Staff Counsellor P4 - Beirut, Lebanon

.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. The core policies and strategies that govern WFP activities are: save lives in emergency situations; improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people; and to help build assets and promote the self-reliance of poor people and communities, particularly through conditional food for work and training programmes.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The challenges of working in difficult conditions to bring much needed food and support to our recipients while inherently rewarding, can place a great deal of pressure and stress on WFP staff. As a part of a multidisciplinary team under the Staff Wellness Division, the Staff Counselling Unit is committed to the promotion of psychological and physical health in the broadest sense so staff can continue to function at high levels in order to meet the mandate of the organization. We do this by identifying and addressing psychological risk factors in the workplace, and through the provision of counselling services to staff members and their dependents.

The UN WFP is looking for a highly qualified Staff Counsellor to join the Staff Wellness Division, based in Beirut covering the country offices in Lebanon (50%) and Syria (50%). The position is based in Beirut, Lebanon with frequent travels to Syria.

JOB PURPOSE

The Staff Counsellor will administratively report to the Country Director of both the Lebanon and Syria Country Office and technically report to the Regional Staff Counsellor in Cairo. A key requirement of the position will be the ability to summarize data and trends to develop programs and policies that are designed to support staff. Frequent travel is required from the Staff Counsellor to support the country offices, at times on short notice based on operational needs, also at times to remote and difficult locations to provide support to staff.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Staff Counsellor will be responsible for performing the following duties:

• Provide empirically supported and culturally sensitive counselling services to WFP staff and if requested their dependents; this may include case management and referrals to other resources as required; • Provide pre and post deployment briefings to staff being deployed to emergency or hardship duty stations; • Based on data trends and requests from other divisions/units/offices develop and provide a range of trainings and programs including but not limited to team building, resilience, harassment, and cross-cultural sensitivity to improve morale, health, and team dynamics; • As part of a multidisciplinary team work closely with individuals and teams to address psychological risks at the individual, unit and organizational level; • When requested work closely with managers/supervisors towards improving the working atmosphere in their units; • Provide counselling services to individuals and/or groups during emergencies; provide services in a timely and sensitive manner to staff and dependents after critical incidents, and ensure follow up support for staff and dependents following critical events; • Support and maintain the WFP Peer Support Volunteer Network (PSV) through training and supervision; disseminate training materials and related protocols; • Identify and liaise with high quality local and regional mental health resources that can be used for referrals or in times of crisis; • In the best interests of staff members and the organization work in a collegial and professional manner with all units in the Staff Wellness Division to ensure continuity of care;

• Work as a part of a team to ensure divisional priorities are implemented consistent with the yearly divisional work plan and the Wellness Division Strategic Plan; • Develop and participate in multidisciplinary programmes in the Staff Wellness Division as well as Regional and Country Offices; • Manage the Wellbeing platform for Lebanon and Syria; • Be proactive in building partnerships with but not limited to HR and security that support staff within the agency and also with other agencies or relevant organizations; • Contribute to the development of policies and guidelines, as well as written and visual materials to increase awareness regarding important themes and topics related to Staff Wellness; • Complete administrative duties such as maintain statistics on activities and completing reporting requirements as per the requirement in the Staff Wellness Division; • Participate and collaborate in UNSSCG, CISMU activities and working groups; • Maintain the highest ethical standards related to the provision of psychological services consistent with the Wellness Code of Ethics; • Perform other duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Doctorate, Masters or equivalent) in Clinical or Counselling Psychology, Psychiatry or demonstrably equivalent studies from a recognized institution.
• The candidate must hold active licensure/registration as a mental health professional with a recognized governing association and be a member of that organization in good standing.
• Additional training or certification in a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, resilience, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, mediation, trauma etc. will be an advantage.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible and professional post graduate experience relevant to the field is required.
• Experience either working in a hardship location or providing counselling services to staff working under very difficult and insecure environments is an asset.

Language:

• Fluent in oral and written English (proficiency/Level C).
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese is an advantage.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Broad knowledge of all facets of the field of counselling and ability to provide an environment in which others can talk confidentially and act without fear or repercussions within a climate of established trust.
• Proven experience in coordinating or managing a team.
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentations) including the ability to defend and explain difficult issues and positions to staff at all levels.
• Ability to identify clients' needs and suggest appropriate solutions.
• Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients.
• Ability to contribute to the strategic vision of the Wellness division based on trends identified using a population health model.
• Excellent team player and value working with a multidisciplinary and culturally diverse team.
• Very good working knowledge of technology tools such as PowerPoint, Excel and Word.
• Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries and establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term as well as a rotational contract with a probationary period of one year.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. For more details please visit icsc.un.org

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

November 16, 2020

.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.