MSF is an independent international medical relief organisation, with 28 offices worldwide. When large-scale epidemics occur, when areas in crisis are too dangerous for many other organisations, then our medical teams are there to assist the affected population. We organise 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.

Psychologist

tasks and responsibilities

In crisis regions, there is a great need for psychosocial care, requiring psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatric nurses.

As a mental health officer, you will establish culturally and socially appropriate psychosocial care for the patients in our projects. With the local staff, you will help patients to come to terms with traumatic experiences, such as war and displacement. You may have to take care of people affected by HIV and tuberculosis who have to take medication for the rest of their lives or endure a long and painful therapy. Training local professionals in crisis intervention and psychosocial first aid is one of your main tasks. You will have to recruit psychosocial counsellors and will be responsible for their training and supervision. You will also lead the psychosocial teams and evaluate the course of the project as well as the results.

Our Requirements

• For psychologists and psychotherapists: a completed Master's degree in clinical psychology, an additional training in psychotherapy is an advantage. At least two years of professional experience in psychological counselling or behavioral therapy techniques. Work experience in the context of training/internships can unfortunately not be considered
  
• Experience in inpatient and outpatient settings in the field of violence prevention, and in dealing with traumatized patients, especially with people who have experienced displacement, survivors of sexual violence
• Experience with short-term therapy or with individual, family and group therapy
  
• Experience in the field of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (counselling, prevention, care during long-term therapy) or in community-based programs
  
• Experience in clinical social work, or counselling psychology with traumatized patients is also desirable
  
• Additional psychotherapeutic degrees or qualifications, for example in the field of cognitive therapy, are advantageous
  
• Ideally experience in personnel management
  
• Availability for at least twelve months for the first assignment, longer availability is an advantage
  
• Fluent English, knowledge of French is a big plus, other languages such as Arabic are also an advantage
  
• Ability to work in a team, cultural sensitivity, organizational and improvisational skills as well as high mental and physical resilience
  
• Travel or work experience in African, Asian or Latin American countries
  
• Willingness to work in accordance with Médecins Sans Frontières humanitarian principles, charter and mission statement
  

What do we offer

• 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)
  
  

We strongly recommend that you attend a webinar or HR info event about working with MSF to learn more about responsibilities and requirements before you apply.

As an international organization, we support diversity, openness and mutual respect. In line with our values, incoming applications are only evaluated for their professional qualifications and are considered regardless of ethnic and social origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.

We look forward to your application.