Program Manager – MHPSS (P4), PGLT - MHPSS Team, New York HQ (Temporary Appointment 364days)

Overview

Support multisectoral approaches to mental health and psychosocial support.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in psychology, social work or international development / political science with strong emphasis on public mental health systems, services, and financing and/or related field is required.
• A minimum of 8 (eight) years of progressive responsible experience in development and/or humanitarian fields, programming and/or emergency management at national and international levels is required.
• Direct field experience in mental health and psychosocial programme management would be an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.
• Experience in designing and setting up large joint UN programmes would be an asset.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, French, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 159,743 USD and 205,956 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is an institutional priority for the UN, and for UNICEF. The UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 identifies MHPSS as a strategic priority across global areas, building upon existing programming through child protection, education and health.

Worldwide, 10-20% of children and adolescents experience mental disorders; half of all mental disorders begin by the age of 14 and three-quarters by mid-20s; mental and brain conditions are the leading cause of disability in young people in all regions; and 1 in 4 children is living with a parent who has a mental disorder. Suicide is among the top 5 leading causes of adolescent deaths, with higher rates among adolescent girls. Postpartum depression is reported to occur in 15% of mothers shortly before or any time after childbirth, but commonly begins between one week and one month after delivery of a newborn. In humanitarian settings, it is estimated that nearly one fifth of people living in and displaced by conflict will need mental health and psychosocial support – with an additional 5% likely to experience a severe mental disorder1. Nearly one person in five (22%) living in an area affected by conflict is estimated to have depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia2 - with treatment gaps of over 90%.

In 2020, UNICEF launched the UNICEF MHPSS Acceleration Initiative, and regional and country offices received catalytic set aside funds to develop a model for scaled-up multi-sectoral MHPSS programming. The Initiative draws on all of UNICEF's assets – from programming to partnerships and from research to advocacy. The impact and success of UNICEF’s acceleration of MHPSS across the organization is reflected by the articulation of MHPSS in the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan which incorporates mental health into programmes across all UNICEF sections.

For every child, good mental health….

The Mental Health Manager, reporting to the Senior Mental Health Technical Advisor in PGLT, aims to support the acceleration of multisectoral approaches to MHPSS across sections and offices.

This role provides ongoing technical support to the global acceleration of MHPSS UNICEF through leading Cross Regional technical working groups, technical support related to implantation of UNICEF’s MHPSS Framework, supporting the integration of MHPSS into CPD processes, overseeing the establishment and creation of a MHPSS learning channel, and rolling out/coordinating the MHPSS learning series in line with an ongoing assessment of needs and topics that are critical for MHPSS Framework implementation.

How can you make a difference?

MHPSS Programme development and planning:

• Plan and provide technical support and guidance for the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis to establish a comprehensive and updated strategic plan for development, design and management of MHPSS programmes.
• Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Respond to request from RO’s for tools and templates that can support the integration of MHPSS across health, education, and child protection during the country level strategic planning cycle. This includes the development of tools that strengthen MHPSS integration across health, education, and child protection though the CPD’s and PSN’s.
• Prepare, coordinate and/or supervise the formulation of MHPSS programme recommendations and related documentations as a component of the Country Programme, establishing clear programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
• Ensure alignment of the sectoral programme with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, Country Programme, UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDF), regional strategies as well as national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Consult and collaborate with colleagues and partners to provide technical and operational support on programme planning, management and implementation, and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors throughout all stages of programming processes.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for MHPSS programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks, potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Plan, monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

Advisory services and technical support

• Collaborate and consult with country offices and partners/donors on policies, strategies, best practices, and approaches on MHPSS-related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results. Represent UNICEF leadership on mental health through participation in strategic programme discussions and planning (both internal and external) to provide technical advice and to contribute to policy discussions and agenda setting to promote MHPSS in sectors of education, ECD, child protection, health and Gender/ADAP.
• Prepare policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development and contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in countries or where designated.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Quality contributions are made for strengthening systems through maintaining and building strategic partnerships and collaborations with internal, UNs/H6 partners, young people and other external stakeholders. Sustain effective close working partnerships with regional and global partners, allies, donors, and academia. Through active networking, advocacy and effective communication, build capacity and exchange knowledge and expertise to facilitate the achievement of programme goals on MHPSS within child protection, education, and health.
• Prepare communication and information materials for HQ programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for MHPSS.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on MHPSS related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on planning and preparation of MHPSS programmes/projects, ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the development planning and agenda setting.
• Supporting dialogue and coordination channels to safeguard multisectoral accountability to the MH agenda at UNICEF. Support to Global Senior MH Advisor (global mental health lead) in organizing and convening MHPSS coordination channels, and high-level dialogue to accelerate MH agenda at UNICEF.
• Support multisectoral/stakeholder engagement on MHPSS initiatives: Currently there are several MHPSS Initiatives that are under development at UNCIEF. The Manager will support the knowledge exchange and learning among health, education, and child protection.

Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches, and good practices for sustainable MHPSS programmes/projects initiatives.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in MHPSS management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• In collaboration and consultation with colleagues from health, education and child protection support cross sectoral knowledge exchange and learning. This includes the provision of direct technical support around MHPSS integration, though workshops, coordination calls, and other support as needed.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Lead, plan and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on MHPSS related programmes/projects. This position will continue to support the MHPSS Learning Series by ensuring a coordinated approach to workshops and capacity building workshops on mental health. These sessions will apply the MHPSS framework to specific themes within MHPSS that are identified by UNICEF staff. Some examples include MHPSS and SBC, HIV, Gender, etc.,
• Support the alignment of MHPSS resources across health, education, and child protection to ensure a reduction of duplication, and a shared repository for MHPSS resources, learning, and guidance documents. This includes transforming the MHPSS Compendium of Resources into a searchable resource on the Agora Platform.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in psychology, social work or international development / political science with strong emphasis on public mental health systems, services, and financing and/or related field is required.
• A minimum of 8 (eight) years of progressive responsible experience in development and/or humanitarian fields, programming and/or emergency management at national and international levels is required.
• Direct field experience in mental health and psychosocial programme management would be an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.
• Experience in designing and setting up large joint UN programmes would be an asset.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, French, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA), and sustainability

Please click Here to view UNICEF's core values and Here to view our competency framework.

UNICEF competencies required for this post are.

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to including everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.

Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF.

UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

“UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”

For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page. If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Potential interview questions