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Social Work Intern

New York, New York, United States; Washington, District of Columbia, United States

About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

 

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients. 
 
MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.  

Role Overview

The Social Work Student Intern will be assigned to the Psychosocial Care Unit (PSCU). The Unit’s goal is to care for the emotional well-being of international humanitarian workers. The intern will perform tasks agreed between the PSCU Supervisor and the Field Placement Office of the student’s university. These may include direct clinical work, giving presentations, developing materials, conducting research. This internship is for the school term of September 2025 – May 2026.

Department Accountabilities

Organizational Culture & Create a Safe Space
Set and drive transparent goals, targets and ADEI&B initiatives that yield the most significant, scalable, quantifiable, and sustained impact for a more human-centered, engaged, and productive workplace.; building a culture that fosters trust, collaboration high performance, respect, and belonging among diverse  teams and peoples.

Performance Management & Talent Development
Develop and implement policies and processes that provide an integrated, structured approach to individual development planning, performance goal setting, performance feedback, and formal appraisal to meet business needs and to support individuals in realizing their potential. The review is done one-time per year after which decisions are taken on whether the employee's pay should be changed or increased.

Employee Engagement
Create a workplace culture that is engaging and motivating for employees. This involves creating opportunities for employees to connect with each other, providing professional development opportunities, and creating a positive work environment.

Compliance and HR Operations
Execute and manage P&C operations using predetermined protocols and procedures to achieve specified operational performance standards.

Compensation & Benefits Review
Designed and administered compensation and benefits packages for staff. This includes setting salaries, providing health insurance and other benefits and managing payroll.

Talent Acquisitions 
Fill permanent or temporary positions within an organization by attracting, shortlisting, selecting, hiring, appointing, and integrating the best-qualified candidates in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Payroll Administration
Carry out the payroll administration processes required to ensure that employees are paid correctly at the right time.

 

ROLES SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

  • Provide orientation to humanitarian workers on well-being on assignment and reintegration post-assignment
  • Develop resource materials for successful humanitarian assignments and reintegration
  • Presentations on stress management and other relevant topics
  • Conduct research on humanitarian worker well-being
  • Compile and analyze data

 

COMPLEXITY AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

Ability to understand human behavior. Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data and synthesize it to make recommendations and implement initiatives.

 

BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES 

THOUGHT: How MSF USA staff understand the organization, manage complexity, and contribute by creating the new and different.

People Focus
Builds strong relationships and delivers solutions geared to aiding others. Solicits feedback and data; conveys a clear understanding of the level of service the team is providing; takes action when standards are not met by team; aligns processes with organizational needs.

Manages Complexity
Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Consistently looks at complex issues from many angles; obtains a rich and deep understanding; swiftly cuts to the core issue; skillfully separates root causes from symptoms.

Global Perspective
Takes a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens. Shows global thinking at work; adjusts organizational practices to meet the unique needs of different regions or countries. Uses a broad perspective when addressing issues and challenges.

Cultivates Innovation
Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful. Approaches professional work in unique or innovative ways. Offers original ideas. Appreciates others' creative ideas and solutions and provides helpful input to enhance them.

RESULTS: MSF USA staff achieve results by cultivating a forward-thinking environment that produces solutions for changing stakeholder needs.

Drives Results
Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances. Regularly pushes self to achieve outstanding outcomes; consistently establishes bold goals for own performance; is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions. Shows great tenacity to complete goals/initiatives in a timely way.

PEOPLE: MSF USA staff understand their impact on others through collaboration and inclusion of different perspectives to achieve common goals.

Collaborates
Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. Readily involves others to accomplish goals; stays in touch and shares information; discourages "us versus them" thinking; shows appreciation for others' ideas and input.
 
Values Differences
Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Confronts stereotyping and offensive comments promptly. Consistently behaves with great sensitivity toward differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating.

Communicates Effectively
Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys information clearly, concisely, and professionally when speaking or writing.

SELF: MSF USA staff demonstrate self-awareness by having an open mindset and by continuously seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and improve. 

Instills Trust
Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity. Models honesty and authenticity and encourages others to be up front with one another. Demonstrates reliability and places a strong emphasis on the team meeting its commitments. Fairly represents others' positions.

Manages Ambiguity
Operates effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear. Responds effectively to unclear situations, seeks to resolve ambiguity and make progress. Seeks guidance on how to adapt to changes, responds with appropriate composure and effectiveness.

Situational Adaptability
Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Plans and Aligns
Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with MSF-USA goals.

Financial Acumen
Interprets and applies understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions.

Tech Savvy
Anticipating and adopting innovations in organizational digital and technology applications.

Data Collection and Analysis
The ability and skill to determine and analyze trends from data that is collected to assist in compiling reports that will help in decision-making. 

Project Management Skills
The ability and skill to plan and manage small project work assignments within desired cost, time, and quality parameters.

Presentation and Written Communication Skills
Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately

 

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

 

Desired Qualifications & Experience

  • The student must be enrolled in a Master of Social Work (MSW) program at an accredited university which has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Psychosocial Care Unit of Doctors without Borders. Students from equivalent master’s level programs in Counseling or other Mental Health fields will also be considered.
  • Foreign language proficiency a plus, especially French, Arabic, or Spanish

 

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS 

No travel required for this position

 

COMPENSATION

$18 per hour is the hourly rate

 

This internship is for the school term of September 2025 – May 2026.

 

We do not accept phone calls or emails during the recruitment process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

 

Our staff works a hybrid schedule with the ability to come into either the NYC office or regional hub (Washington, DC) a minimum of 2 times a week. The required days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from January to June and September to December. 

 

In office work attendance during July and August is optional.

 

Please note that neither relocation assistance nor visa sponsorship will be offered for this position

 

Type

HQ  

 

Pay Class 

Part-Time/Hourly 

 

Working Time (Hours Per Week)

20 (max)

 

Equal Opportunity and Accommodations Statement:
MSF-USA is dedicated to creating a diverse, impartial, and inclusive workforce. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences as per applicable laws.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at recruitment@newyork.msf.org.

We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.

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