MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders is looking for a Multimedia Production Intern to join the Communications department at its New York office. It is a paid internship at $18.40 per hour, lasting 3 months with the possibility of an extension, with an estimated start in January 2027. The intern will support a video podcast, edit a steady stream of video content and help with A/V and analytics work. Candidates must have demonstrable experience shooting and editing video in Adobe Premiere and must submit a portfolio link of 3–5 videos. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy, and every detail is set out below.
Who Is Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)?
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. It cares for people affected by:
🏚️ Conflict
🦠 Disease outbreaks
🌪️ Disasters
🫂 Social exclusion
MSF works in more than 70 countries and offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or politics. Its international project teams include medical, logistical and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. MSF's actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality. The organization also bears witness and speaks out about the experiences of its colleagues and patients.
MSF USA's Role in the Global Movement
MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through:
🧑⚕️ Staff recruitment
🤝 Fundraising
📢 Advocacy
📰 Communications
MSF USA welcomes candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join in working toward MSF's social mission.
What Is the Multimedia Production Internship About?
MSF USA is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented intern to assist in various aspects of audiovisual (A/V) support and multimedia content production within the Communications department. The role offers a hands-on opportunity to gain more experience in content production, planning and visual storytelling within a dynamic and creative environment.
The intern will be involved in:
🎙️ Supporting the production of a video podcast
✂️ Editing a steady stream of video content
🗓️ Assisting with other elements of day-to-day content production
🗄️ A/V room organization
📑 Analytics reporting
🎪 Multimedia event support
The intern will work closely with an experienced Multimedia team and could have the opportunity to participate in high-profile events and projects.
The Portfolio You Must Submit
Candidates must have demonstrable experience shooting and editing video in Adobe Premiere. With your application, you must submit a portfolio link consisting of 3–5 videos. For each piece, indicate what work you did on it and when it was created.
What the Communications Department Does
The Communications Department is responsible for developing a coherent voice and delivering clear public messages to inform both US and international audiences of MSF, its field activities and the humanitarian principles that underpin them. Its aims are to raise awareness about the plight of the populations MSF serves, to promote public communication that exposes and describes the field reality, including dilemmas and challenges, and to garner public understanding for advocacy messages related to field operational concerns and the Access Campaign. It does this via the media, print and digital channels, public awareness and advocacy campaigns, conferences and more.
The department's accountabilities are:
📣 External Communications: developing and distributing external communications products across multiple channels to bear witness to humanitarian needs, speak out with patients and communities, engage with audiences and achieve strategic objectives
🔎 Public Engagement & Advocacy: identifying significant medical humanitarian issues and executing integrated communications plans to increase public awareness, audience engagement and support for advocacy priorities
🏷️ Brand Positioning: developing and contributing toward brand strategy, brand positioning and tactics to increase brand visibility
🎨 Content Creation: developing and supporting the production of creative and engaging external communications across audiences and channels, including the website, social media and live events
🌐 Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: promoting DEI principles across all communications products and channels
The Ideal Candidate for the Video Internship
The video intern will assist in all phases of the creation and promotion of MSF video content. This hands-on position offers the opportunity to actively contribute to the tools through which MSF communicates its messages, and the ideal candidate will provide essential support to new and ongoing projects. The ideal candidate is:
💙 Passionate about MSF-USA's social mission to provide medical humanitarian aid
🎥 Someone with proven technical ability in videography and video editing
🕊️ Interested in international humanitarian affairs and medical issues
🎞️ Interested in documentary film, journalism, non-profit communications and/or international affairs
⚖️ Committed to upholding diversity, equity and inclusion
🧩 Highly creative and organized
Your Areas of Responsibility
🖼️ Content Creation: supporting the creation and dissemination of engaging audiovisual content about MSF's medical humanitarian work for all channels, including web, social media and live events
📤 External Communications: contributing toward the implementation of multimedia plans for significant aspects of the organization's external communications, with guidance from the Director of Communications
📦 Public Engagement Execution: delivering specified multimedia outputs and outcomes to inform and engage audiences, and providing others with professional support while working within established communications systems
🧭 Public Engagement Planning: contributing to research and development of tactical social media campaigns and public engagement activities using audiovisual elements
📈 Data & Analytics: supporting the tracking of video performance on social media, identifying trends, adapting to algorithm changes and making recommendations based on data
Day-to-Day Tasks of the Multimedia Production Intern
📱 Assisting with producing and editing a variety of video projects, including editing short-form videos for social media, web and more
🗃️ Researching and using video from MSF's international photo and video database
📉 Regular reporting on video performance metrics using YouTube's Insights
🔤 Adding simple on-screen text to videos, and proofreading graphics and post-copy
🔍 Learning search engine optimization (SEO) principles and best practices and implementing them
✏️ Creating or assisting in the creation of simple graphics
🎛️ Setting up and assisting with film production on site
🈯 Supporting translation processes
🧰 Organization and upkeep of A/V equipment, inventory lists and digital files
🛠️ Researching new equipment, video workflows or solutions as needed to support the work of the video team
📋 Other tasks as assigned
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Behavioral Competencies MSF USA Looks For
MSF USA groups its behavioral competencies under four headings: Thought, Results, People and Self.
Thought: Understanding the Organization and Creating the New
This heading covers 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 the team and aligns processes with organizational needs
🧠 Manages Complexity: makes sense of complex, high-quantity and sometimes contradictory information to solve problems; looks at complex issues from many angles, obtains a rich and deep understanding, swiftly cuts to the core issue and separates root causes from symptoms
🗺️ Global Perspective: takes a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens; shows global thinking at work and adjusts organizational practices to meet the unique needs of different regions or countries
💡 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 provides helpful input to enhance them
Results: A Forward-Thinking Environment
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; pushes self to achieve outstanding outcomes, establishes bold goals for own performance, is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions, and shows great tenacity to complete goals and initiatives in a timely way
People: Collaboration and Inclusion
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 to meet shared objectives; readily involves others, stays in touch and shares information, discourages "us versus them" thinking and 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 and 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 needs of different audiences; listens attentively, keeps others well informed and conveys information clearly, concisely and professionally when speaking or writing
Self: An Open Mindset
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; encourages others to be up front with one another, demonstrates reliability, places a strong emphasis on the team meeting its commitments and fairly represents others' positions
🌫️ Manages Ambiguity: operates effectively when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear; seeks to resolve ambiguity and make progress, seeks guidance on how to adapt to changes and responds with composure
🔄 Situational Adaptability: adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations; serves as an example of adaptability, considers the needs of clients, constituents and the organization, and shifts priorities appropriately
Technical Competencies for the Role
🎯 Plans and Aligns: planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with MSF-USA goals
💵 Financial Acumen: interpreting and applying 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 to determine and analyze trends from collected data to assist in compiling reports that help in decision-making
📐 Project Management Skills: the ability to plan and manage small project work assignments within desired cost, time and quality parameters
🗒️ Presentation and Written Communication Skills: described in the vacancy as adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations, serving as an example of adaptability and considering the needs of clients, constituents and the organization
The role has no supervisory responsibility.
Minimum Qualifications and Experience
At a minimum, the intern should possess:
🎦 Demonstrable experience shooting and editing video, with a portfolio link of 3–5 videos showing what work you did on each piece and when each was created
🖥️ A high level of proficiency with Premiere Pro and a working knowledge of Photoshop and Audition
✨ Proficiency in After Effects and Illustrator is a plus
💼 Familiarity editing on a PC or Mac laptop, which will be provided by MSF
🎚️ A basic understanding of A/V equipment and experience with studio recording, including camera and audio setup
🗂️ Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
📊 Experience reporting social media or web analytics is a plus
🗣️ Proficiency in a second language is a plus, with a preference for Spanish, French or Arabic
Schedule, Duration and Start Date
📆 Days per week: availability to work 4 days per week is preferred, including Tuesdays and Wednesdays onsite
⏱️ Duration: 3 months, with the possibility of an extension
🚀 Estimated start date: January 2027
🧳 Travel: no travel is required for this position
How Much Does the MSF USA Internship Pay?
The internship is paid at $18.40 per hour. If you are weighing it against other placements, our guide on how paid internships and funded traineeships really work explains the difference between an employer-paid internship and a grant-funded one.
Where You Will Work in New York
📍 Location: New York, NY, on-site or hybrid
🏢 The role is based in MSF USA's New York office, where most of the team and operational infrastructure are located
🚫 Due to current staffing and budget constraints, MSF USA is unable to support this position in its DC or California offices
How to Apply
🖱️ Apply through the online application page
📼 Include a portfolio link with 3–5 videos
🕰️ For each video, state what work you did on the piece and when it was created
Equal Opportunity and Accommodations
MSF-USA is dedicated to creating a diverse, impartial and inclusive workforce. It is an equal opportunity employer and does 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.
MSF-USA seeks a diversity of experience and skills and encourages people from all backgrounds to apply. It also provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. If you require accommodations during the application process, the contact address is listed in the Links section below. MSF USA strongly encourages individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.
Safeguarding and Background Checks
All employees and representatives of MSF USA have a duty to treat the individuals, families and communities they interact with and serve with dignity and respect, and to ensure their safety and protection. MSF USA is committed to a workplace and organizational culture that is safe, inclusive and free from harassment, abuse, exploitation and discrimination, supported by policies and procedures under which misconduct and abuse are not tolerated.
Employment may be contingent upon satisfactory reference checks and/or background screening appropriate to the responsibilities of the role.
Find more placements like this one in the Internship category on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MSF USA Multimedia Production Internship paid?
Yes. The internship pays $18.40 per hour. It lasts 3 months, with the possibility of an extension.
Do I need a portfolio to apply?
Yes. You must submit a portfolio link consisting of 3–5 videos with your application. For each video, indicate what work you did on the piece and when it was created.
Which software skills are required?
A high level of proficiency with Premiere Pro and a working knowledge of Photoshop and Audition are required. Proficiency in After Effects and Illustrator is a plus.
Is the internship remote?
No. The role is based in the New York office and is on-site or hybrid. The preferred schedule is 4 days per week, including Tuesdays and Wednesdays onsite, and the position cannot be supported in the DC or California offices.
When does the internship start?
The estimated start date is January 2027. No application deadline is given in the vacancy, so applying as soon as possible is the safest approach.
Does a second language help?
Yes. Proficiency in a second language is a plus, with a preference for Spanish, French or Arabic.
Will I need to travel?
No travel is required for this position.
Deadline
⏳ As soon as possible!
Links
📝 Online application: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/msfcareers/jobs/5452365008
♿ Accommodation requests during the application process (not for applications): recruitment@newyork.msf.org
