Midwife

MSF is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization. We are a non-profit, self-governed worldwide movement of more than 63,000 people.

We provide emergency medical assistance during armed conflict, natural disasters, outbreaks of deadly diseases and assist those who are excluded from healthcare. MSF delivers care based on need and when we see injustice, we speak out. We are an organization that remains impartial, knowledgeable, and effective, and this is what makes the difference between life and death.

People are our priority. At Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Artsen zonder Grenzen, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We encourage diverse applicants including individuals of all gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, social and marital status, people with different abilities and all other diversity characteristics and how they intersect.

Midwife  

 

No matter the crisis — disease outbreak, conflict, or natural disaster — people continue to need essential sexual and reproductive healthcare. Women still give birth, communities require access to contraception and safe abortion care, and survivors of violence need compassionate, life-saving support.

As a Midwife with MSF, you will play a key leadership role alongside our locally hired healthcare teams, often working as a supervisor or manager to strengthen and support service delivery in challenging environments.

Your expertise in both routine and complicated deliveries will be critical. From establishing outpatient sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to mentoring birth attendants in high-volume maternity wards and hospital settings, you will contribute directly to improving the quality and continuity of midwifery care.

MSF midwives are an essential part of our emergency and long-term projects, helping ensure safe, respectful, and high-quality care for patients who need it most.

This job description provides a framework for the main responsibilities and primary activities of the position, it is not all-encompassing. Therefore, the responsibilities and activities of the position may differ from those described in this job description due to organizational and operational needs.

Objectives and responsibilities of the position 

Supervise, support, coach, and evaluate maternity staff, including midwives, midwife assistants, and support staff such as cleaners.

Plan and organize team activities, schedules, coverage, leave, and task allocation while ensuring adherence to clinical protocols and procedures.

Promote effective teamwork and professional collaboration between the maternity department and other services.

Oversee clinical maternity activities, including antenatal care, deliveries, postnatal follow-up, family planning consultations, and newborn vaccinations, and coordinate with medical doctors on patients requiring specialized care.

Ensure implementation of hygiene standards, infection prevention and control measures, and biohazard protocols to maintain a safe and clean clinical environment.

Ensure medical devices are used by trained staff and that equipment cleaning, maintenance, and malfunction reporting follow established procedures.

Monitor department pharmacy activities, including stock management and consumption tracking, and oversee maintenance of medical equipment.

Ensure accurate completion and registration of administrative records, patient documentation, and monthly activity reporting.

In relevant contexts, ensure maternity staff can identify, receive, and provide appropriate care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in line with established protocols and in collaboration with the Obstetrics & Gynecology Medical Doctor. 

The types of projects that we assign to our midwives are very varied: opening a small maternity hospital in a rural setting, establishing a programme to help victims of sexual violence, attending patients in a hospital in a city, etc. Our midwives work in diverse cultural contexts and in conflict zones. It is therefore necessary to be able to adapt to that specific reality.

Requirements 

Midwife diploma

Minimum of 2 years relevant professional experience post-qualification with at least six months of clinical midwifery within the last 2 years

Experience in managing teams and providing training, coaching and supervision others

Hands-on experience in managing principal obstetric emergencies/complicated deliveries (e.g. eclampsia, obstructed labour, haemorrhage and sepsis), abortion care, medical care of survivors of sexual violence, contraceptive care

Willingness to be regularly on call for difficult and complicated births

Ability to work independently managing healthcare given to women and infants

Experience living and working in low/middle income countries

Willingness to work in an unstable and insecure areas

Adaptable and able to work in a multi-cultural team

Flexible and able to manage stress and to organize and prioritize workload

Fluency in English (B2) and highly desirable French (or willingness to learn)

Availability of 9 months or more  

Strong Assets  

Global health or tropical nursing diploma

Paediatric, ER specialisations or strong SRH/SGBV background

Hands-on experience in any of the following: offering advice on family planning; providing care to sexual assault survivors; treating patients with infectious diseases

Family planning experience

Community midwifery experience

A good command of the French and/or Arabic language  

   

Information and Application  

If you recognise yourself in this profile and meet the requirements, we welcome you to apply directly via the Apply button on this page and upload the following documents:  

Your most recent English CV not exceeding 3 pages

A cover letter explaining your motivation to work with MSF

A clear scan of your relevant diplomas and certificates

Medical license registration  

We strongly encourage candidates based in the Netherlands to apply. 

If you are interested and would like to have additional information, please contact Recruitment, recruitment@amsterdam.msf.org.