JOB DESCRIPTION

H (no hardship)

Family

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-10-01

August 8, 2025

Job Description Form

Mental Health and Wellbeing Specialist

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Psychosocial Wellbeing Unit (PWU) in UNHCR is mandated to develop, implement, and coordinate the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing programme aimed at preventing, protecting, promoting, and supporting the mental health and overall wellbeing of UNHCR’s workforce. The team comprises approximately 15 mental health professionals located at Headquarters, regional bureaux, and selected country operations.

The purpose of this role is to support the Head of Unit in tasks related to stakeholder engagement, complex case management, reporting, and business analysis.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Specialist reports directly to the Head of the Psychosocial Wellbeing Unit and holds supervisory responsibilities.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

Representation, Co-Management, and Norms

• Support the Head of Unit in the day-to-day coordination of the Psychosocial Wellbeing team. Serve as officer-in-charge during the Head’s absence, including representing the Unit in internal and external meetings, such as with the UN Staff and Stress Counsellors Group (UNSSCG), the UN Mental Health Strategy Implementation Board, and the UNDSS Critical Incident Stress Working Group.
• Contribute to ensuring that PWU activities are evidence-based and aligned with established standards, norms, standard operating procedures, and relevant protocols. Assist in identifying gaps and support the development or revision of guidance materials.
• Assist in the implementation of the UNHCR Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy by providing technical input to activities and programmes related to mental health promotion, prevention, and support.
• Support the work of the UNHCR Mental Health Forum by liaising with stakeholders and contributing to the integration of mental health considerations into relevant UNHCR policies and administrative guidance.

Case Management

• Support the coordination of complex case management at HQ level, including maintaining case records and contributing to the development of protocols and systems.
• Provide guidance to UNHCR Staff Counsellors on case management practices, under the supervision of the Head of Unit.
• Provide counselling support to staff and dependents, as needed. Participate in crisis response and deliver appropriate psychosocial interventions in coordination with relevant teams.
• Represent PWU in the integrity mechanism system and participate in weekly Support Desk (SD) meetings.
• Assist in the coordination of the Special Constraint Panel (SCP), ensuring timely handling of cases, proper documentation, and availability of relevant statistics.

Business analysis

• Support the preparation of strategic workplans and contribute to the drafting of annual reports.
• Assist in compiling and analyzing data for annual reporting, including identifying trends and proposing areas for improvement in staff mental health and wellbeing.
• Collaborate with the Enterprise Risk Management team on psychosocial risk assessment initiatives and provide guidance to field teams on related processes.
• Monitor emerging trends in workforce mental health and wellbeing and contribute to internal analysis and recommendations for future programming.

• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision-making is risk-based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P3 – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Psychology,                        Clinical Psychology,                          Organisational Psychology,

Public mental health           or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

*Registered mental health professional

Occupational Health and Safety certificate

Psychosocial risk management certificate

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Demonstrated clinical experience, including case management and counselling for humanitarian workers. Relevant field experience in supporting mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Proven skills in psychosocial risk management. A thorough understanding of psychosocial risks within a large international organization, at the individual, team, and organizational levels. Experience in managerial roles and supervisory functions. Solid knowledge of data collection, statistical analysis, and research methodologies. Experience using electronic data management systems.

Desirable

Good understanding of topics related to psychosocial risk assessment and management. Familiarity with UN policies and guidance on workforce mental health and wellbeing.

Functional Skills

*MD – Patient case management

*WB – Counselling

*WB-Application of trauma interventions in crisis situations

*CO-Cross-cultural communication;

DM-Data Collection and Analysis;

*SO-Research;

*TR-Training – Virtual and face to face;

WB – Organizational Psychology and/or Psychiatry

*WB – Psychosocial risk assessment and recommendation of mitigating measures;

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering & Building Trust

Judgement & Decision Making

Leadership

Managing Resource

Cross-Functional Competencies

Innovation & Creativity

Policy Development &Research

Planning & Organizing

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

The candidate needs to meet the professional standards for the UN Staff/Stress counsellors issued by the UN Staff/Stress Counsellors Group (UNSSCG) which a minimum of master level of education in the mental health field and a minimum of a 5 years of relevant technical work experience post licensure/registration. In addition, a formal certification in psychosocial risk management is required. Great drafting skills are required as well as the capacity to research, draft protocols, policies and administrative guidance. Knowledge of UNHCR HR policies and procedures is an asset. Capacity to do statistical analysis and reports is required. As coordination makes an important part of this role, excellent communication and networking skills are required. Respect for all colleagues and professional behaviour at all times is a must. The candidate needs to have an excellent mastery of the French language including capacity to draft formal correspondence with the local authorities when needed.

French

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Division of People Management aims to put people at the heart of everything we do, from talent management, HR policy and strategy to occupational health, workforce planning and safeguards against abuse and harassment. We partner with colleagues across the organization to build a skilled, diverse, and compassionate workforce that can rise to today’s challenges and prepare for the future. We harness technology and foster strong partnerships to shape a more responsive, strategic and sustainable people function. Our goal is to support every UNHCR colleague, wherever they are, with the tools, trust, and care they need to thrive, lead, and serve with purpose.

Psychosocial Wellbeing Unit is a part of the Staff Health and Wellbeing Section, along side with the Occupational Health Unit and the Occupational Safety Unit. The Chief of the Staff Health and Wellbeing Section reports directly to the Director of the Division of People Management.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Specialist has a non-rotational profile. The standard assignment length is 5 years following which the role needs to be readvertised. The role reports directly to the Head of Psychosocial Wellbeing Unit and acts as the officer in charge in their absence. The role focuses on all three pillars of the mental health strategy (prevention, promotion/protection and support). The heavy emphasis of this role is placed on the technical expertise related to the psychosocial risk management; compliance with professional standards and technical protocols; and support to special individual cases. The role may need to take part in backing up the team members across the world in their absence.

Within the Unit, the role supervises the Psychosocial Learning Officer responsible for psychoeducation and the Peer Advisors Network while a close collaboration is required with all team members within the Unit and the SHWS. Outside the SHWS, the role collaborates closely with other staff supporting functions (i.e, HR, security, risk advisors, Ombuds, Ethics, Victim Care Officer) and with the management at the HQ and in the field. Externally to UNHCR, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Specialist is a member of the UN Staff/Stress Counsellors Group (UNSSCG) where sharing good practice and collaboration is encouraged. The role may also be required to participate in interagency working groups as well as represent the views of UNHCR externally. Travel can be expected.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication, DM-Data Collection and Analysis, MD – Patient case management, SO-Research, TR-Training – Virtual and face to face, WB – Application of trauma interventions in crisis situations, WB – Counselling, WB – Organizational Psychology and/or Psychiatry, WB – Psychosocial risk assessment and recommendation of mitigating measures

Bachelor of Arts: Clinical Psychology, Bachelor of Arts: Mental Health, Bachelor of Arts: Organizational Psychology, Bachelor of Arts: Psychology

Certifications

Mental Health – Other, NEBOSH IGC for Occupational Health and Safety – Other, Psychological Risk Assessment – Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Policy research & development, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Add. 2 to the Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium – Part B

Additional Information

This position requires Functional Clearance