Greece: MHPSS Manager

Job Title: Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Manager
Location: Thessaloniki
Duration: 3 months/ Until September 30 2017, with possibility of extension

Background/IRC Summary:

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, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC aims to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Manager will oversee MHPSS programming in targeted locations. The MHPSS Manager is responsible for supporting the MHPSS program staff, and liaising with the Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) and Child Protection Managers in the area of community mental health and psychosocial program implementation.

The position will report to the Field Coordinator and will receive additional programmatic support from the Deputy Director of Programs and regular technical support from the Mental Health Technical Advisor at IRC HQ.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct/participate in Mental Health, and Psychosocial needs assessments among the affected populations. This will include assessments consistent with IASC guidelines and Mental Health Psychosocial WHO assessment toolkit, at different stages of program planning and implementation.
• Provide community mental health and psychosocial program supervision to project staff inclusive of ongoing capacity building, professional development, technical support and performance reviews.
• Lead and facilitate weekly team meetings with program staff and conduct on-the-job supervision and training assessments to evaluate key competencies and training needs of project staff.
• Facilitate trainings and workshops, including organizing logistics, collaborating with co-trainer/s, and documenting program indicators.
• Organize or join interagency coordination mechanisms for the provision of mental health and psychosocial support and share relevant information.
• Referral Mapping: Work with local partners to map MHPSS service providers and other services relevant to conflict-affected populations in target region. Create document listing relevant services and resources. Facilitate dissemination of information about existing services and supports to strengthen referral networks, both through written output and development of referral workshops for regional service providers.
• Supervise four roving psychologists (2 focusing on SGBV and 2 child psychologists) and seek opportunities to increase the profile of IRC MHPSS programming as it is situated within the WPE and child protection programs across northern Greece.
• Ensure close management of budgets and expense forecasting for the MHPSS program and provide line managers with periodic budget updates

MONITORING AND EVALUATION:

• With Mamp;E colleagues, developmental health and psychosocial monitoring and evaluation tools for improving performance and consequently continue providing technical support and monitoring of all related program activities in order to capacity build and to ensure quality standards for MHPSS
• Provide continual technical support and monitoring of mental health and psychosocial support program activities for capacity-building and to ensure quality standards for MHPSS, using data collected from program activities.
• Ensure participation from clients in implementation, and evaluation and feedback mechanisms for accountability.
• Support the development of appropriate Mamp;E tools and the collection of program data in collaboration with Mamp;E colleagues.
• Provide continual technical guidance and support for MHPSS-related training and supervision as needed.
• In collaboration with key stakeholders and local partners, engage community members, community-based organizations, and other service providers in supporting clients to access MHPSS services as well as ensuring their feedback for quality monitoring and accountability.
• Ensure disaggregated and cumulative tracking of clients and documentation of all activities and outcomes.
• Participate in preparation of internal and external reports, including submission of monthly reports to Protection Coordinator.
• Support project staff to maintain program records and documentation as per project management minimum standards, including maintaining the confidentiality and security of MHPSS client data.

QUALIFICATIONS: (Training/education/experience/physical demands required; provide 6-8 requirements)

• The qualified candidate must have an advanced degree (post-graduate) or higher in psychology with extensive psychosocial programming experience with 5 + years’ experience in setting up, implementing, and supervising psychosocial programs.
• Experience in capacity building of staff including training and supervision
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in NGO, and substantial experience in MHPSS
• Experience in team-building and engagement with communities; familiarity with needs-based participatory approach
• Experience of working in camp contexts.
• Knowledge of and experience in using established inter-agency standards and guidelines in MHPSS and child protection, such as the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Interagency Guidelines on Separated and Unaccompanied Children, Safe Healing and Learning Spaces Handbook and IASC Guidelines in Emergencies
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Self-awareness and proven ability to operate successfully in different cultural environments
• An excellent command of verbal and written English
• Greek and/or Arabic Language is a great advantage.

Female candidates are strongly urged to apply.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This will detail the work environment, living situations, and security context. Will be added at the time the job is posted.

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 or disability.

Disclaimer Clause: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, 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.

Interested applicants may submit their updated CV, a motivation letter and a list of 3 business references in English to IRC at IRCGreece.Jobs@rescue.org. Deadline for receiving applications is July 31, 2017.

Please note that an EU national employment contract is offered for the role of the Grants Manager. Only EU citizens are eligible for employment. Projected length of assignment is from July 2017 until the end of September 2017.