Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.

MSF OCB is currently looking for a:

STAFF PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY MANAGER 

INTERSECTIONAL PSYCHO-SOCIAL CARE UNIT – MENA Amman Department: Human Resources         Level: 10 IRFFG

Starting date: ASAP       Workplace: Position based in Amman

Hierarchal and Functional line management of: N/A    Duration: 1 year

Reports hierarchically to: Psycho-Social Unit (PSU) Coordinator, located in Amman                Mobility: required

Functional reporting line to: OCB Psychosocial Service, located in Brussels    Internal relationships: Other Amman Office team members, OCB Staff Health Unit, PSU colleagues, Cells, projects HoMs/MedCos, and HRCos.

External relationships: psychologists’ referral network.

 CONTEXT

OCB Psychosocial Service

The psychosocial service of the Staff Health Unit (SHU) is in charge of defining and implementing the psychosocial support strategy necessary for the staff working for MSF OCB (international mobile staff and locally hired staff). The psychosocial support offered is a set of preventive measures aimed at reducing the risks to the well-being and mental health of MSF workers.

The psychosocial team of MSF-OCB in Brussels is composed as follows:

- 3 psychologists, based in Brussels, to support locally hired staff and international mobile staff working in MSF-OCB projects, amongst which one team leader.

- 1 psychologist to support staff working at MSF's headquarters in Brussels

The unit collaborates closely with external health providers, partners, and networks, with other MSF operational centers, MSF partner sections, and other MSF entities in the field.

Amman Psycho-Social Unit

The Amman Psycho-Social Care Unit (PSCU) is an intersectional unit aiming at supporting MSF Arabic-speaking staff in the MENA region and beyond, currently covering around 26 projects in the region.

The Unit mainly focuses on dedicated support to MSF Locally Hired Staff (LHS) while referring International Mobile Staff (IMS) to the various OCs PSCU.

The advertised position concerns the recruitment of an Arabic-speaking psychologist, based in Amman, in charge of providing psychological support to MSF OCB staff in the MENA region (Arabic-speaking colleagues).

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES – OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

The staff psychologist is responsible for providing psychosocial support to MSF OCB teams in the MENA region, with a focus on the emergency context missions (Gaza and West Bank, Lebanon, Sudan, and Syria) mainly targeting Locally Hired Staff – LHS - and exceptionally Internationally Mobile Staff – IMS - if required by the OC PSCU, according to MSF principles, standards and procedures to improve the staff mental health and wellbeing.

The staff psychologist will be part of the Amman Psycho-Social Unit (PSCU) team and will technically report to the OCB HQ psychosocial service. The position is based in Amman, supporting priority Arabic-speaking OCB project staff in the MENA region, but participating as well in the common objectives of the MENA PSCU (with the possibility to support elsewhere or other OC staff according to the needs).

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

• In collaboration with the Amman PSCU, the OCB PSCU, and the Medical Coordinators/Staff Health Responsible for the projects, participate in analyzing the stress factors linked to work and in defining a strategy to provide an adequate response to the psychosocial risks encountered by MSF projects’ staff.

• Promote and support the practical implementation of a preventive strategy for psychosocial risks in each context.

• Provide group psychoeducation sessions to staff on stress management and mental health issues to enhance their well-being at work.

• Provide individual support (face to face or remotely) to staff that request it, based on short-term intervention and focused on symptom reduction and promoting coping strategies.

• Provide psychosocial support to OCB IMS staff, upon request of OCB PSCU.

• Organize the psychosocial support to staff during and after critical incidents by defining the strategy of support, monitoring its implementation, and offering support (remotely or face to face, in groups or individually) to involved teams.

• Review and adapt technical materials, tools, and documents of staff support to the context, in order to provide the most appropriate support to staff.

• Provide training and guidance to team leaders and coordinators on staff well-being, mental health, and prevention of stress.

• Mapping and regularly updating the network of external mental health services to develop a referral network for staff needing psychotherapeutic or psychiatric care.

• Coordinate with staff health responsible or PMR/Medical coordinator the referral of staff to psychiatric treatment or specialized services if needed.

• Ensure that all staff-related information is kept confidential

Inform relevant managers in the projects of any organizational stress factors that cause distress in staff and that could be addressed while ensuring that confidentiality is kept.

• Keep a close collaboration with potential local psychologists and/or consultants who are providing psychosocial support to staff in the projects.

• In case of need, take part in the recruitment and technical assessment process for the identification of new local mental health professionals for staff support in the projects.

• If relevant, conduct field visits to the following contexts.

• Compile all data related to psychosocial support activities and produce a monthly report to the MENA PSCU coordinator/OCB PSCU.

• Collaborate with other psychologists of the PSCU MENA unit and be open to ensure back-ups, in case of need.

• According to availabilities, take part in PSCU MENA activities in the Amman office.

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Master's degree in psychology - Preferably in clinical psychology

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in the mental health sector

- Individual and group clinical experience

• Experience in managing psychosocial projects is an asset

• Previous experience in supporting staff is an asset

• Humanitarian experience in projects, preferably with MSF

Competencies

• Ability to work in a team and independently

• Good organizational capacity and flexibility

• Able to express oneself in groups and to lead trainings

• Good self-awareness and stress management skills

• Analytical, reflective, and writing skills

• Ability to collaborate with diverse professional profiles and nationalities

Languages

• Very good oral and written command of English (C2) and Arabic (mother tongue)

• Other languages commonly used by MSF (French) are a major asset

Other

• Willingness and ability to travel abroad and compliance with preventive health measures requested by MSF

• Flexibility to travel with possible short notice in case of a critical incident

• Able to work in hardship and risky conditions (considering MSF security measures)

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: ASAP

• Location: based in Amman (Jordan), with potential travels to projects abroad and short emergency interventions

• Contract type: 12 months Jordanian contract full-time (100%) – with potential extension

• Salary according to MSF grid (Level 10) 2,234 JOD

• Adhere to the MSF principles and our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment

Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Applications (curriculum vitae in English + cover letter) must be submitted no later than the 1st of February 2025. In the email subject line, please state the job title, STAFF PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY MANAGER, in English.

HRManager.Support@amman.msf.org

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

MSF values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

The protection of your personal data is important to MSF. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data. For more information, please consult our privacy notice to job applicants.

The protection of your personal data is important to MSF. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data. For more information, please consult our privacy notice to job applicants.