Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Zonal Officer

Background of ERCS

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) Oromia Regional Branch invites qualified applicants for the following vacant position. ERCS has been operating in Ethiopia since July 8, 1935, working in humanitarian and development interventions. It is an auxiliary to the government, working with partners such as IFRC, ICRC, and various National Societies.

Position Details

• Job Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Zonal Officer
• Project: ERCS-Swedish RC Migration Project
• Work Unit: Zonal Branch
• Reports to: Zonal Branch head/ Program Manager
• Place of Work: Oromia Region: Jimma Zonal Branch
• Salary: Branch Scale
• Terms of Employment: 12 months with the possibility of an extension
• Number of required:- 1 (One) for Jimma Zone

Job Summary

The MHPSS Zonal Officer will support the implementation of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) interventions under the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS)–Swedish Red Cross Migration Project funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The position aims to improve the psychosocial wellbeing, resilience, protection, and social functioning of vulnerable returnees and host communities affected by migration-related challenges in Jimma Zone.

Many returnees experience psychological distress due to unsafe migration journeys, displacement, family separation, exploitation, trauma, stigma, loss of livelihoods, and uncertainty regarding reintegration into their communities. Host communities may also face increased stress associated with economic hardship, limited social services, and pressure on community resources. In response, ERCS, through its Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Department, implements community-based MHPSS and protection interventions that promote resilience, social cohesion, dignity, and inclusion.

The MHPSS Officer will ensure quality implementation of psychosocial support interventions through ERCS volunteers, community structures, and local partnerships. The role includes strengthening community-based psychosocial support systems, facilitating referrals for specialized care, enhancing community awareness, and supporting staff and volunteer wellbeing while upholding humanitarian principles and protection standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and implement MHPSS activities in target areas in line with project objectives and ERCS guidelines.
• Conduct psychosocial awareness sessions, community outreach activities, and psychoeducation initiatives for returnees and host communities.
• Facilitate Psychological First Aid (PFA), lay counselling, and community-based psychosocial support (CBPSS) activities.
• Identify vulnerable individuals requiring specialized support and facilitate safe, dignified, and confidential referrals to appropriate service providers.
• Conduct comprehensive referral mapping and strengthen referral mechanisms with health facilities, protection actors, and local stakeholders.
• Provide technical support, mentoring, and supportive supervision to ERCS volunteers delivering MHPSS interventions.
• Organize and facilitate trainings for ERCS volunteers, community representatives, and local government staff on PFA, CBPSS, protection principles, safeguarding, and community awareness.
• Conduct regular wellbeing assessments for beneficiaries, staff, and volunteers and recommend appropriate support measures.
• Facilitate peer support groups, resilience-building activities, and social cohesion initiatives within target communities.
• Support implementation of staff and volunteer care initiatives, including quarterly peer support sessions and social activities.
• Design and implement context-specific MHPSS activities addressing the unique needs of returnees, vulnerable migrants, and host communities.
• Develop detailed activity work plans and ensure timely implementation of planned activities.
• Prepare regular activity reports, progress updates, case documentation, and other project-related reports.
• Ensure safeguarding, confidentiality, protection, and humanitarian standards are consistently maintained throughout project implementation.
• Coordinate closely with project staff, branch teams, local authorities, health actors, and community structures to ensure integrated service delivery.
• Perform other related duties assigned by the Project Coordinator or ERCS management.

Language

• Fluency in English (spoken and written).
• Fluency in Amharic (spoken and written).
• Knowledge of local languages relevant to the project areas is an added advantage.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Counselling, Social Work, Sociology, Psychiatry Nursing, or a related field.
• Additional training in MHPSS, Psychological First Aid (PFA), Community-Based MHPSS, or protection programming is an advantage.

Experience and Knowledge

• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support programming.
• Experience working with returnees, migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs), conflict-affected populations, or vulnerable communities.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience in Psychological First Aid (PFA), lay counselling, Community-Based MHPSS (CBPSS), psychoeducation, and referral systems.
• Experience facilitating trainings, mentoring volunteers, and conducting supportive supervision.
• Good understanding of protection principles, safeguarding, confidentiality, and humanitarian standards.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, facilitation, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work independently under pressure and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Experience working with community structures, government institutions, and humanitarian partners is desirable.
• Familiarity with the Ethiopian humanitarian and migration context, particularly in Oromia Region.
• Commitment to the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.