Protection Assistant (Psycho-Social Support Assistant)
Facilitate PSS group sessions and support psychosocial projects in Mykolaiv.
Overview
Facilitate PSS group sessions and support psychosocial projects in Mykolaiv.
You have:
- 1 year of experience in a Protection related field
- Higher education in psychology or social work
- Comfortable in speaking about sensitive topics and working with people in distress
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Strong sense of personal integrity and understanding of confidentiality and ethics
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange, Windows operating systems
- Fluency in Ukrainian
- Familiarity with social work or case management or counselling
- Elementary level of English language or higher
Contract
This is a DRC - National contract. More about DRC - National contracts.
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.
DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and implements emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.
DRC is currently looking for a Protection Assistant (Psycho-Social Support Assistant)) for its activities in Mykolaiv. This position will be line managed by the Protection Team Leader.
Overall purpose of the role:
- Facilitate PSS group sessions to promote mutual support, socialization and positive coping strategies
- Support the designing and delivery of psychoeducational awareness sessions (both content and materials) on psychosocial topics, including stress management, available mental health services, and coping skills
- Collaborate with other service providers, such as healthcare professionals and social workers, and make appropriate referrals and follow-up when needed
- Foster community participation and engagement in psychosocial support activities, encouraging the active involvement of individuals, families and community stakeholders
- Identify and support, including through awareness and capacity-building, local resources such as community-based organizations or volunteers, to enhance the availability of community-based psychosocial support
- Participate in capacity-building sessions as needed and required
- Contribute to developing and continuously updating a service mapping system detailing available services and assistance in DRC’s areas of operation
- Any other duties as may be assigned by the Protection Manager, relevant to the achievement of protection objectives
About you:
To be successful in this role we expect you to have 1 year of experience in a Protection related field. Moreover, we also expect the following:
Required
- Higher education in psychology or social work
- Comfortable in speaking about sensitive topics and working with people in distress
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively withvulnerable individuals, staff members, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and managemultiple responsibilities.
- Strong sense of personal integrity and understanding of confidentiality and ethics.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange, Windows operating systems.
- Fluency in Ukrainian
Desirble
- Familiarity with social work or case management or counselling, etc.
- Elementary level of English language or higher.
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:
- Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
- Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
- Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
- Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
- Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
We offer
- Contract length: 3 months’ probation period with the possibility of extension depending on performance and available funding
- Band: I- non-managerial
- Designation of Duty Station: Mykolaiv
- Start date: As soon as possible
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national employees.
Application process
All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.
A****pplications sent by email will not be considered.
Closing date for applications: April 29th, 2026
We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified.
Potential interview questions
| Describe your experience working with vulnerable individuals in distress. | The interviewer wants to understand your background in dealing with sensitive situations. | Provide specific examples of your past experiences and how you managed them. |
| How would you facilitate a PSS group session effectively? | This question assesses your ability to lead and manage group dynamics. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you share a time when you had to collaborate with healthcare professionals? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies would you use to encourage community participation in psychosocial support activities? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Explain how you would handle confidential information responsibly. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple responsibilities? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What resources do you think are essential for community-based psychosocial support? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe how you would respond if a participant in a session disclosed distressing information. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |