential testators in French- and German-speaking Switzerland, in particular through first contacts, visits, phone calls, and events, ensuring regular follow-up with this target audience.
• Enter and update information in the database, in particular for new estate files, people interested in legacies and inheritances, and ongoing files.
• Handle the financial follow-up of files in collaboration with the Legacies Coordinator and the MSF Switzerland finance department, in particular in the context of estate administration and the preparation of annual provisions for the files under their responsibility.

Profile

Education

• University degree or equivalent training in law, or very good knowledge of inheritance law.

Experience

• Previous experience in a similar role.
• Previous experience with MSF or another NGO or international organisation is an asset.

Technical Skills

• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent IT skills, including internet research and office software.
• Knowledge of the Swiss legal and political system, in particular inheritance law.
• Analytical skills and comfortable working with figures.
• Ability to express oneself and argue with ease, both orally and in writing.

Languages

• Bilingual French-German (mandatory).
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of Italian is an asset.

Personal Qualities

• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Very good stress resistance.
• Independent, enthusiastic, dedicated, and motivated, solution-oriented, and able to integrate easily into a team.
• Ability to adapt to varied and unforeseen situations with flexibility and agility.
• Ability to manage one’s own work without continuous supervision.
• Proactive, able to take initiative and put forward new proposals to solve identified problems or improve a situation.
• Flexibility and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Interest in, understanding of, and commitment to humanitarian principles and MSF’s values.
• Ability to identify urgencies and priorities.

Working Conditions

• Part-time position (90%): 36 hours per week.
• Permanent contract.
• Place of work: Zurich.
• Ideal start date: March 2027.
• Gross annual salary (at 100%): CHF 94,440 to CHF 108,348 (depending on equivalent experience and the internal salary scale).
• Paid holidays: 25 days per year, pro rata temporis, plus Swiss public holidays falling within the contract period.
• Pension fund: contributions to the pension fund (2nd pillar, LPP/BVG) covered 3/4 by MSF and 1/4 by the employee.
• Relocation support when moving to Switzerland from another country.