MHPSS Specialist At International Organization for Migration

Position Title : MHPSS Specialist

Duty Station : Bentiu, South Sudan

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade UG

Type of Appointment : Special short-term ungraded, three months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 01 September 2021

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading

UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Internal and external candidates will be considered for this vacancy. For the purposes of this vacancy, internal candidates are defined as staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded or ungraded contract, including Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), and staff members on secondment/loan released by the Organization, unless otherwise specified in their contract. Staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded contract will not retain their contract type if appointed to an ungraded position.

Context:

Under the overall supervision of the Bentiu Head of Sub-Office and the direct supervision of the MHPSS Programme Manager (Psychologist), the successful candidate will be responsible and accountable for the coordination, implementation, and monitoring of the all IOM Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) portfolio in the Unity State, according to relevant International guidelines and standards.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Support the MHPSS Programme Manager in identifying programme development opportunities in the Unity State (IDP and returnee settings/ remote locations) and support in project proposals development and identification of new donors and thematic areas of technical intervention.
2. Support the MHPSS Team developing and implementing a holistic and systemic MHPSS strategy for IOM in South Sudan, in line with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines.
3. Design and implement appropriate and relevant Level 2, 3 and 4 MHPSS services (e.g. for specific target groups such as teenage mothers). Determine appropriate coordination and referral system with health actors providing psychiatric interventions. Strengthen non-clinical activities and referral to clinical services in the provision of Level 4 services.
4. Develop and ensure adequate capacity building to IOM MHPSS staff, Psychosocial Mobile Teams and other relevant actors, including line ministries, IDPs and host community members based on international standards and methodologies.
5. Contribute to build capacity of key actors in the Unity State on Psychological First Aid (PFA), MHPSS guidelines, Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), referral pathways, and ensure IOM services are included where relevant.
6. Ensure at any given time MHPSS programme is driven by a sound Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) framework and qualitative and quantitative indicators are always relevant and updated.
7. Oversee, coordinate and mentor IOM MHPSS team in Bentiu, including daily workers, and ensure IOM administrative procedures are always respected.
8. Establish comprehensive clear work-plans for staff and PMT members and provide timely weekly and monthly reporting on IOM MHPSS activities.
9. Coordinate and liaise with other agencies and key actors, and participate to Inter Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG), cluster meetings, working groups, mapping, planning and reporting exercises; take the lead in such exercises when necessary and in the interest of IOM.
10. In coordination with the National MHPSS Technical Working Group (TWG) Coordinator, lead the MHPSS Networking Coordination Group (NCG) in Bentiu.
11. Liaise with state level line ministries connected to MHPSS and other relevant civil society actors for mainstreaming MHPSS in host communities, where applicable.
12. Provide technical guidance to Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and other relevant Clusters to mainstream effectively MHPSS in their daily programming.
13. Undertake field assignments and assessments as needed and requested by the MHPSS PM.
14. Provide MHPSS trainings out of duty stations as required.
15. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology or a related field from an accredited academic institution with a minimum of three years of relevant experience or;

• University Degree in Clinical Psychology or a related field with five years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Minimum of three years of previous experiences in clinical psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions in emergencies;

• Minimum of three years of previous experiences in providing services to displaced populations, migrants, refugees or conflict-affected populations;

• Significant experience in implementing MHPSS projects, providing clinical supervision, coaching, and mentoring to both specialists and non-specialists;

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of UN and international agencies structures;

• Experience in capacity building activities and curriculum development is an advantage.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish.

External applicants for all positions in the Professional category are required to be proficient in English and have at least a working knowledge of one additional UN Language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Chinese).

For all applicants, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Arabic, French and/or Spanish is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

1 Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database

(https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.

• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.p

df

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.