Mental Health Consultant

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Mental Health Consultant
Location: New York, Remote
Country: United States
Deadline Date: February 28, 2025

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established 70 years ago, is a leading organization dedicated to children's rights and welfare, operating in 190 countries and territories. With over 12,000 staff members, UNICEF focuses on promoting children's survival, protection, and development, addressing issues such as child health, nutrition, education, and protection from violence and exploitation. The organization is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments, emphasizing its commitment to making a lasting difference for children worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Mental Health Consultant position is crucial in addressing the global burden of mental health issues among children and adolescents. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Mental Health Manager at UNICEF's headquarters, providing technical and clinical expertise to support the Mental Health Leadership Team. The role involves developing and reviewing mental health and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">psychosocial support (MHPSS) resources, particularly in the context of climate change and its impact on mental health. The consultant will contribute to the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025, which prioritizes MHPSS for children, caregivers, and young people, ensuring that mental health is integrated across various sectors. The consultant's work will focus on strengthening institutional capacity and developing guidance on the mental health impacts of climate change on caregivers and infants, ultimately aiming to improve mental health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical and clinical mental health guidance to develop MHPSS resources, particularly in relation to climate and ecological contexts.
• Review and enhance the framework for child, adolescent, and caregiver mental health in the context of climate change by June 27, 202
• Develop a technical note on child, adolescent, and caregiver mental health in the context of climate change by July 25, 202
• Create key recommendations for stakeholders on programmatic and policy actions needed to address child and adolescent mental health in response to climate change by August 27, 202
• Produce a resource guide to support the mental health of young changemakers advocating in the climate context by November 27, 202
• Develop guidance and recommendations on the mental health impacts of climate change on caregivers and infants for the parenting website by June 27, 2025.

Required Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree at the PhD level in Psychology, Social Sciences, or Climate Sciences is required.
• Proficiency in English is mandatory, with knowledge of another UN language being highly desirable.
• A minimum of 25 years of experience in designing, implementing, and managing MHPSS programs in both development and humanitarian contexts is required.
• Extensive experience in providing strategic advice and high-level recommendations to decision-makers and inter-agency task forces.
• Proven experience in capacity building for child and adolescent mental health, particularly in humanitarian settings.
• Demonstrated leadership and influence in shaping field norms and guidance related to mental health.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree at the PhD level in relevant fields such as Psychology, Social Sciences, or Climate Sciences. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical understanding of mental health issues, particularly in the context of climate change and its effects on vulnerable populations.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 25 years of experience in the field of mental health, specifically in designing, implementing, and managing mental health and psychosocial support programs. Candidates should have extensive experience in providing strategic advice to high-level decision-makers and inter-agency committees, as well as a strong background in capacity building for child and adolescent mental health, especially in humanitarian contexts. Research and publications in the relevant field are also essential, along with demonstrated leadership in mental health programs.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another UN language is considered a strong asset, as it enhances communication and collaboration within the diverse international context of UNICEF's work.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home/office-based, with a duration from February 28, 2025, to November 202

• The selected candidate must complete their profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and upload their academic credentials. A financial proposal reflecting the costs per deliverable and total lump-sum for the assignment is required. UNICEF will cover any emergent travel costs and daily subsistence allowances if travel is necessary. Candidates must ensure they have valid health insurance coverage at the time the contract is awarded. Payment for professional fees will be contingent upon the submission of satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy regarding conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and harassment. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging candidates from all backgrounds to apply.