Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist will lead the design and implementation of mental health components within the UNOPS Ukraine Mine Action Programme, focusing on capacity development for Ukrainian law enforcement personnel. The role includes conducting needs assessments, developing training curricula, delivering training, and providing direct MHPSS support to trainees.

Responsibilities

• Conduct desk review and structured interviews with MHPSS representatives and stakeholders to inform programme design
• Meet with stakeholder agency’s MHPSS department to assess needs and discuss appropriate framing of MHPSS topics
• Identify target audiences and tailor outreach strategies within programmatic guidelines
• Support alignment of MHPSS efforts with Law Enforcement agency and liaise with similar initiatives in Ukraine
• Produce a report detailing findings, observations, and recommendations based on structured interviews
• Contribute technical inputs to finalize scope of work for MHPSS ensuring complementarity and avoiding duplication
• Support formal approval process from relevant stakeholders
• Coordinate with UNOPS Mine Action Team to integrate MHPSS activities within the programme
• Design, develop, and facilitate MHPSS-specific training modules including Psychological First Aid, self-care, team leader skills, psychological safety, and safeguarding
• Support development of additional training for first responders/medics to detect and respond to public mental health needs
• Work closely with Gender and Diversity Inclusion Specialist to ensure intersectional approach
• Provide MHPSS support to trainees including group sessions and linking to existing services
• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives contributing insights and lessons learned to the greater MHPSS sector in Ukraine and UNOPS

Requirements

• 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
• Relevant experience in 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
• Experience working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations (desired)
• Experience working with police forces, military, veteran organizations, and/or similar populations in high-stress and trauma environments (desired)
• Strong coordination and program management skills (desired)
• Ability to work within short timeframes and high-pressure environments (desired)
• Strong advocate for MHPSS with teams not well sensitized to this topic (desired)
• Basic proficiency in English required
• Fluent proficiency in Ukrainian required

Skills

• MHPSS Staff Training
• Capacity Building
• Training Delivery
• Organizational Assessments
• Mental Health Support
• Psychosocial Support
• Programme Management
• Coordination
• Needs Assessment
• Working in High-Stress Environments
• Working with Law Enforcement
• Multicultural Environment Experience
• MHPSS Advocacy
• Protection Sector Experience

Languages

English, Ukrainian