GLOBAL OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION:

Under the responsibility of the Operations Manager, the MHPSS Technical Officer contributes to the implementation of HI mandate and strategy (expressed in StratOp) in Iraq. The MHPSSTO ensures the translation of strategic goals into effective response actions. He/she upholds and facilitates the implementation of the strategic technical framework (StraTech) at the program level, adapting approaches dynamically to meet the needs of the context. The MHPSS TO contributes to the implementation of projects by providing advice and delivering technical expertise and training to HI teams, partners, ministries or clients in the case of technical assistance. He/she ensures high-level standard quality and impact of the project(s) and program(s) concerned on his/her perimeter of intervention.

In addition to advising on project implementation, the MHPSS TO engages directly in project activities, providing immediate guidance and training. He/she closely collaborates with the Regional MHPSS specialist in the development of the sector, writing proposals, and general technical advisement, ensuring that the interventions are swift, effective and coordinated. Change of management may be done at any stage of the project timeframe if found needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS DESCRIPTION

Responsibility (1): Providing guidance and technical support to projects in accordance with the technical frameworks and general standards of his/her sectoral scope

• Provide appropriate technical guidance and support to project leaders, partners and/or specialists.
• Ensure compliance and adaptation of project activities to internal and global standards (IASC, Sphere, WHO), with suggestions for necessary improvements.
• Adapt and update the project’s technical documentation in response to changing circumstances and needs.
• Coordinate and collaborate with the project’s technical, as delegated by the MHPSS specialist or Operations / Project manager.
• Initiate and manage research and data collection to inform responsive MHPSS interventions.
• Contribute to the writing of new proposals for new opportunities within the MHPSS technical scope.
• Produce policy guidance for the countries to participate to the design and improvement of the MHPSS sector
• Contribute to the translation of documents related to the project between English-Arabic-Kurdish

Responsibility (2): Providing capacity-building and supervision

• Assess the available MHPSS resources and structure in sectors where MHPSS is or may be integrated.
• Identify the gaps and needs and propose adapted activities to support capacity development
• Identify training needs and assist in developing a comprehensive training plan for HI staff and partner organizations including OPDs, CBOs and PHCCs
• Provide training and on the-job-supervision on evidence-based interventions, including but not limited to: Basic Helping Skills, Psychological First Aid, Scalable interventions such as Self Help Plus, Problem Management Plus, and the WHO mhGAP-HIG, Provision of individual and group psyshosocial support, safe identification and referral..
• Provide on-the-job supervision and support to trained HI staff and partner healthcare staff.
• Support and identify healthcare staff and community key leaders are carrying out their activities following international standards through regular on the job training and monitoring
• Provide direct technical support and capacity building in program implementation, and developing strategic direction of programs in the areas of interventions with support from MHPSS Specialist
• Support partners in developing data collection, reporting and monitoring of the provided services
• Synthesize training materials and develop Power Point presentations upon the request of the MHPSS Project Manager and/or MHPSS Specialist

Responsibility (3): Ensuring Regular Reporting and Knowledge Management

• Ensure regular reporting on activities to the line manager and MHPSS Specialist, providing technical feedback and recommendations to the project team
• Develop monitoring tools to assess the quality of services delivered by partners
• Conduct regular monitoring assessment, evaluation at partner’s level
• Contribute to the development of technical guidelines, lessons learned, and protocols, ensuring that data collection by field teams is suitable for analysis and reporting in collaboration with the Data Base/MEAL Manager
• Regular reporting to the Operations Manager and Specialist (field visit report/situational report/ assessment and training report)
• When needed, assist with the development of proposals with MHPSS Specialist
• Submit data required for reports, monthly reports and updates as required

Responsibility (4): Ensuring the internal technical training of his/her sector on cross-cutting themes

• Contribute to technical recruitments in cooperation with the Operations Manager and MHPSS Specialist.
• Carry out the necessary technical trainings for the newly recruited program and partner staff
• Contribute to the skills upgrading and capacity building plan for MHPSS professionals and may be a third-party assessor.
• When relevant; Contribute to the development of a local talent pool (conducts technical interviews of candidates and makes recommendations, identifies training and coaching needs).
• Assist in coordinating technical professional development and facilitating a community of practice, in collaboration with the technical division

Responbility (5): Contributing to ensure the external technical influence of HI on his/her perimeter, in close collaboration with the technical program team

• Represent HI’s technical expertise in relevant local, regional and international networks and with local partners.
• Ensure coordination and collaboration with the project’s technical partners and actively engage in regional and local clusters and sub working groups, in cooperation with the Regional MHPSS Specialist.
• Relay and contribute to advocacy messages within its scope of work.
• Support in developing MHPSS components of proposals to ensure the continuity or expansion of the project within its technical scope.

Note that this job description must remain flexible, to respond to additional tasks or changes as identified by the line manager.

HIERARCHICAL RELATIONSHIP:

Base: HI is flexible in the location between Erbil, Baghdad and Salah Al Din. Candidate must comply to program needs and conditions of frequent travel between the different bases as needed.

Line Manager: Operations Manager

Head of Department: Country Manager

Management: No

Operational link: AVR Project Manager, Inclusive Governance Project Manager, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Technical Specialist, Inclusion Technical Officer, Inclusion Technical Specialist,

Project officers, MEAL Manager, AVR Technical Officer and Chief of Operations, Technical Head of Program.  

HI POLICIES:

The Employee undertakes to adhere to HI policies which include:

• Terms and conditions of engagement (T&C)
• Internal regulation (IR)
• Child protection policy (CPP)
• Protection of beneficiaries from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH)
• Antifraud and bribery 
• Code of Conduct (CoC)

REQUIRED PROFILE

Education

• The qualified candidate will be a mental health professional with a Master’s degree or equivalent in Clinical Psychology
• Additional certification/training in MHPSS is an asset (scalable interventions such as SH+, PM+, mhGAP)

Languages

• Proficiency in Arabic; Strong English language skills mandatory (oral and written), Kurdish will also be considered as a strong plus.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience
• Previous experience with international or local NGOs in humanitarian settings
• Demonstrable experience creating and conducting MHPSS trainings, presentations or workshops
• Demonstrated experience in the development of community-based mental health activities
• Experience or strong understanding and willingness to develop skills in clinical supervision and staff care
• Technical assistance provision at the level of working group, task force, or equivalent

Skills

• Strong capacity to adhere to confidentiality guidelines and work with sensitive circumstances
• Strong organizational and supervisory skills
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills in local languages and English
• Team management and ability to work within a team structure or in isolation
• Flexible and can cope with stressful workloads and working with limited resources
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment
• Prioritizes tasks and meet deadlines according to the project needs
• Ability to continue to develop skills and receive constructive criticism
• Ability to travel on short notice to project sites and other governorates when needed
• Demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and humanitarian values
• Computer literacy with demonstrated experience in utilization of Microsoft Office – Word, Excel and PowerPoint in particular is mandatory

Handicap International is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from persons with disabilities

*Female candidates are encouraged to apply

*Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply

Interested candidates may please send their CV with cover letter so as to reach on or before

16^th Jun 2024                

Only applications completed in accordance with the following instructions will be

Taken into consideration, the others will be rejected automatically.

Mentioning clearly in the subject line of your e-mail the reference:

Ref: HI-IRQ- EBL- MHPSSTO-743

Your application will not be taken into consideration if this information is omitted from the

Subject line of your e-mail

Please address all applications to:

[email protected]

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

CVs that are sent as photo, screen shot or by link will not be considered.