New York City, NY
AI / MLInternship
23 days ago
Data Science Intern
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) - United States · New York City, NY
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) - United States · New York City, NY
About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients.
MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.
ROLE OVERVIEW
As a Data Science Intern with MSF-USA’s Workforce Intelligence & Strategy Unit, you’ll play an active role in transforming complex workforce data into clear, actionable insights that support evidence-based decision-making across the organization. You’ll work closely with analysts and data scientists to strengthen our reporting and visualization capabilities in Power BI, helping us better understand and plan for our workforce needs.
DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABILITIES
Organizational Culture & Create a Safe Space
Set and drive transparent goals, targets and ADEI&B initiatives that yield the most significant, scalable, quantifiable, and sustained impact for a more human-centered, engaged, and productive workplace.; building a culture that fosters trust, collaboration high performance, respect, and belonging among diverse teams and peoples.
Performance Management & Talent Development-
Develop and implement policies and processes that provide an integrated, structured approach to individual development planning, performance goal setting, performance feedback, and formal appraisal to meet business needs and to support individuals in realizing their potential. The review is done one time per year after which decisions are taken on whether the employee's pay should be changed or increased.
Employee Engagement
Create a workplace culture that is engaging and motivating for employees. This involves creating opportunities for employees to connect with each other, providing professional development opportunities, and creating a positive work environment.
Compliance and HR Operations
Execute and manage P&C operations using predetermined protocols and procedures to achieve specified operational performance standards.
Compensation & Benefits Review
Designed and administered compensation and benefits packages for staff. This includes setting salaries, providing health insurance and other benefits and managing payroll..
Talent Acquisitions
Fill permanent or temporary positions within an organization by attracting, shortlisting, selecting, hiring, appointing, and integrating the best-qualified candidates in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Payroll Administration
Carry out the payroll administration processes required to ensure that employees are paid correctly at the right time.
ROLES SPECIFIC OUTCOMES
By the end of the internship, the Data Science Intern will have:
• Designed and delivered at least one interactive Power BI dashboard that visualizes key workforce metrics and trends.
• Improved data reliability and consistency by identifying and resolving data quality issues across multiple sources (e.g., HRIS, recruitment, and survey data).
• Developed and documented data models and DAX measures to support automated reporting and self-service analytics.
• Produced clear visual and written summaries that connect data findings to actionable recommendations for People & Culture leadership.
• Streamlined or documented data transformation and refresh processes for recurring Power BI reports.
• Gained hands-on experience with data governance, visualization design, and applied workforce analytics in a complex, mission-driven environment.
COMPLEXITY AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
The intern will work with complex, multi-source workforce datasets that require a strong analytical mindset and attention to detail. The role involves identifying and resolving data quality issues, designing data models that balance accuracy with usability, and translating technical findings into clear, actionable insights. The intern must be able to troubleshoot data and visualization challenges independently, think critically about underlying data structures and business questions, and propose creative solutions to improve reporting efficiency and impact.
BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES
THOUGHT: 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 team; aligns processes with organizational needs.
Manages Complexity
Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Consistently looks at complex issues from many angles; obtains a rich and deep understanding; swiftly cuts to the core issue; skillfully separates root causes from symptoms.
Global Perspective
Takes a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens. Shows global thinking at work; adjusts organizational practices to meet the unique needs of different regions or countries. Uses a broad perspective when addressing issues and challenges.
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 solutions and provides helpful input to enhance them.
Strategic Mindset
Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.
RESULTS: 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. Regularly pushes self to achieve outstanding outcomes; consistently establishes bold goals for own performance; is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions. Shows great tenacity to complete goals/initiatives in a timely way.
Ensures Accountability
Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.
PEOPLE: 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 with others to meet shared objectives. Readily involves others to accomplish goals; stays in touch and shares information; discourages "us versus them" thinking; shows appreciation for others' ideas and input.
Communicates Effectively
Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys information clearly, concisely, and professionally when speaking or writing.
Values Differences
Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Confronts stereotyping and offensive comments promptly. Consistently behaves with great sensitivity toward differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating.
Builds Effective Teams
Builds strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
Manages Conflict
Handles conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.
Builds Networks
Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.
Drives Vision and Purpose
Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.
SELF: 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. Models honesty and authenticity and encourages others to be up front with one another. Demonstrates reliability and places a strong emphasis on the team meeting its commitments. Fairly represents others' positions.
Manages Ambiguity
Operates effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear. Responds effectively to unclear situations, seeks to resolve ambiguity and make progress. Seeks guidance on how to adapt to changes, responds with appropriate composure and effectiveness.
Situational Adaptability
Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.
Being Resilient
Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Plans and Aligns
Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with MSF-USA goals.
Financial Acumen
Interprets and applies 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 and skill to determine and analyze trends from data that is collected to assist in compiling reports that will help in decision-making.
Project Management Skills
The ability and skill to plan and manage small project work assignments within desired cost, time and quality parameters.
Presentation and Written Communication Skills
Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.
Organizational Insight
Applying knowledge of MSF-USA and the industry to advance the organization’s goals.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
None.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
• Genuine commitment to the principles and work of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
• Currently pursuing or recently completed a Master’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Analytics, or a related quantitative field.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing Power BI dashboards (data modeling, Power Query, DAX).
• Strong analytical and statistical foundation (e.g., regression, hypothesis testing, distributions).
• A passion for data visualization design and communicating insights effectively.
• Hands-on experience with Python and/or R for data wrangling and analysis.
• Excellent attention to detail and data integrity.
• Ability to work with complex, distributed, and sometimes unstructured data.
• Curiosity, enthusiasm for learning, and a passion for turning data into meaningful insights.
• Interest in HR analytics, workforce planning, or people analytics is a plus.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
None
COMPENSATION
$20 per hour
ESTIMATED START DATE
Anticipated start date for July 2026
DURATION
6 months
HOURS
20 per week
OFFICE LOCATION
New York, NY (Hybrid)
This role is based in our New York office only and requires a commitment of 6 months, working 20 hours per week.
Equal Opportunity and Accommodations Statement:
MSF-USA is dedicated to creating a diverse, impartial, and inclusive workforce. We are an equal opportunity employer and do 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.
We also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at recruitment@newyork.msf.org.
We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.