MHPSS Technical Advisor At SEED Foundation

About SEED Foundation: SEED Foundation is a locally-registered NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. SEED’s mission is to protect, empower, and support the recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk. SEED is committed to delivering quality and holistic approaches, combining international expertise and local know-how to achieve results for the people of Iraq and Kurdistan. SEED’s programming focuses on four key objectives: 1) the delivery of transformational, comprehensive MHPSS services including case management, mental health, and legal services, as well as psychosocial support activities; 2) strengthening the capacity of service providers through education, training, and capacity-building programs; and 3) promoting policy and social change to strengthen the rights of, and protections for, vulnerable groups and individuals through public awareness, technical assistance, and advocacy.

Role of the MHPSS Technical Advisor:

The MHPSS Advisor will provide technical expertise and leadership to support SEED’s comprehensive MHPSS services, for vulnerable and conflict-affected Iraqis including survivors of torture, trafficking (TIP), and gender-based violence (GBV), persons with disabilities and members of minority religious and ethnic communities. The MHPSS Advisor will develop policies, guidance, interventions and protocols; identify capacity building needs and revise and deliver training accordingly; and provide technical supervision and support to SEED’s Senior psychologists, PSS Coordinators, Service Delivery Coordinators and other MHPSS staff to ensure high standards of MHPSS. The MHPSS Advisor will also act as a resource for all existing programs and in designing new programs. In addition, the MHPSS Advisor will monitor and implement SEED’s staff care plan. The MHPSS TA will report to the Technical Director of the Technical Department and work closely with the GBV, MHPSS, CM and CP Technical Advisors, and Program Directors and Program Managers across SEED.

Specific Tasks:

Supervision and capacity building of MHPSS staff (30%)

• Evaluate MHPSS staff competencies and identify capacity building needs
• Develop and deliver, or organize, training accordingly
• Provide supervision, including field-based, individual and group
• Enhance existing supervision mechanisms, ensuring MHPSS staff receive appropriate technical guidance and supervision
• Strengthen SEED’s MHPSS staff capacity to provide quality services for children, youth, parents and families
• Contribute to staff development plans and performance appraisals

Technical leadership and policy work (30%)

• Lead and support on the development, review and implementation of policies, tools, interventions, protocols, processes, materials and guidance for MHPSS services
• Develop clear guidance and standards for MHPSS services consistent with international best practice and identify, share and adapt resources and materials
• Ensure that a trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach is applied to all programming and services provided to clients and beneficiaries, including mental health, case management, legal assistance, and psychosocial support.
• Create MHPSS strategies, design interventions and modules, develop messaging, and outreach plans
• Oversee implementation of all MHPSS activities and ensure they are consistent with SEED objectives and strategies, adjusting as appropropriate
• Assess quality of programming and quality of services and make recommendations to strengthen programming and quality of services
• In collaboration with SEED’s Technical Department and Program Managers, refine specialized mental health approaches and standards for SEED including with regard to psychological support and psychotherapy for individuals, groups, and families
• Participate in program design and development, and implementation of quality MH, PSS, Case Management and Legal Assistance services

Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (10%)

• Ensure all MHPSS activities are properly monitored, documented, evaluated, and reported on.
• Support program M&E, including development of tools, to ensure that M&E systems provide adequate feedback on MHPSS interventions
• Make recommendations for program development and course correction
• Contribute to quality reporting

Coordination and Organizational Representation (10%)

• Represent SEED in cluster and working group meetings, with KRG and with donors
• Develop strategic partnerships and work closely with partners
• Maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders
• Provide training for external audiences, as requested, including SEED’s Center for MHPSS
• Provide content and input on communications materials including website, promotional materials, and social media, and ensure it complies with SEED’s storytelling policy.

Essential criteria:

• Master’s degree in psychology, clinical social work, or other mental health fields.
• Two years of MHPSS Programming experience in international settings including providing MHPSS to children and caregivers; Iraq experience preferred.
• Experience providing technical supervision to psychologists in similar contexts.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering capacity-building activities, with remote capacity building and follow-up is an advantage.
• Experience in providing MHPSS services to shelter/safe house residents, anti TIP programming,
• Strong belief in human rights and gender equality.
• Experience leading and designing staff wellbeing programs.
• Good interpersonal skills including the ability to gain trust and build relationships.
• Good diplomatic and persuasion skills.
• Strong ability to work independently.
• High standard of spoken and written English; Arabic and/or Kurdish desirable.
• Good computer skills, experience with Google Drive
• Ability to work in a stressful setting and adapt quickly to changing environments.
• Salary, benefits, and allowances dependent on skills and qualifications.