In the Field

People who work with EMERGENCY:

• share our mission and work towards achieving its objectives;
• have relevant professional experience, above all in hospital settings;
• are available for an overseas mission, usually of at least 6 months;
• work as part of a highly specialised international team, supervising and contributing to the training of the local staff colleagues;
• have a good level of English and/or French.

EMERGENCY also requires that all personnel:

• respect the safety rules established by the organisation, designed to protect both the individual and the project as a whole;
• be autonomous, flexible and capable of managing stressful situations;
• work in accordance with the organisation’s standardised clinical and operational protocols;
• behave in an open and cooperative way, both towards the work of the team and in other areas of community life;
• have good communication skills and a positive attitude towards training;
• respect and take an interest in the local culture and traditions.

EMERGENCY contracts include:

• monthly salary based on a standardised salary scale for the role;
• incentives for successive or long duration missions;
• travel expenses, board and lodgings;
• insurance cover (liability, health and accident insurance);
• a period of paid leave to be taken at the end of the mission.

It will usually be necessary to ask your employer for a period of unpaid leave in order to work for EMERGENCY.

The selection process begins with an initial evaluation of your application. Your application will be submitted via a centralised, online portal. Unfortunately, due to the high number of applicants, unsuccessful candidates will not be contacted.

After this first screening, which may take up to six weeks, candidates will usually be asked to complete an in-depth questionnaire to assess whether their professional profile corresponds with the role we are seeking to fill.

If the outcome is positive, you will be invited for one or more interviews by the Human Resources Department and a specialist in the sector relevant to the role. The primary objective of this process is to better evaluate the professional experience and aptitude of individual candidates to cover a specific role, but is also an opportunity for EMERGENCY to present the rationale, objectives and clinical results of our work to specialists in the sector.

Once selected, you will join the pool of personnel suitable to work with EMERGENCY in a specific role: the organisation will offer you a job in the field based on the needs of the projects. If you accept the offer, arrangements for your pre-departure briefings will be agreed with you.

To apply

If you are interested in working with EMERGENCY in a medical capacity and you fulfil the general and specific requirements set out on the website, click here to visit the centralised recruitment page and complete the relevant application using the online portal.

During the selection process you will be evaluated on the basis of your CV, questionnaire, references and individual interview.

Due to the high number of applications that we receive, we are unfortunately unable to contact unsuccessful candidates.

Please note that at EMERGENCY we do not employ volunteers in our healthcare operations abroad. We employ specialised staff with professional profiles.

• I would like to work with you – what do I have to do and how does the selection process work?

The first thing to do is research the kind of professionals needed for EMERGENCY projects and the prerequisites for each role. Click here to visit the centralised recruitment page, browse job roles, and apply via the online portal. If you are successful, the next step is to complete an in-depth questionnaire and attend a first interview either via Skype or at one of EMERGENCY’s offices (in Milan, Rome or London). If you are successful in the first-round interview, this may be followed by one or more interviews or briefings before your suitability is confirmed.

• Why do you ask candidates to be available for a long period when working in the field?

There are a number of reasons for this, all of which are important. Primarily, a longer period allows candidates to undergo an adequate acclimatisation phase; to gain an in-depth knowledge of the guidelines and protocols, as well as of the working environment; and to establish good connections with the various professionals within the project, including local members of staff.

• I do not have the prerequisites or the time available for the entire period – can I work as an unpaid volunteer in any capacity?

No, for the reasons given above and because organisational and security responsibilities for the project must also be considered.

• Are you only looking for healthcare professionals?

No. On average, around 18% of open positions each year are for non-medical roles with different specialisations. Logisticians, administrators who should deal with organisational and management tasks, as well as technicians for the maintenance of medical equipment or facilities in our hospitals.

• How much notice is given for jobs in the field?

Normally, the candidate will be made aware of the proposed job six to eight weeks in advance. In all cases, the individual posts are agreed with EMERGENCY depending on the clinical and organisational demands of the project, and on the availability of staff already selected. EMERGENCY is regularly updated in order to make the process more efficient.

• In the projects, what are accommodation and working hours like for staff?

EMERGENCY provides all practical support during the projects, including accommodation in guest houses designed for international staff. Work schedules depend on the position in question (role and project).

• I am a doctor currently specialising – can I work with you?

Yes. EMERGENCY offers six-month residencies to doctors training in certain specialised fields within medicine, surgery and clinical services.

• I am still studying – can I go abroad with you, even for an unpaid placement?

No, we cannot offer such opportunities in foreign countries.

If you would like to apply for a non-medical internship at the London office, please visit this page.

• There are no roles available for my profession – is it possible that there will be in the future?

Yes. EMERGENCY is continuing to develop its own activities based on what needs arise and what resources are available. The launch of new projects or operations in areas not yet explored can require us to hire new staff (both temporary or permanent).

• Why is it necessary to speak English (or French in CAR) and what level is required?

Because these are the working languages of our projects abroad, used for communication among both international and local staff, as well as with patients and local communities. The minimum level required is B1 (CEFR-Europass). During the selection phase, EMERGENCY will conduct individual tests to assess language level.

• Do your teams of specialists ever intervene in local hospitals?

It is not common practice but can occur in emergency situations. In fact, the first EMERGENCY project in Rwanda in 1994 was undertaken at the request of a surgical team operating in local facilities. Since then, there have been projects of various kinds (both treatment and rehabilitation) in Eritrea, Algeria, Palestine, Angola, Libya, the Central African Republic and many other nations. EMERGENCY is constantly monitoring a variety of areas blighted by conflict, health crises or natural disasters and sometimes sends evaluation teams into the field.

• I have sent in an application in the past but was not successful. I have now had other training or professional experience – can I apply again?

Yes, but you need to indicate in the online form the exact details of these experiences and the new skills you have gained from them.

• I have sent in my application and not received any response – what does this mean?

Once your application is sent, EMERGENCY will send a confirmation. Within four to six weeks, the information you have provided in your application will be carefully evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, you will receive a more detailed response and a request for more specific information. Apart from the confirmation, no other communication will be sent to professionals lacking the desired prerequisites or not needed for our projects. Delays are always possible, particularly if there are a high number of applications.

• Once the selection process is over, can I choose the centre or country I would like to work in?

No. The post/job proposal (including destination, length and period) is essentially based on two things: the professional’s profile (in terms of training, technical ability and aptitude) and the needs within EMERGENCY’s projects. However, during the interview and following updates, it is certainly possible to express preferences which we will take into account.

• Can I bring a companion or my family with me?

No, for organisational and security reasons. Once you are working in the field, EMERGENCY provides the means to keep you in regular contact with your home country.

• Are EMERGENCY’s projects staffed by international teams?

Our teams are international. You will work with local staff but also with colleagues from all over the world. In fact, the number of foreign colleagues from every continent is increasing, in particular from certain countries (the USA, UK, Belgium and Switzerland, among others) where EMERGENCY is better known and has offices.

• I work in a hospital but I cannot go abroad with you – how could I be of use?

In many ways! First of all, by informing your colleagues that EMERGENCY is hiring. You can always ask us for information material to hand out or post where you work. EMERGENCY regularly participates, at the invitation of organisers, in conferences, clinical meetings, presentations in hospitals, workshops, and so on, with the aim of presenting clinical results from its activities.

For more information, you may contact the recruitment department by using the contact form on this page or call the London office at +44 207 250 8302.

To submit an application, please click here.