Application Guide
How to Apply for Travel Administrator
at Médecins Sans Frontières
🏢 About Médecins Sans Frontières
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion, and natural disasters. MSF International binds 24 sections, 28 associations, and other offices together, providing coordination and support to the entire MSF Movement. Working here means directly supporting frontline medical teams and ensuring that humanitarian operations run smoothly, even in the most challenging contexts.
About This Role
As a Travel Administrator, you will manage all travel arrangements for MSF International staff based in various MSF entities, replacing the Travel Referent role. You will liaise with finance, procurement, MSF partner sections, decentralized hubs, the Global Procurement Unit, and external suppliers like AMEX travel agency. Your work ensures that MSF staff can move efficiently and safely to where they are needed most, directly enabling humanitarian operations.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve booking flights and accommodations for MSF staff deploying to emergency missions, coordinating with AMEX to resolve ticketing issues, and liaising with finance to process travel expenses. You could also attend meetings with procurement to streamline travel policies and ensure compliance with MSF's guidelines. The role requires juggling multiple requests across time zones, always with an eye on efficiency and supporting MSF's lifesaving work.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Médecins Sans Frontières Is Looking For
- Experience in travel administration, logistics, or procurement, preferably within an international NGO or humanitarian organisation.
- Strong coordination skills with the ability to liaise between multiple internal departments and external travel suppliers.
- Knowledge of travel booking systems, expense reporting, and familiarity with AMEX or similar corporate travel platforms.
- Excellent communication skills in English (French or other MSF languages is a plus) and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural, decentralized environment.
- Valid work authorisation in one of the specified locations: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Geneva, or Paris.
📝 Tips for Applying to Médecins Sans Frontières
Explicitly state in your CV and cover letter that you hold a valid work authorisation for one of the five listed locations, as this is a hard requirement.
Highlight any experience you have with AMEX or other corporate travel management systems, as the role involves direct liaison with AMEX travel agency.
Emphasize your ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders (finance, procurement, partner sections) and provide concrete examples of managing complex travel logistics.
Mention your familiarity with MSF's humanitarian principles and how your work as a Travel Administrator supports emergency medical operations.
Since the contract is 50% (part-time) for 12 months, be clear about your availability and willingness to commit to this schedule starting January 1, 2027.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your specific experience in travel administration or logistics within an international or humanitarian context, and how it prepares you to manage MSF International staff travel.', 'Your ability to collaborate with finance, procurement, and external suppliers like AMEX, showcasing your coordination and negotiation skills.', "Your understanding of MSF's mission and how efficient travel administration directly contributes to humanitarian impact.", 'Your work authorisation status for one of the required locations and your availability for the 50% contract starting January 2027.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Learn about MSF's structure: the roles of MSF International, the 24 sections, 28 associations, and how they collaborate.
- → Understand MSF's humanitarian principles and the contexts in which they operate (conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, healthcare exclusion).
- → Research MSF's travel policies and any publicly available information about their partnership with AMEX travel agency.
- → Familiarize yourself with the specific MSF entities in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Geneva, and Paris, as you may interact with staff from these offices.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without clearly stating your work authorisation for one of the required locations; this will result in immediate disqualification.
- Underestimating the complexity of coordinating travel for a decentralized international organisation; avoid generic examples that don't demonstrate multi-stakeholder coordination.
- Ignoring the 50% contract and January 2027 start date; candidates who are unavailable or seeking full-time work may be overlooked.
📅 Application Timeline
⏰ Deadline: October 20, 2026
We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Médecins Sans Frontières!