Staff Counselling Specialist - Consultant

Provide psychosocial counselling sessions for UN personnel.

This opening expired 7 months ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNOV - United Nations Office at Vienna

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Application deadline 7 months ago: Tuesday 21 Oct 2025 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Provide psychosocial counselling sessions for UN personnel.

You have:

  • An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in clinical psychology, counselling, clinical social work, or related mental health profession or related technical field is required.
  • A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  • A minimum of five (5) years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in professional counselling, staff support, and mental health, or related areas is required.
  • Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills are required.
  • Experience in the design and delivery of counselling sessions, workshops, trainings, and information sessions, preferably on stress counselling is required.
  • Experience working in a multicultural environment as a team member is desirable.
  • Previous work in humanitarian field or emergency settings is desirable.
  • Working experience with United Nations or similar international organizations is desirable.
  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

• Confidential individual and group counselling sessions were conducted for personnel requiring support. • Psychological risks were assessed, and professional recommendations and interventions were provided. • Personnel in high-stress environments, including field locations, received targeted psychosocial support. • Coordination with internal and external mental health resources was ensured, and cases were referred as necessary. • Workshops, trainings, and information sessions on stress management and mental health promotion were designed and delivered, ensuring staff received relevant and timely information. • Strict confidentiality and adherence to ethical counselling standards were maintained throughout all activities. • Contributions to reporting were completed in line with organizational requirements.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

From 22 October to 31 December 2025.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision and technical guidance of the Team Leader, Talent Development Team (TDT) and the Staff Counsellor, the Staff Counselling Specialist will provide to UN personnel, individual and/or group psychosocial counselling sessions, offering valuable guidance and resilience-building resources. In line with the descripted purpose, the Staff Counselling Specialist will: • Conduct confidential individual and group counselling sessions for personnel in need of support. • Assess psychological risks and provide professional recommendations and interventions. • Support personnel in high-stress environments, including field locations. • Coordinate with internal and external mental health resources, referring cases as necessary. • Deliver and design workshops, trainings, and information sessions on a wide range of topics (e.g. stress management, mental health promotion, etc.) to ensure that staff regularly receive relevant information. • Maintain strict confidentiality and adhere to ethical counselling standards. • Contribute to reporting.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in clinical psychology, counselling, clinical social work, or related mental health profession or related technical field is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. • A minimum of five (5) years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in professional counselling, staff support, and mental health, or related areas is required. • Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills are required. • Experience in the design and delivery of counselling sessions, workshops, trainings, and information sessions, preferably on stress counselling is required. • Experience working in a multicultural environment as a team member is desirable. • Previous work in humanitarian field or emergency settings is desirable. • Working experience with United Nations or similar international organizations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe a situation where you provided emotional support to someone in a high-stress environment? This question assesses your real-world experience handling stress in counseling contexts. Describe the situation, your actions, and the positive outcome.
How do you ensure confidentiality in your counseling sessions? This question evaluates your understanding of ethical counseling standards. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you use to assess psychological risks among individuals? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of a workshop you've designed? What was its focus? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you adapt your counseling style to fit different cultural backgrounds? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What is your experience working in multicultural teams? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you keep up to date with the latest practices in mental health counseling? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What challenges have you faced in delivering mental health support in field locations? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 7 months ago - Updated 7 months ago - Source: careers.un.org