Child Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. With a mission focused on promoting the rights of every child, UNICEF is committed to creating a world where every child can thrive. The organization employs thousands of staff members globally and is known for its dedication to child welfare and development. UNICEF provides diverse opportunities for personal and professional development, fostering a culture that helps staff thrive while delivering on a rewarding mission. The organization also offers an attractive compensation and benefits package to its employees.

Job Overview:
The Child Mental Health and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Psychosocial Support Specialist role is a pivotal position within UNICEF Ukraine, specifically under the Deputy Representative Programme’s Office. The incumbent will work closely with various Programme sections, including Health, Child Protection, and Education, to provide strategic and technical guidance for the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) agenda. This position is crucial for integrating MHPSS initiatives across UNICEF's programs, particularly in the context of the Ukraine Country Programme 2025-202

• The specialist will engage with key partners, including government counterparts and other UN agencies, to ensure the development and scaling of quality MHPSS services for children, adolescents, and caregivers. The role involves extensive program coordination, planning, and management, with a focus on enhancing mental health and psychosocial support for children and families in humanitarian and recovery contexts. The incumbent will contribute to creating evidence-based MHPSS interventions and tools, supporting their implementation and evaluation in diverse settings, thereby making a meaningful impact on the well-being of children and families in Ukraine.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Child Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist include:

• Supporting coordination across sectors for the implementation of the existing MHPSS Strategy related to UNICEF Ukraine leadership areas.
• Collaborating with Partnerships, Communication, and Advocacy teams to provide support on high-level advocacy opportunities related to MHPSS.
• Representing UNICEF in high-level or technical forums to elevate the organization’s technical leadership in MHPSS for children and families.
• Supporting resource mobilization efforts for MHPSS and formulating joint work plans with other UN agencies and partners.
• Coordinating and technically supporting the rollout and scaling up of MHPSS interventions, ensuring they incorporate the latest scientific and practice-based evidence.
• Leading innovation and knowledge management efforts, collating evidence on the effectiveness of MHPSS interventions and ensuring knowledge is shared to improve practice.
• Providing technical assistance across UNICEF programmes, driving a cross-sectoral agenda for MHPSS programming.
• Working closely with various sections to ensure service delivery, partnerships, and capacity building address MHPSS needs.
• Contributing to existing partnerships and initiatives on MHPSS and identifying opportunities for new strategic partnerships. 1
• Serving as a resource person for technical advice and guidance on best practices for addressing mental health and psychosocial needs. 1
• Supporting evidence generation and programmatic evaluation exercises. 1
• Providing technical guidance for capacity building interventions on MHPSS programming across UNICEF programmes. 1
• Performing other tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
The minimum requirements for this position include:

• An advanced university degree in child psychology, clinical psychology, social work, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in mental health, psychosocial support, or related areas.
• Experience in programme design, development, planning, and monitoring is required.
• Experience working in international organizations and in humanitarian and recovery contexts is essential.
• Relevant experience at the country level, particularly in development and fragile settings, is desirable.
• Experience in intervention development, research, evaluation, and knowledge management is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in one of the following fields: child psychology, clinical psychology, psychiatry, social work, or another relevant technical field. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of mental health and psychosocial support, particularly in the context of children and adolescents.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of professional experience in mental health, psychosocial support, child psychology, or related areas. Candidates should have a strong background in programme design, development, planning, and monitoring, with experience in international organizations and humanitarian contexts being particularly valuable. This level of experience is necessary to effectively contribute to the development and implementation of MHPSS initiatives.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of additional UN languages or local languages is considered an asset, as it can enhance communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders in the field.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Kyiv, Ukraine, and the incumbent will be expected to work on-site. However, travel to field locations throughout Ukraine may be required based on programmatic needs. The role is full-time, and UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and adherence to UNICEF's standards and principles is mandatory.