Global Surge Team Roster: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 30 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.

The IRC’s Global Surge Team (GST) is a roster of esteemed and highly qualified humanitarian professionals who deploy on short notice to non-emergency and emergency contexts to support the IRC’s mission. Members of the GST provide specialist support where talent is most needed for short-term deployments of up to three months. The GST is a flexible employment opportunity for staff, requiring members to be available for deployments only 50% of the year (with opportunities for additional deployments if incumbent is interested).

Job Overview

The Mental Health and Psychosocial support (MHPSS) Coordinator, Global Surge is responsible for providing leadership and technical oversight to ensure quality implementation of all activities in the MHPSS sector. The role includes strategy development, program design, monitoring and evaluation and technical guidance. Primary duties will include representing the MHPSS program, internally and externally, strengthening MHPSS activities, and leading and supporting MHPSS teams and managers across all aspects of this program across all sites of implementation. A second focus is on emergency response capability, with the ability to respond to a fluid programming context, and deliver key services rapidly and effectively.

Major Responsibilities:

• Lead MHPSS program implementation including staff recruitment, management and training, workplan development, procurement and inventory planning, and budget management.

• Ensure compliance with IRC policy and procedures throughout the program team and activities.

• Lead the setting up of the mental health PHC integration program in line with the National strategies that are aligned with the WHO mhGAP HIG and IASC MHPSS guidelines and IRC Outcome and Evidence Framework (OEF) in the supported health facilities and through the community health component.

• Provide direct technical and managerial mentoring, supervision and support to the MHPSS manager.

• Provide clinical mental health and psychosocial program supervision in coordination with MHPSS manager to project staff (re: Psychiatrist, Psychologist, General Practitioners, MHPSS mentors, Protection and GBV case workers) inclusive of ongoing capacity building, professional development, technical support and performance reviews.

• Conduct field visits to monitor and support MHPSS activities and interventions provided, and support technical quality of programming by providing feedback and mentorship.

• Facilitate trainings and workshops, including organizing logistics, collaborating with co-trainer/s, and documenting program indicators.

• Actively participate in coordination mechanisms, represent the IRC in the MHPSS Technical-working group and ensure the implementation of IASC MHPSS guidelines where relevant.

• Coordinate with other MHPSS stakeholders to ensure complementation.

• Ensure high quality and timely assessments of humanitarian needs and provide prioritized recommendations for program interventions to country and technical leads.

• Design program responses and strategy, including geographic areas of intervention, incoordination with internal and external actors.

• Draft technical proposals and budgets for international donors, work in close collaboration with IRC grants and finance staff to finalize proposals and respond to any requests for additional information.

• Prepare high quality and timely donor and management reports on grants and sector activities; ensure consistent reporting and analysis of results to enhance program effectiveness and quality.

• Create an inclusive environment where diversity, different work styles, personalities and approaches are valued, and prioritize capacity building of team; Model inclusive behaviors to team members (ensuring all members’ voices are heard); acknowledges own biases and learning on Diversity, Equity & Social Inclusion

Job Requirements:

• Degree in psychology (preferably with a Master’s degree in clinical psychology or counselling psychology); Work experience in MHPSS projects, with 3 -5 years at coordinator level or above, including experience working outside country of origin.

• Strong background in leading and building programs and/or operations in fast-paced, multifaceted environments. Leadership and team management skills are important, as well as strong project management skills.

• Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French and/or Arabic an advantage; Excellent oral communication skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate technical information in a clear manner.

• Excellent writing and editing skills, and the program development skills to effectively write and edit grant proposals and reports.

• Experience of leading in an emergency environment and/or start-up environment as part of a multinational team.

• Effective people-management skills, including in humanitarian contexts: can lead and develop staff productively under stressful circumstances.

• Digital literacy: MS Word, Excel & email applications required.

• Self-motivated and self-directed; able to hit the ground running. Flexible, focused, and reliable in an environment of changing demands.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.