The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

What can you bring?
The MHPSS Lead will play a lead role in ensuring that Plan International Ukraine Response is a leading agency in MHPSS activities, upholding sector best practice and provide technical input on MHPSS programming across the Ukraine Response.
The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Lead is responsible for supporting the development and technical quality of Plan International’s mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programming in each Response country. This includes providing technical leadership and support on programme strategy, strengthening the capacity of partners on MHPSS through MHPSS staff in each Response country, and ensuring the overall technical quality of Plan’s MHPSS programming.

You will need to:

• Contribute to implementation of Plan’s MHPSS programme and strategy, in collaboration with the MHPSS staff in the Response.
• Develop program interventions that consider short-term and longer-term programming to respond to the evolving needs of populations from and in Ukraine, including vulnerable children.
• Ensure MHPSS programmatic and advocacy related activities are results-oriented and respond to needs identified in MHPSS needs assessments.
• Support identification of emerging MHPSS needs and gaps in the refugee response and conduct consultations with affected populations and other stakeholders as part of needs assessments.
• Work collaboratively with Plan’s other thematic sectors and cross-cutting areas, including child protection, education, gender and inclusion, and cash and voucher assistance to ensure that programming is coordinated and integrated whenever possible.
• Support Response countries to recruit and onboard MHPSS staff
• Provide technical trainings and support to MHPSS staff in Response countries
• Design and develop appropriate monitoring, evaluation and learning systems for MHPSS interventions, and promote safe participation and feedback of vulnerable populations

You will have:

• Knowledge of MHPSS systems in at least 1 Response country (Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, and Romania), particularly for children, adolescents, and young women, and understand available services and support for vulnerable and marginalized groups such as refugees and migrants.
• Familiarity with the child protection system and education system in at least 1 Response country (Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, and Romania) considered and asset.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential. Knowledge of the Romanian, Polish, Ukrainian or Russian language is an asset
• Excellent communication skills and ability to develop well-argued plans for response that can be justified and delivered, persuasive of others.
• Excellent ability to build collaborative and respectful relationships with local organizations and government authorities
• Excellent project design, participatory learning and monitoring and evaluation skills
• Excellent teamwork skills and ability to ability to work independently

Who are we looking for?

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and idea.

This is a national position, and we are accepting applications from nationals in any of the response countries- Romania, Poland, Moldova or Ukraine

Location:Romania, Poland, Moldova or Ukraine

Reports to: Ukraine Crisis Response Director

Grade: Level 16

Closing Date: 19th April 2023

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.