UNWFP - Beirut - Staff Counsellor NOB

- This position is open to qualified Lebanese candidates only.

-  Women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

- Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

This Vacancy Announcement will close on 25 October 2022 at 11:59 PM Rome Time.

Contract Duration: 12 Months (Renewable based on business need and performance)

Organizational background

Assisting more than 90 million people in 123 countries and territories each year, the World Food Program (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies partnering with governments, and providing common services that allow the entire humanitarian community to save lives in emergencies and build the resilience of food insecure people and communities. 
As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty.

WFP Lebanon provides humanitarian assistance to nearly 1.1 million vulnerable persons, in the form of unrestricted assistance in-kind and cash-based transfers. WFP Lebanon also provides food assistance in the form of snack and fresh food to school aged students and their families. This support is designed to improve the students’ health and make them and their families more motivated to pursue the children’s right to education.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

To know more about WFP’s mission, please check the below video:https://www.facebook.com/WorldFoodProgramme/videos/10154930622760178/

Organizational Context: The position is located in the Beirut Country Office in Lebanon and involves regular travel in Lebanon and Syria.  The incumbent reports to the Head of Wellness & Staff Counselling.

Job Purpose: The Staff Counsellor will report to the Head of Wellness & Staff Counselling who is based between the Lebanon and Syria Country Offices. Key requirements of the position will be the ability to provide counselling support to WFP Staff and their immediate family members as well as offering training, workshops and interventions to management and staff. This may involve speaking to large groups in public in-person and online. Frequent travel is required from the Staff Counsellor to support staff in locations across Lebanon and Syria, at times on short notice based on operational needs, also at times to remote and difficult locations to provide support to staff.

Key Responsibilities (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of Head of Wellness & Staff Counselling, the Staff Counsellor will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provide culturally sensitive psychosocial support to individuals, groups of staff and/or their immediate family members, to ensure staff are assisted in difficult situations and that comprehensive assessments and treatment plans are prepared.
• Provide active psychosocial support during emergencies and/or after critical incidents to ensure continued staff well-being.
• Actively engage with management and staff to establish relationships based on trust and respect.
• Support staff in their personal development by helping them make best use of the available feedback mechanisms.
• Deliver workshops, trainings, and information sessions on a wide range of topics (e.g. stress management, team-building, problem-solving, conflict resolution, etc.) to ensure that staff regularly receive relevant information, and are aware of sources where to find information or assistance.
• Contribute to the design of corporate policies and guidelines, design information booklets/materials to increase awareness of important themes and promote staff welfare.
• Contribute towards the activities of the Wellness Support Volunteers (WSV) network and Wellness Committee.
• Prepare comprehensive reports, plan budget for missions, trainings and plan and implement other staff counselling activities to ensure the provision of cohesive counselling services.
• Hold accountability for maintenance of professional confidentiality at all times, practice ethics, actively engage with staff, listen to their concerns, and stay approachable.
• Travel regularly between Country and Field Offices in Lebanon and Syria.
• Perform other related duties, as required.

Standard Minimum Qualifications:    

Education: Advanced University degree (i.e. Master's degree or higher) in Psychology, Psychiatry, Counselling or other related field, or other relevant fields or First University degree in a relevant field (i.e. Bachelor’s degree) with additional years of related work experience or training/courses. Registration as a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Counsellor or equivalent in Lebanon is required. 

Experience: At least three (3) or more years of postgraduate professional experience (after completion of Advanced University degree) in the field of mental health, preferably including experience working with UN or other humanitarian organizations, or, five (5) years or more after completion of First University degree.

Language:  Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic. Knowledge of French language is an added advantage.

Desired Experiences for entry into the role:

The candidate should have the following qualifications, experience and skills:

• Specialist expertise in the assessment of mental health needs and the assessment of risk to staff wellness.
• Broad knowledge of all facets of counselling services and demonstrated skills to create a trusted environment in which others can talk confidentially.
• Ability to manage staff needs in crisis situations which involve diverse actors and stakeholders.
• Ability to identify clients’ needs and suggest appropriate solutions.
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentation).
• Conflict resolution and mediation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all genders and diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
• Skills in designing and delivering trainings/information sessions on a number of subjects and ability to adapt those to different audiences.

Performance Indicators:

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions.
• Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work. Focus on getting results.
• Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments.
• Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever- changing country or functional priorities.
• Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.