Mental Health Specialist

Posting Closing Date: Friday, July 21, 2023

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is a global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that demonstrates God’s love and compassion. ADRA works with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change through empowering partnerships and responsible action.

ADRA International is a religiously qualified Equal Opportunity Employer under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. As such we have the right to prefer a member of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church in the hiring process. In the event that a qualified SDA candidate is not found, we will give the opportunity to candidates who must understand, respect, and honor the mission, purpose, and identity of ADRA International.

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SUMMARY

As part of the Health, Nutrition, and WASH Unit, the Mental Health Specialist will provide technical support to ADRA’s development and emergency health programs in the areas of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and assist in the pursuit of related opportunities. The Specialist will be based in Silver Spring and provide support across programs. Under the supervision of the Director for Health, Nutrition, and WASH, s/he will ensure the achievement of expected results outlined in the Essential Job Functions below, in harmony with ADRA’s Mission, Beliefs, Strategic Priorities, and in compliance with ADRA Operating Procedures and Policies.

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OUTCOMES

• ADRA’s development and emergency health and nutrition programs receive the necessary technical support on Mental Health to comply with industry standards and donor requirements.
• ADRA’s pursuit for funding receives the necessary technical support to design and negotiate applications for programs that are in harmony with ADRA’s Mission, Beliefs, Strategic Priorities and meet donors’ expectations.

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PRE-REQUISITES

Required

• Master’s degree or higher in mental health, social work, clinical psychology, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience working with an international PVO/NGO, USG, multilateral or private sector institution on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support programs, including interventions in international development and humanitarian settings.
• Significant international and/or cross-cultural experience.
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with USG and international authorities, donors, clients, NGOs, professional/affinity associations and institutions.
• Knowledge of the IASC MHPSS guidelines in emergency settings.
• Knowledge and connections with global and domestic public health and related networks with focus on mental health.
• Demonstrated understanding of current and emerging mental health related issues prevalent in low to middle income countries.
• mh-GAP training and supervision experience.
• Ability to support the technical design in proposal development processes, strategy sessions and develop “win themes” as related to mental health programing.
• Excellent written communication skills, including ability to draft and edit technical components of proposals, donor’s reports and publications.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.

• Experience in community-based PSS programming.

• Ability to advise and mentor a diverse team of technical experts and field practitioners.
• Capacity to provide remote as well as in person technical support to projects located in the field, using electronic and online tools and platforms and field visits.
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft products or equivalent
• Advanced written and verbal ability in English required.

Preferred

• Second language: Arabic, French or Spanish.
• Experience on research that is relevant to advancing community health.

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BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES

• Relating and Networking (3.1)- Establishes good relationships with colleagues; builds wide and effective networks.

• Presenting and Communicating Information (3.3)- Speaks clearly and fluently; expresses opinions, information, and key points of an argument clearly.

• Writing and Reporting (4.1)- Writes clearly, succinctly, and correctly; writes convincingly in an engaging and expressive manner.

• Applying Expertise and Technology (4.2)- Applies specialist and detailed technical expertise.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

Functional Responsibilities

1. Technical Support

• Identifies and applies Mental Health best practices, trends, priorities and innovative methodologies to enhance the quality and effectiveness of ADRA programs.
• Supports the development and updating of ADRA’s health technical strategies, standards and protocols.
• Prepares and plans annual individual work plans.
• Collects and makes available resources, tools and provides technical capacity building to Network health implementers or Country Offices interested in adding mental health to their programing.
• Maintains good working relationships and communication with ADRA Network, country teams, donors, partners and other key stakeholders.
• In collaboration with the Program Implementation Unit, provides guidance, recommendations, and capacity building to implementing offices.
• Ensures that various donor and international humanitarian standards related to mental health are adhered to through program reviews and site visits.
• Supports data collection for baseline surveys, qualitative and quantitative surveys on mental health services and metrics.
• Adapts or where necessary create training curricula.

1. New Business

• Work closely with team to identify and respond to new funding opportunities, leading and supporting with technical designs, technical reviews, and defense of submissions.

1. Representation

• Utilizes program data and research to author papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals and abstracts for presentations.
• Represent ADRA at domestic and international meetings through presentations.

• Support ADRA M&D efforts by providing information to further the ADRA image, reputation and fundraising.
• Engage and position ADRA in NGO consortia and with university colleagues working in international development.

1. Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

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TRAVEL

Up to 35% domestic and international travel required. Must have the ability to travel on short notice if necessary.

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MENTAL/EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to work in a fast-paced and customer service-oriented environment; to perform duties under pressure and meet deadlines in a timely manner; to work as part of a team as well as to complete assignments independently; to take instructions from supervisors; to exercise problem-solving skills; and to interact with co-workers, supervisors, network employees, donors and the public in a professional and pleasant manner.

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PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA)

Person must be able to perform essential job functions with or without accommodation. Incumbent should be in optimal health for difficult and temporary below-basic living conditions at overseas locations and for field travel in general.

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Committee Membership

• N/A

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WORK BASE

The position is based in Silver Spring, MD, United States of America. Remote work may be negotiated.

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Qualifications