GSO Mental Health, Psychosocial Support & Protection Advisor

Starting Date / Initial Contract Details

September 2025. Full or part-time position (70% minimum). Open-ended contract.

Role Summary 

The MHPSS-Protection Advisor provides technical leadership and strategic oversight for integrating MHPSS and protection into Medair’s humanitarian programmes. The role supports country teams and Medair’s Global Support Office (GSO) in designing, implementing, and supervising high-quality MHPSS interventions, while guiding future strategy and capacity building across the organisation.

Project Overview 

This role sits within the Health and Nutrition Advisor team in Medair’s International Programmes Department at GSO. The sectoral advisory team ensures technical quality across emergency responses through strategic guidance, capacity building, and review of programme design. It supports country teams with global standards, training, and input into proposals and reports.

Workplace & Conditions 

Global Support Office (GSO) position based in Lausanne, Switzerland, remote work may be possible (Medair alumni). Travel to Medair country programs on average once per quarter for 2-3 weeks.  

Responsibilities

• Programme quality: Programme Quality: Provide technical MHPSS input across the project cycle, ensuring alignment with global standards and Medair’s strategic approach.

• Training & Supervision: Develop and deliver MHPSS training plans and materials, supporting staff capacity through inductions, workshops, and online sessions.

• Strategy Development: Review and update Medair’s MHPSS strategy, define appropriate activities, and identify resources and policies for implementation.

• Representation: Act as Medair’s MHPSS technical lead, engaging in networks and reviewing communications and proposals for technical accuracy.

• Staff Care: Advise HR on mental well-being policies and regularly review Thrive resilience reports to support staff care initiatives.

Qualifications, Experience & Technical Competencies  

• Licensed mental health or behavioural professional with degree in psychology or related field.  

• Experience in MHPSS within international humanitarian programmes in relief settings.

• Proven ability to manage MHPSS projects, supervise staff, and lead planning, training, and reporting.

• Specialized knowledge of MHPSS with familiarity in WHO and IASC standards.

• Excellent spoken and written English, French or Arabic is an asset

Behavioural Skills  

• Strong servant leadership skills with a consultative management style

• Creative, open-minded, flexible, self-learner, with good understanding of cross-cultural issues 

• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels

• Able to oversee multiple tasks, prioritising and delegating as required  

• Able to cope with basic living conditions during country programme trips

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Team Spiritual Life

Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, people we serve, and external contacts. Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based teams. Fully contribute to a rich spiritual team life, including team devotion, prayer, and words of encouragement.

Before you apply

Please ensure you are fully aware of the:

1. Medair organisational values.

1. Medair is committed to safeguarding the protection of beneficiaries, volunteers, staff and partners, and particularly children. Therefore, we do not employ staff whose background we understand to be unsuitable for working with children. Medair staff are required to give the utmost respect to, and comply with, Medair’s accountability policies and best practices.

1. Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC) (which forms part of the recruitment selection process for field positions).

Application Process

To apply, go to this vacancy on our Medair page. Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed.

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