Médecins Sans Frontières Operational Centre Geneva (MSF OCG) is recruiting a Stagiaire, Cell 1 (Cell Intern) for a 6 to 9 month, full-time internship in Geneva, Switzerland, starting on 11 January 2027. The internship pays a gross monthly remuneration of CHF 2,000. The intern supports the Operational HR Partner and the Cell 1 team, which backs field operations in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eswatini. A tripartite internship agreement is mandatory, and applications close on 30 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy, and every detail is set out below.
Who Is Médecins Sans Frontières?
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent, international medical and humanitarian organisation that provides care to people in need, people affected by natural or man-made disasters, and victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and without regard to race, religion, creed or political affiliation (MSF Charter).
The MSF movement is built around 5 operational centres supported by 24 sections and offices worldwide. MSF Operational Centre Geneva (MSF OCG) is one of these centres.
What Is an Operational Cell at MSF OCG?
At MSF OCG, field operations are supported by multidisciplinary teams based in Geneva, known as operational cells. These teams provide operational support to field missions and facilitate coordination with the different departments at headquarters. Cell 1 now supports operations in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eswatini.
As part of the HR function's evolution towards a more strategic partnership with operations, the Cell Intern supports the Operational HR Partner (HROP) by taking on specific delegated HR activities and files. The intern acts as a focal point for these files, ensuring their follow-up, supporting the HROP's daily activities and facilitating interactions with other departments at headquarters, field missions and members of the Cell Team. Beyond the HR work, the Cell Intern also provides operational and administrative support to the Cell Team.
How Is the Intern's Time Divided?
The Cell Intern works under the supervision of the Cell HROP, and the responsibilities are divided as follows:
🗂️ 60% HR and administrative support
🧭 40% operational support, including medico-operational dossiers
HR and Administrative Support: Planning IMS Positions
The intern helps translate operational ambitions into HR needs and plan the international mobile staff (IMS) positions:
📑 Following up with the missions on the job descriptions of international staff (MI), flagging missing or outdated ones and filing those received; step by step, the intern is expected to develop a critical eye on the MIs and raise an alert if information is missing
📊 Supporting the update of the international staff tracking table (HR Update): mission dates, job openings and obtaining documents
🗓️ Compiling a weekly table of the cell's mission positions to be opened
🚨 Supporting the management of IMS job openings, particularly in emergency situations, if necessary
🤝 Supporting missions and GPOs with IMS propositions and the matching process, based on requests and needs
🧩 Taking part in discussions about the optimal setup requested by the field, so that staffing is sufficient in number and coherent in composition, especially during MYR and POA
🔍 Reviewing MYR and POA matrices, reporting technical, settings-related or analytical issues to the HROP, and giving the HROP initial feedback on the forecast and variances compared to the last validated budget
✅ Supporting the verification of IMS staffing requests formalised by the HRCos (compliance with planning, accuracy and clarity of the request)
🔁 Following up on updates by the missions at least every 3 months to the missions' HR restrictions table, detailing the profiling decisions in place
HR and Administrative Management of International Mobile Staff
💶 Each month, as part of the IMS salary payment process, supporting the verification of changes to the start and end dates of IMS contracts, amendments, positions and project allocations, and preparing the monthly IMS payroll information for confirmation to FAR
✈️ Following up with Field Movement Referents (FMRs) and acting as a focal point in case of specific movements or visas
🎤 Taking part in HR briefings and debriefings and, when appropriate, carrying them out under the guidance of the HROP, in line with the policy and alerting the HROP when needed
👋 Welcoming international staff before departure, introducing them to current operations and making sure they have the necessary documents
🩹 Following up with international staff on documents required for departure (informed consents BIC, proof of life)
📚 Consolidating, monitoring and updating pre-departure briefing materials for international staff
🏠 Following up on anticipated returns of IMS and filing the related documents
📋 Following up on other specific HR procedures as needed
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Information, Reporting and Meetings
📈 Making sure statistics and indicators are collected and passed on, and taking part in their analysis at least during PoA and MYR and at the end of the year (HRNS)
🧮 Developing HR statistics with the assistance of the HROP
🌐 Taking part in the monthly "Tour du Monde" meetings to open IMS positions and present the cell's HR and operational news
🧑💼 Taking part in HR department meetings when the HROP considers it relevant
🗣️ Taking part in POA, MYR and HR Days, if and when possible
🔗 Keeping links with the interns of the other OCG Cells to ensure consistent management of mandatory IMS documents (POA, BIC), Kompas management and more
Operational Support to the Cell
📆 Supporting the organisation of meetings (the weekly cell meeting called Mini Desk, and Plan of Action discussions with field teams), including preparing agendas, taking minutes and archiving meeting documentation
🗄️ Supporting information management, such as cell archiving, acting as the focal point for online platforms like Kompas and SharePoint, and managing key tools for the cell (presence, field visit preparation)
🎉 Coordinating Cell events as needed and keeping the cell calendar updated
🖥️ Supporting the preparation of key operational documents and presentations for internal or external use
🧑🏫 Organising group BIC briefings by RP/ARP when needed
🗺️ Following up on material to be sent to missions and the ordering of maps via the GIS centre, as agreed with the RLO (Logistic Referent) of the cell
📝 Supporting the FINOP (Finance Referent) in preparing Powers of Attorney for mission teams and, if needed, following up on contracts, partnership agreements and information related to audits
🏛️ Providing ad hoc support to the Directorate of Operations, such as meeting management, minute-taking and the coordination of operational and planning documents (portfolio reviews, emergency updates)
📢 Supporting, when delegated by the RP, the preparation and delivery of operational updates to HQ (Point Info)
🛬 For IMS briefings and debriefings in Geneva, welcoming international staff, presenting the Cell 1 setup to them, making sure they have the necessary documents and supporting the organisation of their arrival and stay if needed
The HR - Operational Dossier
Each Cell Intern is expected to work on an HR - Operational Dossier during the period of employment. The dossier should combine:
🎯 The operational needs of the Cell and missions
🎓 Academic requirements, such as the need to complete a thesis
🚀 If possible, a link to the future career of the Cell Intern
The topic must be selected within the first month of employment and agreed with the HROP and RP, with a clear deliverable (written report, thesis, etc.). The final deliverable must be presented to the Operations Department at the end of the period of employment.
Who Can Apply: Enrolled University Students Only
A tripartite internship agreement is mandatory: the intern, the intern's university and MSF all sign it. Because of this, only students enrolled at a university can apply. Graduates and candidates without a university cannot apply.
Education and Experience You Need
🎓 Education: a Master's degree in Humanitarian Studies, Development Studies, HR Management, Business Administration, or another relevant field
💼 Experience: no specific work experience is required; previous employment or engagement with NGOs or charities is considered an advantage
Languages and Skills
🗣️ English: fluency in written and spoken English is required
🇫🇷 French: knowledge of French is an asset
🔬 Capacity of analysis and synthesis
🗓️ Planning and organisation
🌍 Knowledge of key issues of the humanitarian environment
✍️ Excellent writing skills
🖥️ Excellent knowledge of the Microsoft Office environment (PowerPoint, Excel, Word)
Personal Qualities MSF Looks For
🤝 Team player with the ability to coordinate with numerous stakeholders
🧍 Ability to work autonomously
🚀 Proactive and solution-oriented
🔄 Flexibility and the capacity to adapt quickly
Terms of the Internship
🧾 Agreement: a tripartite internship agreement is mandatory
⏳ Duration: 6 to 9 months, according to the internship agreement
🕘 Hours: full time, 40 hours per week
📍 Location: Geneva, Switzerland
🚀 Start date: 11 January 2027
🧮 Pay: gross monthly remuneration of CHF 2,000
How Much Does the MSF OCG Cell Intern Earn?
The internship pays a gross monthly remuneration of CHF 2,000. 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.
Inclusivity and Diversity at MSF OCG
MSF OCG states that it is committed to an inclusive culture that supports and amplifies the diverse voices of its staff. It strives to create workplaces where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together to advance MSF's social mission and create better outcomes for patients and the communities it works with.
MSF notes that some people hesitate to apply if they do not meet all listed requirements, and that research shows this is especially true for women. If you believe your profile is a good match, you are invited to apply even if you do not fulfil every listed qualification. Applications are encouraged from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, beliefs, ability status and all other diversity characteristics.
MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, or any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will undergo reference checks.
How to Apply
🖥️ Submit your application exclusively through the MSF recruitment platform
📄 Attach a CV (maximum 2 pages)
✉️ Attach a cover letter (maximum 1 page)
🌐 Submit all documents in English
MSF reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier if it receives a sufficient number of quality applications. All applications are treated confidentially, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. MSF does not wish to use the services of recruitment or placement agencies.
Find more placements like this one in the Internship category on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the MSF OCG Cell Intern earn?
The internship pays a gross monthly remuneration of CHF 2,000. It is a full-time position of 40 hours per week.
How long is the internship and when does it start?
The internship lasts 6 to 9 months, according to the internship agreement. The start date is 11 January 2027.
Can graduates apply?
No. A tripartite internship agreement signed by the intern, the university and MSF is mandatory, so only students enrolled at a university can apply. Graduates and candidates without a university cannot apply.
Which countries does Cell 1 support?
Cell 1 supports operations in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eswatini. The internship is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
How is the intern's time split?
60% of the time goes to HR and administrative support and 40% to operational support, including medico-operational dossiers.
What is the HR - Operational Dossier?
It is a topic each Cell Intern works on during the internship, combining the needs of the Cell and missions, academic requirements such as a thesis, and if possible the intern's future career. The topic is chosen within the first month and the final deliverable must be presented to the Operations Department at the end of the internship.
Which languages do I need?
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of French is an asset.
Is work experience required?
No specific work experience is required, although previous employment or engagement with NGOs or charities is considered an advantage.
Which documents do I need?
You need a CV of maximum 2 pages and a cover letter of maximum 1 page, in English, submitted through the MSF recruitment platform.
Can MSF close the vacancy early?
Yes. MSF reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier if it receives a sufficient number of quality applications.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Link
📝 Online application: https://msf.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/work-with-msf-ocg-hq-lhs/job/GENEVA/Stagiaire-Cell-1_JR116903
