Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) manages UNOPS' New York-based portfolios, delivering project and programme management, procurement, HR, and financial services to global partners, from the UN Secretariat to Member States. NYPO strategically positions UNOPS with these partners, fostering collaboration to achieve growth and leveraging expertise in global portfolio design and implementation. We support the broader SDGs and 2030 Agenda, primarily assisting the UN Secretariat and other New York-based UN entities with a global reach. NYPO encompasses the Peace and Security Cluster (PSC), focusing on explosive threat management, and the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC), providing diverse operational support to the UN system in New York.

The UNOPS Ukraine and Eastern Europe MCO (UEMCO) operates in Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland, supporting urgent humanitarian needs while building pathways for recovery and development. In Ukraine, UEMCO delivers large-scale infrastructure, energy, housing, education, and mine action projects in partnership with UN agencies, international financial institutions, the European Union, and bilateral donors. Its agile portfolio responds to fast-evolving needs with strong procurement and implementation capacity. In Moldova, UEMCO supports justice sector reform and is exploring opportunities to expand its role across public sector modernization and infrastructure. In Poland, UEMCO works with government and private sector actors to strengthen ties with UN procurement and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, leveraging Poland’s EU experience to support Ukraine’s future accession and integration.

The UNOPS Ukraine Mine Action Programme is providing planned MHPSS support as part of an integrated project to Ukrainian law enforcement. As part of this programme, UNOPS is recruiting a qualified MHPSS Specialist to design and deliver MHPSS and trauma resilience components into the training curriculum for personnel. The role involves working closely with the law enforcement’s existing MHPSS Representative and UNOPS Mine Action Team.

As part of UNOPS’ partnership with Ukrainian law enforcement to support Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) capacities, the MHPSS Specialist will lead the design and implementation of the mental health component of the programmer. The incumbent is also responsible for working with Law Enforcement representatives to map the baseline needs and ongoing initiatives and to translate this into a training curriculum.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the MHPSS Specialist will be responsible for the overall design and delivery of mental health and psychosocial support activities, including but not limited to:

1. Needs Assessment and Program Planning

• Conduct desk review and structured interviews with MHPSS representatives and stakeholders (ex. potential IEDD specialists) to inform the programme as well as providing technical input for the programme’s design.

• Meet with the stakeholder agency’s MHPSS department to understand current work that can be amplified, assess MHPSS needs, and discuss the appropriate language and framing of the MHPSS topics.

• Identify target audiences and stakeholders in coordination with the (Project Manager or supervisor), tailoring outreach strategies accordingly within established programmatic guidelines.

• Support the alignment of MHPSS efforts with the Law Enforcement agency by liaising with similar initiatives happening in Ukraine currently, to ground the programme and support its sustainability.

• Produce a brief report detailing findings, observations, and recommendations based on structured interviews.

• Contribute to the finalization of the scope of work for MHPSS by providing technical inputs, in coordination with the beneficiaries, to ensure the work complements existing procedures and does not duplicate support. Support the (Project Manager or Supervisor) in obtaining formal approval from relevant stakeholders.

• Coordinate with the UNOPS Mine Action Team to integrate MHPSS activities within the greater programme.

2. Training Development and Delivery

• Contribute to the design, develop, and facilitation of MHPSS-specific modules, incorporating elements such as:

  • MHPSS Training of Trainers (ToT): Training on Psychological First Aid, MHPSS, and self-care.n

  • Team Leader Skills: Modules for team leaders to recognize and respond to signs of stress, burnout, and interpersonal conflict.

  • Psychological Safety: Training on creating psychologically safe team environments and managing diverse teams.

  • Safeguarding: Training on safeguarding and reporting misconduct with support from UNOPS Ukraine Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Focal Point.

• Support the potential development of an additional day of training on first responders/medics to detect and refer/respond to public mental health needs.

• Work closely with the UNOPS Mine Action Team’s Gender and Diversity Inclusion Specialist to ensure an intersectional approach is applied to all activities.

3. Direct Support to Trainees

• Provide MHPSS support to those in training, which may include group sessions or exercises, linking participants to existing services – based on need and feasibility.

4. Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives, contributing insights and lessons learned from the implementation of this project to the greater MHPSS sector in Ukraine and in UNOPS.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in psychology, psychiatry, social work, or a closely related mental health or social sciences discipline or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required

Required

• Relevant experience is work on the development of MHPSS training and capacity building programs for non-mental health professionals or related areas.

• At least 2 years experience facilitating and delivering MHPSS training to diverse audiences.

• At least 1 year experience conducting organizational assessments related to MHPSS, ideally within high-risk or security-sector environments.

• Willingness to travel within Ukraine, subject to security restrictions.

Desired

• Experience working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations.

• Experience working with the police forces, military, veteran organizations, and/or with similar populations that work within high-stress and trauma environments.

• Strong coordination and program management skills.

• Ability to work within short timeframes and high-pressure environments.

• Strong advocate for MHPSS with teams that are not well sensitized to this topic.

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