Regional Staff Counsellor (P)

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951 and is a Related Organization of the United Nations. It is the leading UN agency in the field of migration, working closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, providing services and advice to governments and migrants. The organization is committed to ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally while harnessing the full potential of migration. IOM operates in over 100 countries and has a diverse workforce that reflects the global nature of its mission. The organization emphasizes inclusivity and diversity, encouraging applications from qualified female candidates and individuals from non-represented member countries. IOM's workplace culture is designed to support the well-being of its staff and foster a collaborative environment.

Job Overview:
The Regional Staff Counsellor will be responsible for implementing staff welfare activities aimed at assessing and addressing the psychological needs of IOM’s staff in the Regional Office and Country Offices in the Asia and Pacific region. This role involves providing effective psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">psychosocial support to managers and individual staff, particularly in emergency operations locations, to mitigate stress and enhance protective factors. The counsellor will create a safe and confidential environment for staff to address professional and personal issues, either individually or in groups. Additionally, the role includes advising senior leadership on healthy work practices, recommending staff support strategies during emergencies, and delivering preventative psychoeducational programs to address systemic issues within teams. The Regional Staff Counsellor will also develop a network of external mental health providers and provide Critical Incident Stress Management support following critical incidents. Regular travel to Country Offices will be required to implement the Regional Wellbeing Workplan and address the needs of staff across the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Implement staff welfare activities to assess and address psychological needs of IOM staff in the Regional Office and Country Offices.
• Provide effective psychosocial support to managers and individual staff, prioritizing emergency operations locations.
• Create a safe and confidential environment for staff to discuss professional and personal problems.
• Advise senior leadership on healthy work practices and resilience-building strategies.
• Recommend suitable staff support strategies during emergencies and crises.
• Deliver preventative psychoeducational programs and training to address systemic issues within teams.
• Develop and deliver tailored workshops and webinars for staff on mental health themes.
• Build a network of external mental health providers for staff support.
• Provide Critical Incident Stress Management support following critical incidents. 1
• Coordinate with UNDSS Counsellors and UN agency Counsellors for adequate psychosocial support during emergencies. 1
• Develop tools for data collection, analysis, monitoring, and reporting on staff well-being. 1
• Undertake regular duty travels to Country Offices as per the Regional Wellbeing Workplan. 1
• Capture lessons learned and best practices for dissemination. 1
• Participate in relevant Staff Counselling Team meetings and training activities. 1
• Adhere to professional standards and the Code of Ethics for UN Staff Counsellors.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in clinical psychology, counselling, psychiatry, or a related field from an accredited institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or a university degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.
• Active license or certification or registered membership in a legitimate professional organization in the relevant field.
• Minimum of five years of relevant counselling experience post-licensure/certification/registration.
• Experience with counselling and psychosocial interventions.
• Experience working with UN Agencies, International Humanitarian Organizations, or Employee Assistance Programmes is essential.
• Familiarity with the impact of working conditions on humanitarian workers' well-being is required.
• Previous working experience in the Asia and Pacific region is desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in clinical psychology, counselling, psychiatry, or a related field from an accredited academic institution. Alternatively, a university degree in the aforementioned fields is acceptable if accompanied by seven years of relevant professional experience. It is essential that candidates hold an active license or certification or demonstrate registered membership in a legitimate professional organization relevant to their degree, including fields such as psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy, counselling, marriage and family therapy, and social work.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant counselling experience post-licensure/certification/registration. Candidates should have experience in providing counselling and psychosocial interventions, particularly in contexts related to humanitarian work. Experience working with UN Agencies or International Humanitarian Organizations is essential, as is familiarity with the challenges faced by humanitarian workers regarding their well-being. Previous experience in the Asia and Pacific region is considered an advantage.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, both oral and written. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is considered an advantage and will be evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Additional Notes:
The contract type for this position is fixed-term for one year, with the possibility of extension. The role is classified at the P-3 grade level, indicating a professional vacancy. The position requires international mobility, and candidates must be medically fit for appointment. The selection process may be used to fill similar positions in various duty stations. IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, including discrimination and harassment. The organization does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process and only accepts applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system.