Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) Team Leader

Mothers and Children Multisectoral Development Organization (MCMDO) is a national Non- Governmental Organization registered in accordance with the proclamation for Civil Society Organizations Proclamation No 1113/2019 with a certificate No 0022. MCMDO is currently implementing emergency response and development projects in all regions and City Administrations in Ethiopia.

To meet its objectives MCMDO calls for competent professionals to apply for the following vacant position.

Position: Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) Team Leader

Duty Station: Afar Region, Zone 4, Yalo Woreda

Salary: Based on organization’s salary scale

Number of Post: 1

Type of Employment: One year Contract

Job Summary:

The MHPSS Team Leader provides technical leadership and clinical supervision for all Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities in Yalo Woreda. This role is responsible for ensuring that the 1,500 targeted counseling sessions and community-based psychosocial interventions are trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and integrated with GBV and Child Protection services.

Core Duties:

Technical Leadership & Clinical Supervision

• Supervise the mobile MHPSS outreach team and provide technical guidance on Level 2 psychosocial interventions and individual counseling.
• Ensure all MHPSS activities follow the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.
• Lead the capacity-building program for 24 frontline health workers on Psychological First Aid (PFA) and basic trauma-informed care.

Mobile Outreach & Service Delivery

• Coordinate the daily deployment of mobile MHPSS teams to remote IDP sites and drought-affected kebeles.
• Provide direct counseling for high-risk cases that require specialized psychological support beyond the scope of caseworkers.
• Train and supervise community volunteers in identifying psychological distress and conducting PFA during emergencies.

Coordination & Integration

• Work closely with the Protection Officer to ensure MHPSS is seamlessly integrated into GBV and Child Protection referral pathways.
• Represent MCMDO in the MHPSS technical working groups and health/protection coordination meetings at the Woreda and Zonal levels.

Monitoring & Documentation

• Ensure all counseling logs and beneficiary records are kept strictly confidential and secure.
• Monitor the effectiveness of MHPSS interventions through pre- and post-session well- being assessments.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or Psychiatric Nursing.
• A Master’s degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology is preferred

Experience

• Minimum 4 years of professional experience in MHPSS program implementation, preferably in emergency or displacement contexts

Technical Skills

• Proven experience in providing individual and group counseling.
• Expertise in Psychological First Aid (PFA) and the IASC MHPSS pyramid of intervention.

Language & Communication

• English & Amharic: Professional fluency (written and spoken)
• Afar’af: Proficiency in the local language is a significant advantage for effective direct communication with beneficiaries

Soft Skills & Physical Requirements

• High emotional intelligence, resilience, and the ability to mentor staff dealing with vicarious trauma.
• Ability and willingness to live and work full-time in a remote, high-temperature, and high- stress environment with basic infrastructure.
• Absolute commitment to PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) and the MCMDO Code of Conduct.