Psychosocial Support Intern

Job Posting Organization:
The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM) is an organization established to ensure accountability for serious crimes committed in Syria. The IIIM operates under the auspices of the United Nations and is dedicated to supporting investigations and prosecutions of these crimes. The organization aims to provide justice for victims and contribute to the rule of law in Syria. It employs a diverse team of professionals and operates in various countries to gather evidence and support legal processes.

Job Overview:
The psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Psychosocial Support Intern position is situated within the Operational Support Section (OSS) of the IIIM, located in Geneva, Switzerland. This internship is designed to provide the intern with hands-on experience in organizational psychology while contributing to the enhancement of psychosocial services offered to staff. The intern will work closely with the Witness Support Officer (WSO) to evaluate current staff support systems and explore new service opportunities. The role is expected to enhance the IIIM’s initiatives and improve the quality of psychosocial services provided to its employees. The intern will be involved in various projects, including the Annual Well-being and Employee Engagement Survey, and will have the opportunity to design and conduct presentations on staff support topics, thereby gaining valuable skills that are transferable to future career paths.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Psychosocial Support Intern will have a range of responsibilities, including but not limited to: assisting with the launch and data interpretation of the Annual Well-being and Employee Engagement Survey; providing support to the IIIM Workgroup on Well-being and Employee Engagement; conducting research on best practices for psychosocial support; supporting the finalization of the Psychological Preparedness for Deployment Manual; drafting a vicarious trauma prevention guide; designing materials for staff support for the Support to Staff online page; and drafting meeting minutes. By the end of the internship, the intern is expected to design and conduct at least one presentation on staff support, assist in data interpretation of the annual survey, produce a report on statistical analysis, write an article for the Support to Staff online page, and provide accurate meeting minutes for various meetings.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following criteria: (a) be enrolled in or have completed a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or (b) be enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). Candidates should be pursuing or have pursued their degree in fields related to the job opening, such as Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology, or a related area. Additionally, applicants must possess good knowledge of standard software applications, particularly MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. The ability to design surveys and polls is also desirable, along with a demonstrated ability to interact successfully with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes either enrollment in or completion of a graduate program (second university degree or equivalent) or enrollment in or completion of the final year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). Candidates should have a focus on areas relevant to the internship, such as Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or Forensic Psychology, which will provide the necessary theoretical foundation for the tasks involved in the internship.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for this position is primarily academic, as the internship is designed for students or recent graduates. Candidates should have relevant coursework or practical experience in psychology or related fields, which will enable them to contribute effectively to the psychosocial support initiatives at the IIIM. While prior internship experience is not explicitly required, any relevant experience in organizational psychology or support roles would be beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship, as English is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of French is also necessary, as it is the other working language. Additionally, knowledge of Arabic or another official UN language is considered an advantage, as it may enhance communication and understanding within the diverse environment of the United Nations.

Additional Notes:
This internship is unpaid and requires a full-time commitment of 40 hours per week, with regular working hours from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Overtime may be necessary to meet project deadlines. The internship is expected to last for a maximum of six months, with a potential start date of September 14, 2026, subject to discussion with the successful candidate. Interns are responsible for all related expenses, including travel, accommodation, and living costs. The United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process, and candidates must ensure they have adequate insurance coverage during their internship. Interns must maintain confidentiality regarding any unpublished information obtained during their internship and are bound by the same duties and obligations as staff members.