National Stress Counsellor (2 positions) Sana'a and Aden (Open to all applicants)

Background

In Yemen, UNDSS (United Nations Department of Safety and Security) supports the wellbeing of UN personnel through locally engaged National Stress Counsellors. Their primary responsibility will be to develop and maintain a sustainable stress management system applicable to all UN Agencies operating in the country with a ‘One UN’ approach, and to improve the critical incident stress management preparedness of the UN security system in case of emergencies. Their responsibilities include stress management, resilience building, and mental health support, particularly following critical incidents.

They play a key role in emergency preparedness, response, and follow-up services. National Stress Counsellors actively monitor stressors affecting UN staff, identify emerging trends, and customize psychosocial support initiatives to enhance overall wellbeing.

Their work is closely coordinated with local UN medical doctors, Regional Security Advisors, the HQ Medical Service Division, HR Officers, counsellors from other UN agencies, and UN leadership at all levels to ensure a comprehensive and unified approach to staff mental health and resilience.

Scope of Work

Under the administrative supervision of the Chief/Deputy Security Advisor and the technical guidance of the Critical Incident Stress Management Section (CISMS) Regional Counsellor, the National Stress Counsellor will administrate a wide range of stress management activities, actively participating in emergency preparedness in the country in collaboration with UNDSS and the UN country team partners as per the UN Policy on the Management of Stress and Critical Incident Stress (MSCIS 2015).

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Provision of Staff Wellbeing Support:

• Develop and implement a stress prevention and management plan applicable to all UN Agencies in the country;
• Provide individual and group stress management and critical incident counselling sessions to the staff and dependents as/when needed;
• Plan and facilitate preventative stress management training on a variety of stress related issues for UN personnel in the country and circulate useful reading resources related to stress;
• Perform ongoing psychosocial needs assessments and monitor the determinants of stress in UN personnel, including activities such as data collection, analyses, resource mapping and coordinating collective psychosocial capacity across UN agencies and partners.

2) Ensure Crisis Response and Follow Up:

• Guide and assist in establishing the Critical Incident Stress Intervention Cells (CISICs) including selecting Peer Helpers and Family Focal Points; facilitating peer helper training sessions (jointly with UNDSS CISMS); coordinating and following up on all relevant activities;
• Identify, address, and follow up on high stress cases and critical incident stress cases among the UN personnel and dependents in the country.

3) Ensure Management and Peer Support Coordination:

• Advise UN management on stress mitigating strategies and activities;
• Collaborate with UN managers, agency counsellors, medical doctors, local experts and institutions on psychosocial issues with the objective of establishing a network of professionals ready to support and intervene in case of need;
• Coordinate the Peer Support Personnel Network, including supervision and activity monitoring;
• Liaise with the existing Local Staff Association to advocate for the organization of welfare activities for UN personnel.

4) Ensure Field Support and Collaboration: 

• Be willing to visit & travel regularly to the UN Offices/Sub Offices in the country in order to implement preventative stress management training activities and offer technical consultations when needed;
• Under the guidance of the CISMS Regional Stress Counsellor, coordinate all critical incident stress management activities with relevant stake holders, including UN staff counsellors in the country and in neighboring countries, Peer Helpers, Family Focal Points, Mental Health Professionals etc. 

5) Ensure Reporting ,  Confidential Data Management and knowledge sharing: 

• Maintain confidential records on the CISMS IDM platform and analyze the trends;
• Provide monthly reports to the Chief Security Adviser with copies to the Regional Stress Counsellor at CISMS on all his/her activities;
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent will report to CSA, UNDSS Yemen.

HR - Duty of Care

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Social Work, Psychiatry (MD) or relevant field is required.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field in  combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level related to Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Social Work or Psychiatry is required.

Required  skills:

• Experience in dealing with international and national personnel and agencies would be required.

Desired additional skills:

• Proven track record of well-developed communication, leadership and team-building skills are desirable;
• Knowledge of and experience in gender mainstreaming is desirable;
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in addressing cultural sensitivity issues, including the ability to navigate and manage diverse cultural contexts with respect and understanding is desirable;
• Prior experience in advising management of an organization on stress mitigating strategies and activities is desired; 
• Demonstrated experience in conducting preventative stress management training activities is an advantage; 
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating critical incident stress management activities with relevant stake holders, professional bodies and/ or partners is an asset. 

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Arabic required.

Professional Certificates:

• A license to practice as a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist or a Counselling Psychologist by a certified body in country (i.e. psychological council or medical council or equivalent) is required. 
• Additional certification, training and/or experience in a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, psychosomatic disease, behavioral problems, psychosocial programming would be an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.