Job Summary:

As a Staff Counsellor at UNICEF, you have the opportunity to make a profound difference in the lives of staff and their families. Your expertise in mental health and wellbeing will be instrumental in developing and implementing programs that support the workforce, enhance team wellbeing, and promote work-life balance. By providing critical services and coordinating care, you will play a pivotal role in fostering a culture of resilience and inclusion. Your contributions will not only improve the health and satisfaction of staff but also increase the organization’s ability to deliver on its mission of advancing children’s rights. Through your work, you will help create a workplace where everyone can thrive, ultimately contributing to the betterment of communities worldwide.

Responsibilities: 

1. Develop and Facilitate Psycho-Social Support:

• Provide support to offices, managers, and staff to prevent and mitigate work-related stress.
• Boost protective factors to promote wellbeing.

2. Collaborate on Staff Wellbeing Initiatives:

• Develop new approaches and tools for wellbeing awareness.
• Design and deliver mental health and wellbeing programs aligned with UNICEF strategies.

3. Implement Evidence-Based Wellbeing Programs:

• Develop and implement minimum service standards for staff wellbeing.
• Create specific programs based on annual wellbeing plans and global priorities.

4. Advance Corporate Wellness Programs:

• Contribute to Diversity, Manager Support, Peer Support Volunteer, and Wellness Advocate programs.

5. Provide Subject Matter Expertise:

• Update training materials and support implementation of wellbeing programs.
• Collaborate with various offices and teams on mental health and wellbeing support.

6. Serve as Point of Contact for Headquarters Divisions:

• Proactively assess and address unique wellbeing needs of assigned divisions.
• Provide emergency psychosocial support, design and deliver tailored workshops and training programs.
• Analyze and report on wellbeing trends, recommending actions to enhance workforce experience.
• Advise managers on wellbeing strategies, healthy work practices, and support for staff.
• Provide individual and group counselling, case management, and facilitate referrals.

7. Perform Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications:

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in counselling, clinical psychology or related mental health field, and registration with a professional health body is required. Additional training or certification in occupational health, staff support and traumatic/critical incident stress as well as a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, family counselling, training, stress management and diversity, equity and inclusion, is an asset.

• Work Experience:

• • Minimum of five years’ experience (preferably including some international work experience) in: staff support, mental health, counselling, and related areas, preferably gained within the UN system or international development/humanitarian aid sector.
  • Track record showing resourcefulness and keen social awareness and sound judgement pertaining to common counselling caveats, client advocacy, burnout, the need for self-care and personal counselling. Ability to exercise tact and confidentiality and conduct oneself in an empathic, non-judgmental clinical approach of the highest standard.
  • Evidence of previous experience in adhering to professional boundaries, i.e., administering only those services for which supervised training has been received and/or certified.
  • The successful applicant must hold a valid license/registration to practice counselling or psychology or be eligible to hold a license/registration to practice from an accredited academic institution.
  • Experience working in a humanitarian, or emergency programming context is an asset.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English (oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60