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.

Psychologist and Mental Health Specialist

Our Mental Health Officers (MHOs) play a crucial role in our projects, providing psychological first aid to survivors of natural disasters and counseling HIV patients. Trauma is often the most painful aspect of surviving a conflict or disaster or living with a disease, and mental healthcare is vital for recovery.

Responsibilities

As a mental health specialist with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), you will support people suffering from post-traumatic stress related to a conflict situation or disaster, survivors of sexual violence, or people being treated for HIV/AIDS and/or tuberculosis. Your work will be mostly clinical. You will also have to recruit, train, and supervise locally hired mental health professionals, who will then ensure the continuity of care. You will have to adapt tools to local cultural needs and contexts as well as to changing circumstances.

As a mental health specialist, you will be responsible for supporting the program and the team by suggesting improvements in line with MSF’s objectives and strategies, providing individual clinical consultations, organizing psycho-pedagogical activities and organizing training sessions for the team.

Requirements

Be a certified clinical psychologist or psychiatrist or a licensed clinical social worker. Social workers must have a master’s degree in social work with a clinical specialization
Minimum two years of relevant post-qualification work experience
At least six months of clinical experience within the last two years
Professional experience in mental health issues associated with at least two of the following areas: –
- HIV/AIDS
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- sexual violence
- trauma
- tuberculosis
Experience in individual and group counseling
Experience in managing staff in a multicultural team (supervision and training)
Excellent command of English, as well as French (level B2) or another language (Arabic, Spanish).
Relevant travel or work experience in contexts similar to where MSF works (armed conflicts, disasters, public health emergencies, or situations of healthcare exclusion)
Available to work 9 to 12 months

Before you apply

As you consider applying to undertake an MSF assignment, it is essential that you have a well-informed and realistic personal reflection. Assignments often mean long hours with a heavy workload, basic living conditions, and working and living in often chaotic and volatile environments.

Security and Safety

Because Doctors Without Borders’ purpose is to bring medical assistance to people in distress, the work may occur in settings of active conflict, or in post-conflict environments, in which there are inherent risks, potential danger and ongoing threats to safety and security. MSF acknowledges that it is impossible to exclude all risks, but it does its utmost as an organization to mitigate and manage these risks through strict and comprehensive security protocols.

International staff will be fully informed of the risk associated with a potential assignment before accepting a particular posting. Working for MSF is a deeply personal choice; individuals must determine for themselves the level of risk and the circumstances in which they feel comfortable based on a full and transparent understanding of the possibilities they may face. Once in the assignment, all MSF staff must strictly observe security rules and regulations; failure to do so may result in dismissal.

Terms of Employment

MSF staff are employees with a salary and benefits.

MSF encourages the completion of multiple assignments. There are many possibilities for professional growth within the organization in the medical, non-medical, and coordination streams.

Final Thoughts

As you consider applying to undertake an MSF assignment, is it essential that you have a well-informed and realistic personal reflection. Assignments often mean long hours with a heavy workload, basic living conditions, and working and living in often chaotic and volatile environments.

Despite such challenges, thousands of people have worked with MSF over the years and found their experiences in the field to be deeply rewarding, even life-changing. More than anything else, being an MSF international worker means acting in solidarity with people facing unimaginable medical challenges. Your presence alongside people in times of need sends a profoundly meaningful and human message: “You are not forgotten.”

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 accommodation for disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. We encourage individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.

If you have a disability and require accommodations to use our website for applying for a position, please get in touch with Human Resources at employment.msfusa@newyork.msf.org. We consider reasonable accommodation requests on a case-by-case basis.

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Please provide details of your previous travel and/or international experiences, including the locations visited, year and durations, and please specify the nature of your stay. Relevant experiences for MSF included having traveled, lived, worked, volunteered or studied in regions such as Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and remote regions in the United States.

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MSF's mission is to provide medical assistance to populations in need. Therefore, our work often takes place in settings characterized by active conflicts or post-conflict environments. These contexts inherently involve risks, potential dangers, and ongoing threats to safety and security. The most common destinations for US International Mobile Staff, include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, South Sudan, and Haiti. Is there a region in the world where you would prefer to work? Why?

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Due to the nature of MSF work, we expect International Mobile Staff to be flexible to project needs and, therefore, available for a minimum of 9 months. MSF assignments for this role require a 9 to 12 month time commitment. Does this align with your availability?

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I confirm that I have read, understood, and agree to the MSF USA recruitment policies and procedures stated on this website. I understand that MSF USA will store all personal details confidentially for a maximum of two years in compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act. I understand that MSF USA will use my personal details only for recruitment purposes and will not share this data with anyone outside of MSF. I confirm that all of the above information is truthful and complete as of this date.

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Psychologists and Mental Health Specialists

About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

Psychologist and Mental Health Specialist

Responsibilities

Requirements

Before you apply

Security and Safety

Terms of Employment

Final Thoughts

Apply for this job

U.S. Standard Demographic Questions

Voluntary Self-Identification

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability