Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Advisor

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve those in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various areas including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding vulnerable populations and ensuring that its programs are effective and impactful. The agency employs a diverse workforce and values individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its mission and values.

Job Overview:
The Mental Health and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Psychosocial Support Advisor will play a crucial role in integrating Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies (MHPSS) across all RAPID program interventions. This position requires providing technical guidance that aligns with CRS program quality standards, donor requirements, and industry best practices. The advisor will leverage their expertise to ensure that MHPSS approaches are effective, adaptive, and innovative, ultimately enhancing the quality and impact of programming for vulnerable populations. The role involves collaborating with various stakeholders, including partners, donors, and government entities, to implement agency-wide strategies and standards in MHPSS and staff wellbeing in humanitarian responses. The advisor will also contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives and facilitate training for CRS and partner staff on psychosocial support and related topics.

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

• Contributing to the implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in MHPSS and staff wellbeing in humanitarian response.
• Ensuring a cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender, inclusion, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Providing technical solutions to regional and Country Program teams for strategic planning and design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design.
• Supporting quality staff-care for CRS staff and partners in disaster-affected contexts through training and consultation.
• Leading the development of technical designs for complex proposals, including monitoring systems and indicators.
• Advising project teams on integrating donor strategies and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
• Contributing to capacity strengthening initiatives in MHPSS programming through training and mentoring.
• Facilitating training on psychosocial support, social cohesion, and safe programming.
• Ensuring MHPSS activities promote positive relationships and avoid conflict. 1
• Liaising with relevant CRS departments to promote synergy in MHPSS approaches. 1
• Coordinating with colleagues in peacebuilding to integrate MHPSS across humanitarian and development sectors. 1
• Contributing to knowledge management and learning through data collection and analysis, and sharing best practices. 1
• Establishing relationships with donors and peer organizations, and representing CRS at relevant events and conferences.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Advisor position include:

• A Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or another mental health field is required.
• Licensure in a relevant mental health field (e.g., LCSW, LPC) is preferred.
• A minimum of five years of relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role, ideally with an international NGO.
• At least three years of experience working on programming interventions in MHPSS.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles in psychosocial support, protection, wellbeing, mental health, and trauma-informed care.
• General knowledge of related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in business development, project design, and proposal development in MHPSS, including technical writing.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, and training applying adult learning principles.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including data collection and analysis. 1
• Skills in networking and relations with donors and partner organizations. 1
• Proficiency in MS Office and knowledge-sharing networks.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or another relevant mental health field. This advanced degree is essential for understanding the complexities of mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian contexts. Additionally, licensure in a relevant mental health field is preferred, indicating a recognized level of expertise and professional standing in the field.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant international working experience, with progressive responsibilities in advisory or management roles. Candidates should ideally have experience with an international NGO and a minimum of three years working specifically on programming interventions in MHPSS. This level of experience is crucial for understanding the challenges and best practices in delivering mental health and psychosocial support in diverse and often challenging environments.

Languages:
Fluent English is required for this position, as it is essential for communication and documentation. Additionally, having professional proficiency in either French, Spanish, or Arabic is considered a plus, as it enhances the advisor's ability to engage with diverse populations and stakeholders in various regions.

Additional Notes:
The position is expected to last for 18 months, tentatively from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 202

• The successful candidate must be willing and able to travel 50% of the time, which is essential for on-site support and collaboration with regional and country program teams. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For successful candidates employed outside the U.S., salary and benefits packages will be based on the country of employment. CRS is committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS' Code of Conduct.