Work for us in the field
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international medical relief organization with 28 offices worldwide. When large-scale epidemics occur, and when crisis areas are too dangerous for many other organizations, our medical teams are there to assist those in need. We organize basic medical care, treat the injured, carry out vaccination campaigns, train local staff and build up medical infrastructure. In long-term aid projects our teams fight diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, sleeping sickness, and HIV/AIDS.
The work is often exhausting, demanding appropriate professional knowledge, and enormous motivation and commitment for only basic remuneration, but it is also fascinating and immeasurably rewarding.
This page is aimed specifically at people who are a residents of Germany, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia or Ukraine. If you are not a resident of one of these countries, please contact the MSF office closest to you. This website has information about which MSF office to apply through. German speaking applicants can find more information about working with MSF here.
What we offer
Terms and conditions vary, but generally as an MSF field employee you will receive:
- Salary sufficient to cover costs at home while you are in the field
- A per diem during assignment to cover food expenses and other local purchases in local currency
- Round-trip transportation to and from assignment
- Room and board during assignment
- A comprehensive insurance package, including health and emergency evacuation insurance
- Holiday leave (depending on project)
Read more about our benefits here.
General requirements
For most roles the follow applies. More details can be found in each job spec linked below.
- At least two years of relevant professional experience
- Availability for a minimum of 9 months (surgeons, anesthetists and obstetricians/gynecologists may be accepted for shorter assignments)
- Fluent English. Other language skills are a valued asset, especially French and Arabic
- Relevant travel or work experience
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Ability to work and live in a team
- Intercultural competence
- Experience supervising, managing and training others is highly desirable
How to apply
Please apply only via our online application system, which you find at the job profiles beneath. Unfortunately we can not accept applications via mail. For an application you will also need the following documents:
- Complete curriculum vitae in English (please without a photo). Please use the following sample as a guideline for the content and structure of your CV.
- Detailed letter of motivation in English
- Copies of your professional certificates and most recent employment reference
- If required, a filled out skill list in English. You can find the list on the online application formula
Find out more about the application process here.
Profiles we recruit
The list below contains the main professional profiles needed in a MSF project. Learn more about the respective roles and requirements by clicking the specific job profile. You can also apply here.
If you are not sure which job group you should apply for, you can send us your application speculatively. To do so, please click here. Please note that in any case you must fulfill the general requirements for working with MSF. If you have questions about working and living in the field, about specific job profiles or about the application process, you can contact us by mail: personal@aerzte-ohne-grenzen.de. Please write us only in case of further questions and do not send us your application via mail.
Find our German office positions here and our German face-to-face fundraising positions here.
Contact
“Every day was extremely challenging. We treated an incredible number of patients, sometimes hundreds in a day. The fighting didn’t stop, the violence was frightening. An Australian colleague who was a vascular surgeon and I worked 14 to 18-hour days in two operating theatres.”
“I see a lot of suffering and distress, but I also see a lot of joy, that’s why I’m a midwife. When children are born it is always an incredible moment. All over the world."
“I have learned so much. Like that there is no right or wrong, just different. Or that you always have to think things through right to the end and plan for all eventualities – even for the kind of things that wouldn’t immediately occur to you.”
"On a professional level, I faced some big challenges, because we work in an area where not everything is available on a technical level. This means we are confronted with daily challenges that we have to find solutions for in order to have everything ready for the physicians and our daily work. I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved in the last nine months."