JRS Latin America and the Caribbean
REGIONAL COORDINATOR OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
Workplace
Bogotá, Quito, Mexico City, or Caracas (without ruling out other places in the region where JRS LAC has a presence)
Job title
Regional Coordinator of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
Type of contract
Fixed-term employment
Duration
As soon as possible – duration for 1 year (possibility of renewal depending on performance and available resources)
Salary
$5,935,176 monthly gross, Colombian pesos
applications
Until July 11, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. (Colombian time)
- organizational context
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international non-governmental organization whose mission is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and people in situations of forced displacement. The organization was founded in November 1980 and is present in more than 50 countries. JRS provides services at the national and regional levels with the support and guidance of the international office in Rome. The JRS style of service is human and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term well-being of the people it accompanies, without neglecting their immediate or urgent needs.
JRS work in the field of mental health and psychosocial support prioritizes the provision of quality services at individual, family and community levels to reduce suffering and improve the mental health and psychosocial well-being of accompanied individuals and communities. . JRS recognizes that the most effective mental health and psychosocial supports are delivered through complementary services, capable of meeting a variety of complex experiences and needs.
- Function/Role
The Jesuit Refugee Service is looking for a regional coordinator of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (hereinafter, MHPSS for its acronym in English of Mental Health and PsychoSocial Support), who will be in charge of supporting the JRS teams in terms of the conception, supervision and execution of projects that respond to the specific needs of forcibly displaced persons in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the construction of a regional Mental Health and Psychosocial Support strategy grounded in the contexts and challenges of the region. The coordinator will be based in Bogotá-Colombia, under the supervision of the Regional Director and the supervision and support of the global MHPSS team based in JRS USA.
The position requires good communication skills, leadership and the ability to work in a team. Analytical thinking, the ability to investigate innovative intervention methods, as well as creativity and flexibility necessary to the contexts where JRS operates are also expected.
- functions
Of the programmatic order
- Responsible for offering technical service together with the Regional Director, the coordinators of Country Programs and the psychosocial personnel of the countries to evaluate and assess new MHPSS projects and the direction of existing projects.
- Lead contextualized training for MHPSS field staff (Inter-Agency Standing Committee -IASC MHPSS Guidelines, Inter-Agency Standing Committee -IASC- Framework for Monitoring & Evaluation of this Committee, face-to-face and virtual training based on MHPSS technical skills based on staff needs assessments, etc.).
- Support MHPSS focal points who participate in meetings with local government officials and specialized institutions, and with other relevant authorities and stakeholders (MHPSS service providers, communities, etc.) to represent the priorities of the organization, contribute the necessary technical knowledge and support local teams in the execution of projects.
- Keep up to date on humanitarian and MHPSS best practices, and promote communication with other partners and relevant stakeholders by attending coordination meetings.
- Support regional and country offices in recruiting and hiring MHPSS staff at project and country level to ensure adequate MHPSS service delivery, respecting the “Do No Harm” principle.
- Define the strategy and priority actions of the MHPSS programs and activities in the region, under the supervision of the Regional Director, and in collaboration with the MHPSS Global Unit in JRS USA and the rest of the regional team.
- Provide technical support to the annual review and planning of JRS projects taking into account regional and international strategies and guidelines, as well as international MHPSS standards in emergency situations.
- Lead and manage all MHPSS needs assessment activities in the region for new field teams.
- Provide guidance and technical support to MHPSS staff in the region for ongoing evaluation and needs assessment on existing MHPSS projects.
- Prepare technical contributions for all proposals with MHPSS results and activities in the region.
- Propose innovative strategies and activities to address MHPSS needs in the region.
- Define and coordinate actions that guarantee the application of global and regional strategic priorities in the region.
- Ensure that programs have the resources (materials, tools, knowledge) necessary to effectively monitor and evaluate MHPSS services.
- Ensure that MHPSS considerations are integrated into other core JRS priorities, allowing for improved cross-sectoral results.
- Propose and create tools to assess the impact indicators and the quality of JRS MHPSS projects.
- Support JRS teams and strengthen their capacities in terms of MHPSS by:
- Drafting and preparation of key documents to implement and harmonize key interventions and supporting interventions.
- Planning and execution of training to reinforce the capacities of the MHPSS teams.
- Coordination with other actors in the MHPSS sector in the region.
- Ensure the effective exchange of information, technical support and advocacy regarding the MHPSS in emergency situations in the region between JRS and other key actors.
- Support the technical work of the teams in the field and coordinate their interaction with local authorities.
Of the administrative order
- Present the monthly planning of activities and budgets at the beginning of each month.
- Legalize financial expenses related to the execution of the area, adjusting to the administrative procedures established by the institution.
- Preparation of follow-up reports in accordance with the established methodology, formats and times.
- Relationship with suppliers for supply processes and specific purchases for the area.
- Communication and Supervision
- Direct and frequent with the Regional Director of JRS LAC.
- Newspaper with the JRS International Office.
- Periodically with the Administration of the Regional Office in Bogotá for related administrative activities.
- Periodical with the teams and focal points of Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela for the development of activities related to the position.
- professional skills
- Degree in psychology or social work required. Additional qualification/certification in mental health in humanitarian settings will be an asset.
- Minimum 05 years of experience including 02 years of relevant field experience in humanitarian settings, in the context of mental health programming and psychosocial support.
- Experience in MHPSS program development, relationship management, capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation.
- Demonstrated ability to work in resource-constrained environments and adapt to dynamic and changing work environments.
- Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
- Sensitivity and knowledge of other sectors, such as education and protection, will be valued.
- Knowledge and experience in applying the guidelines and best practices of the Interagency Standing Committee – IASC in MHPSS as part of the job.
Mastery of English.
- Willingness and ability to travel to regional and country offices, when required.
- Demonstrable experience and ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and put team building skills into practice.
- Good understanding of and compatibility with JRS values.
- Listening skills and excellent interpersonal communication skills.
- Motivation to serve and experience (desirable) of working in the context of forced migration.
How to apply
applications
Interested persons (of any nationality who reside in Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela), send the following documents to the email [email protected] (indicating in the subject: Regional Mental Health Coordination) until July 11 2023 at 23:59 (Colombian time):
- Curriculum Vitae including professional references with their contact information, telephone number and email address.
- Motivation letter describing the reference of the call and the main personal and professional reasons why your profile should be considered.
Only shortlisted people will be contacted
