Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Advisor

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Advisor provides strategic and technical leadership for MHPSS programming in development and humanitarian contexts. The role ensures evidence-based, well monitored, and technically sound MHPSS programming contributing to quality programming, donor engagement, evidence generation, learning, advocacy, and program development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, periodic review, and implementation of the country MHPSS strategy, thematic plans, and emergency preparedness priorities aligned with the Country Strategic Plan.
• Provide strategic leadership on the MHPSS component of the Country Strategic Plan ensuring coherence across psychosocial support, non-specialized services, referral pathways, child protection, health, education, and other integrated programming.
• Monitor changes in national and humanitarian contexts and guide timely strategic adjustments to maintain program quality and impact.
• Provide technical leadership and advisory support to ensure quality, integration, and effectiveness of MHPSS programming across development and humanitarian responses.
• Guide design and integration of evidence-based MHPSS interventions reflecting safeguarding, inclusion, disability, gender, and resilience considerations.
• Provide technical review and quality assurance of program designs, proposals, evaluations, and learning products.
• Ensure MHPSS programs adhere to international, national, and organizational standards including safeguarding and ethical practice.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor program quality, provide mentoring and technical support, and identify emerging needs.
• Provide or oversee technical guidance for focused MHPSS support to complex cases ensuring appropriate referral pathways and confidentiality.
• Support development and implementation of an MHPSS MEAL plan linking reporting requirements and strengthening capacity of staff and partners.
• Lead MHPSS or multi-sectoral technical assessments and ensure documentation and analysis of mental health and psychosocial support needs.
• Drive MHPSS innovation, learning and evidence agenda including documentation and application of lessons learned.
• Identify MHPSS staffing and capacity needs and contribute to workforce planning supporting program quality and sustainability.
• Ensure robust supervision framework and capacitate senior MHPSS staff and partners to supervise junior staff.
• Lead learning needs assessments and develop capacity strengthening plans including training on psychosocial support, safe practice, referrals, staff care and inclusion.
• Oversee development and delivery of technical guidance and training materials to improve program quality and consistency.
• Provide technical support and advice to HR on staff well-being policies and practices to reduce burnout and strengthen quality of care.
• Represent Save the Children in inter-agency coordination mechanisms, technical working groups and sector forums.
• Ensure program results, learning and evidence are shared to inform sector practice and national dialogue on MHPSS.
• Support development of external communications and media products related to MHPSS programming.
• Identify MHPSS priorities, evidence gaps and funding opportunities and support fundraising and proposal development.
• Ensure advocacy initiatives are informed by program evidence and assessments focusing on equitable access to quality MHPSS services.
• Contribute to country office risk management including program, safeguarding and duty-of-care risks related to MHPSS.
• Develop and maintain strong internal relationships with program managers, finance, and support teams contributing to planning and reporting.
• Comply with all Save the Children policies, values and standards and contribute to a culture of learning and technical excellence.
• Support mainstreaming of safeguarding policy within MHPSS program design and implementation.
• Collaborate with Program Operations to ensure activities are safe for children and adults and ensure meaningful participation.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in psychology, psychiatry, mental health, public mental health, or a related field.
• Relevant professional registration or clinical qualification in psychology or psychiatry is a strong asset.
• Minimum 8 to 10 years’ experience working in MHPSS programs in development and/or humanitarian contexts.
• At least 3 to 5 years’ experience providing technical support to MHPSS programming for children, adolescents and caregivers, including community-based support and referral systems.
• Strong knowledge of evidence-based MHPSS approaches, public mental health systems in Egypt, and inter-agency standards and guidance relevant to MHPSS.
• Proven capacity for mentoring, coaching, and training staff and partners on MHPSS-related topics, including safety and ethical practice, inclusion, and staff care.
• Experience in program design, proposal development, technical quality assurance, and donor engagement.
• Experience in senior-level representation with government, donors, technical working groups, and inter-agency forums.
• Ability to write clear, well-argued assessments, concept notes, reports, and learning products.
• Excellent communication and people skills, with the ability to influence change at operational and strategic levels.
• Fluency in Arabic and proficient written and spoken English.
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver results within tight deadlines.

Skills

• Mental Health Program Development
• Psychosocial Support
• MHPSS Technical Support
• Community-Based Project Support
• Referral Systems Knowledge
• Evidence-Based MHPSS Approaches
• Public Mental Health Systems
• Inter-Agency Standards Compliance
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Training on MHPSS Topics
• Safety and Ethical Practice
• Inclusion in MHPSS
• Staff Care
• Proposal Development
• Technical Quality Assurance
• Donor Engagement Strategies
• Senior-Level Representation
• Government Liaison
• Report Writing
• Assessment Writing

Languages

Arabic, English