Senior Program Manager, Mental Health Strategy
Manage implementation of the Workplace Mental Health Strategy
Overview
Manage implementation of the Workplace Mental Health Strategy
You have:
- Postgraduate/advanced University degree in public administration, public health, health care (preferably mental health), occupational health, human resources, relevant management or business administration, or related area.
- Minimum 8 years progressively responsible experience in program management at the Governmental or Inter-Governmental level
- Minimum 5 years demonstrated experience in project management and leadership of system change/improvement programs
- Three or more years of leadership responsibilities of comparable size and complexity
- Practical experience working on workplace and/or population psychosocial and mental health issues is highly desirable
- Experience in the multilateral sector and/or Peacekeeping, Humanitarian Relief/Development is an asset.
- Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required, knowledge of other languages desirable
Senior Program Manager, Mental Health Strategy
Job #: req31290 Organization: World Bank Sector: Health & Safety Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English fluency is essential Preferred Language(s): Knowledge of other languages is desirable Closing Date: 2/10/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org.
WBG Workplace Mental Health Strategy:
The WBG Workplace Mental Health Strategy (MHS) was initiated in 2020 and was launched in the Spring of 2022. The strategy has been designed with the purpose of increasing the effectiveness of the WBG by promoting, protecting, and supporting the psychological health of WBG Staff.
The four key themes of the five-year workplace mental health plan are to:
1. Create a workplace that enhances mental and physical health and wellbeing
2. Develop, deliver, and continuously evaluate mental health and wellbeing services at HQs and Country Offices and FCV locations
3. Support staff who live with health challenges
4. Ensure sustainable funding for mental health and wellbeing services
These will be achieved through the following action steps:
- Deliver information, education, and communication activities to reinforce a culture of health and well-being and improve mental health literacy - Raise awareness and promote uptake of resources available for staff support - Empower managers to promote staff mental health and wellness - Facilitate peer-to-peer support - Align workplace policies and practices - Develop a mental health toolkit and promote adoption and use by managers and staff across the institution - Review insurance benefit plans to achieve mental health parity - Assess availability of mental health practitioners and telehealth options to improve access and quality of care among Country Office staff - Develop a plan for addressing family members’ stressors
The Mental Health Strategy Program Manager’s role has a WBG-wide reach, in terms of supporting and leading implementation but is administratively hosted in the Health and Safety Development Directorate. The Mental Health Strategy Program Manager works in close partnership with Program Sponsors and the multidisciplinary implementation committee and sounding board. The Mental Health Strategy Program Manager will have a supervisory function for roles commissioned and/or seconded to directly support the implementation program, including part-time roles. These include but may not be limited to administrator and analysis roles; communications advisor; and consultant support.
Job Purpose
The Mental Health Strategy Program Manager manages the WBG MHS implementation program, in partnership with the MHS Implementation Committee, Sounding Board, and other stakeholders.
The Mental Health Strategy Program Manager provides direction, support, and oversight to the program; and to staff assigned to provide direct support the implementation program.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Mental Health Strategy Program Manager will be responsible for providing overall strategic leadership and policy guidance as follows:
Lead - including reviewing and revising - its strategic direction, in consultation with stakeholders, as needed.
Provide policy and technical guidance to Implementation Committee, Sounding Board, and other stakeholders; taking lead in implementation of agreed actions;
Oversee and supervise direct reports that provide direct practical and technical support to implementation processes,
Lead overall implementation program and specific project management processes, monitoring reporting and evaluation
- Implement the necessary management structure to plan, coordinate, and project manage the three-year implementation program in close partnership with the implementation committee, sounding board, and other stakeholders.
- Ensure collaborative, multidisciplinary focus groups are
(a) established for the priority actions; and
(b) supported to achieve clear targets to meet implementation timelines.
- Prepare monitoring reports to implementation committee, sounding board, HRD, and senior management as necessary, ensuring KPIs are met, and reporting is delivered by working /focus groups or partner agencies.
- Manage the MHS implementation budget and oversee the use of the funds, adhering to financial rules and regulations of the WBG.
- Lead, coach, supervise, and support WBG Staff and those employed/seconded or commissioned to directly work on implementation of the strategy
- Lead projects, regular monitoring processes, periodic external evaluations, and the development of new tools and learning resources.
- Oversee projects, including communication and knowledge sharing initiatives (newsletter, e-workspace, social media presence, news videos, case study development, etc.).
- Facilitate timely communication, engagement, advocacy and key partnerships within the context of the program
- Maintain strategic partnerships within and outside of the WBG to strengthen implementation, particularly with UN Mental Health Strategy Implementation Board, the IMF Mental Health Strategy Board, Human Resources, Ethics & Internal Justice, and others.
- Advocate for and engage the necessary leadership support, champions, and partners to sustain momentum for successful MHS Implementation, including the needed resources to alleviate constraints faced during the implementation of the program.
- Advocate for WBG-wide efforts relating to mental health promotion, stigma reduction and prevention, and relevant family support.
- Oversee implementation of agreed communications and engagement plan, ensuring continued visibility for WBG Workplace Mental Health Strategy, ongoing universal awareness raising and reduction of stigma through various communications, including overseeing and contributing to its weekly newsletter.
General:
- Performs other related duties as required - Travels worldwide, as needed and including high-risk duty stations, for leadership, coordination and practical support of implementing the strategy - Frequent interaction with the following: - Mental Health Strategy Implementation Committee and Sounding Board - Human Resources Vice Presidency - Ethics and Internal Justice - Provide practical support and input to implementation processes
Results Expected
Implementation on the five-year strategy across the WBG achieving measurable
i) increase in staff member resilience, productivity, and engagement:
ii) desired shift in staff experience as described in strategy objectives.
Selection Criteria
Education
- Postgraduate/advanced University degree in public administration, public health, health care (preferably mental health), occupational health, human resources, relevant management or business administration, or related area.
Work Experience
- Minimum 8 years progressively responsible experience in program management at the Governmental or Inter-Governmental level - Minimum 5 years demonstrated experience in project management and leadership of system change/improvement programs - Three or more years of leadership responsibilities of comparable size and complexity; - Practical experience working on workplace and/or population psychosocial and mental health issues is highly desirable - Experience in the multilateral sector and/or Peacekeeping, Humanitarian Relief/Development is an asset.
Languages
- Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required, knowledge of other languages desirable
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.
Potential interview questions
| Can you provide an example of a successful program you managed that involved multiple stakeholders? | This question assesses your experience with stakeholder engagement and program management. | Discuss a specific program, your role, challenges faced, and the outcome. |
| Describe a time when you had to implement a significant change in a program. What steps did you take? | The interviewer wants to know about your change management skills. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you prioritize tasks in a complex program management environment? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies would you implement to promote mental health awareness in the workplace? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you handle conflicts among team members during project implementation? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |