Org. Setting and Reporting

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change.

If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you.

The Protection Officer (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) reports to the Protection Team Leader.

Responsibilities

Technical Expertise
• Provides technical guidance, leadership and tools to UNRWA staff engaged in the provision of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services as appropriate.
• Identifies capacity building needs, and develops capacity building plans, including designing and implementing mentoring plans and/ or trainings in line with national and international standards and best practices for MHPSS service providing staff.
• Provides direct counselling services to staff providing MHPSS services as requested.
• Supports UNRWA programmes to identify and implement initiatives to increase understanding of mental health issues in the community and increase access to relevant services.

Internal and external coordination
• Facilitates exchanges of MHPSS service provision across UNRWA programmes (Education, Health, Relief and Social Services) and supports clear referral procedures between programmes.
• Engages with local counterparts offering MHPSS services to coordinate complementary and quality MHPSS and service provision for Palestine refugees and ensure UNRWA staff providing MHPSS services are aware of these services.
• Represents UNRWA in MHPSS coordination mechanisms and fora with relevant government authorities and external partners to optimize service delivery to Palestine refugees in Lebanon, including inter-agency coordination through the National MHPSS Taskforce.

Data gathering and trends analysis
• Supports programmes to develop/update data collection mechanisms and establish data gathering and trends analysis across programmes for MHPSS services, as appropriate.
• Updates MHPSS staff and the management on a regular basis on findings, including the trend analysis results.

Competencies

UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Default managerial competencies may apply.

– Analyzing
– Applying Technical Expertise
– Planning and Organizing
– Learning and Researching
– Relating and Networking

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un. org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in psychology, psychiatry, counselling or a related discipline.

Work Experience

At least five years’ experience in provision, management and/or coordination of mental health and psychosocial support, in a humanitarian setting, in UN, NGO, governmental or similar organizations is required.

Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of citizenship is required.

Proven technical experience in MHPSS through the direct service provision of psychotherapeutic/psychosocial support and/or capacity building/training to MHPSS providers is required.

Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in psychology, psychiatry, counselling or a related discipline is required.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English is required.
Working knowledge of Arabic Language is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Type of Contract and duration: 1 year project funded with the possibility of further extension subject to need, funds availability and satisfactory performance.

The staff member works closely with service delivery programme staff and other staff members of UNRWA and in support of addressing specific mental health and psychosocial support needs identified in the Palestine refugee community in Lebanon.

Applicants have to complete the Personal History Profile (PHP) in Inspira in order to be considered. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience as per the requirements in the Job Opening, in order to be considered.

A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for an appointment to the same post or a similar post.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

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Equivalency: A first level university degree in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
NB: work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions.

The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live.

For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her.

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups.

At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

UNRWA Considerations
UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List.
UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.