Work overseas
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) relies on a network of healthcare and other professionals outside the healthcare realm. These professionals assist people facing crises by carrying out our humanitarian activities in conflict zones, epidemics, natural disasters, and other emergencies.
Each year more than 30,000 locally hired staff are joined by more than 3,000 international staff to provide medical care in over 450+ humanitarian projects around the world. Join us to have a career working as a humanitarian delivering or facilitating critical medical assistance where it’s needed most. We recruit from Canada and elsewhere to support our operations around the world. MSF is recruiting staff for projects located in countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, and Yemen. We are looking for professionals who not only align with our values and mission but who will also help shape the future of the MSF movement by speaking out about what we see, inspire action and connect people.
The assignment life
Working overseas for MSF means living and working together. The hours are long, the living conditions are modest, and the projects may be in remote and harsh environments often with limited resources and amenities.
The challenging nature of international work assignments and resulting constraints necessitate innovation and improvising with the limited resources and supplies available. This could mean limited medical equipment, simple living conditions, mobility restrictions to follow strict security measures and fewer leisure activities including possibly no jogging in the park or going for a bike ride for a while.
Changing historical imbalances...
When working as an internationally hired staff in an MSF project, it is important to be aware of the broader dynamics and structures that are in place and impact our work.
Though we recruit a smaller number of staff internationally, this group has historically occupied a disproportionate number of senior management positions in the countries where we work. This has led to a lack of diversity among our leadership teams and boards.
We are working to change this to reflect a stronger representation of equity-seeking communities at all levels of the organization, with discussions and initiatives happening across the organization.
And working towards equity, diversity and inclusion.
Among our actions to address this issue, we have designed specific development packages to offer career paths and training aimed at giving equitable opportunities to our staff worldwide to grow as a talent within the organization including in senior positions.
We have opened a sixth operational centre located in West Africa, run mainly by senior MSF staff from the region with the aim of bringing operational management and decision-making closer to the countries where we work. Until 2019, all five of MSF’s operational centres were based in Europe.
Must-see videos before you apply
Why work with MSF
How we match people to projects
What to consider before applying
What's it like to work with MSF?
Important considerations before you apply
Important FAQs
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We can only consider professionals who are legally entitled to work in Canada (Canadian permanent resident or Canadian citizen). MSF Canada is not in the position to support with any work permit process for these international mobile staff positions.
If you’re not a resident of Canada, please submit your application to the appropriate MSF office.
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International staff receive a monthly gross salary of approximately $3000 to a Canadian bank account. MSF covers accommodation and transport to and from the project they are assigned to.
Benefits include:
- Pre-departure training through a combination of readings, e-learning, briefings and face-to-face workshops, as well as additional trainings and professional development opportunities throughout an MSF career
- Reimbursement of required vaccinations and related medical clearance fees
- Required visas and work permits
- Paid vacation (25 days per year) pro-rated to the duration of contract
- Accommodation and round-trip transportation to and from their project.
- Equivalence of a daily compensation for coverage of basic expenses. This varies in amount depending on country and context.
- Medical, disability and life insurance coverage (including dental and vision)
- Medical evacuation coverage
- Medical/professional indemnity (physicians)
- Luggage insurance
- Group RRSP contribution
- Psychological support before departing and upon return to Canada
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program for one year after returning to Canada
- Confidential peer support network that contacts you before departure, and after returning to Canada to ensure a smooth re-entry
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English is the global language used across MSF. However, fluency in another language will significantly enhance your application and the possibility of placement.
We have very high demand for fluent French speakers, and for most of our roles, level B2 French (Intermediate, working proficiency) is a requirement.
Beyond being bilingual English/French, speaking other languages like Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese is considered an asset.
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The length of an MSF assignment abroad is between 6 and 12 months for all professions, except for anesthesiologists, surgeons and obstetricians/gynecologists — who, due to the specificity of their work, are placed in projects from six weeks to three months. For all other roles, the minimum assignment length is six months.
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It’s not possible to place people according to their specific country requests. We recruit applicants into a pool before matching them to a specific position based on their skills, experience and the operational needs at that moment.
We expect candidates to be flexible about where they work so that we can meet the needs of our projects.
However, your special skills, languages and questions related to security will be taken into consideration for each placement.
International mobile staff recruitment timeline
Application received
All applications are analyzed by our recruitment team. You will receive a reply, regardless of the outcome of the prescreen. |
Phone conversation
If selected to move forward, you will be contacted by a recruiter and invited to an informal conversation to discuss your profile. |
Testing and validation
You will be required to complete a skills test related to the role, and may also be asked to take a French or English language proficiency test, depending on the job requirements.
Panel interview
If selected to move forward to this stage, you will be invited to complete a pre-interview questionnaire related to competencies and experience, and you will be interviewed by a panel. |
References
After a successful panel interview, you will be asked to provide references from past employers and agree to a criminal background check. This is done by a third-party Canadian regulated references check provider. |
Onboarding
After reception and analysis of your references, if successful, you will be invited to join the pool of Canadian International Mobile Staff. You will be invited to complete onboarding, training sessions and health preparation. |
Matching
At this stage, you will be matched with a career manager and they will look for a suitable assignment (6-12 month contract) for you on one of MSF's 450+ projects. |
Check out our medical, paramedical and non-medical job opportunities
MSF looking for skilled professionals to help deliver emergency humanitarian assistance in over 70 countries around the world.
