MHPSS Specialist - Salah al-Din

JOB OPPORTUNITY

MHPSS Specialist - Salah al-Din

World Vision International is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision - Iraq Office is looking for a highly qualified and motivated person for the position of MHPSS Specialist - Salah al-Din.

Employee Contract Type:

Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)

JOB PURPOSE 

The MHPSS Specialist will provide technical leadership for the design, integration, and quality assurance of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) interventions across the project, ensuring that psychosocial well-being is effectively embedded within all program components and contributes directly to sustainable reintegration outcomes under the project ”Socioeconomic Reintegration of Al-Hol Returnees and Vulnerable Community Members in Salah al-Din”.

The role is not intended for direct large-scale training delivery; rather, it focuses on building and strengthening the capacity of clinical psychologists and project staff, ensuring that MHPSS services are delivered in a safe, ethical, and technically sound manner. This includes providing targeted training, technical supervision, and ongoing guidance to specialized staff responsible for direct service delivery.

The MHPSS Specialist will also provide focused psychosocial support to project beneficiaries when required, particularly in complex or high-risk cases, while ensuring appropriate referral pathways to specialized mental health services.

Operating within a post-conflict context, the role will address key psychosocial barriers—including trauma, distress, social isolation, and reduced motivation—that may limit beneficiaries’ ability to engage in livelihoods and enterprise activities. The position will ensure that MHPSS approaches are contextually appropriate, culturally sensitive, and aligned with international standards.

A core purpose of the role is to act as a technical anchor for integrating MHPSS with livelihoods, enterprise development, and training components, working closely with other technical leads to ensure a holistic approach to recovery. Through this integration, the role will contribute to individual recovery, community stabilization, strengthened social cohesion  and, reintegration.

The MHPSS Specialist will play a key role in supporting both beneficiary-level recovery and broader community healing processes, enabling vulnerable populations to regain functionality, resilience, and the capacity to sustainably reintegrate into their communities.
 

Key Responsibilities

MHPSS Strategy & Technical Design

• Lead the design and adaptation of the MHPSS component in alignment with project objectives.
• Develop tools, guidelines, and SOPs for MHPSS service delivery.
• Ensure alignment with international MHPSS standards and best practices.
• Integrate conflict-sensitive, culturally appropriate, and gender-responsive approaches.
• Align MHPSS interventions with livelihoods, enterprise, and reintegration strategies

 Capacity Building & Technical Supervision

• Provide targeted training and technical support to clinical psychologists and relevant staff.
• Conduct regular supervision, mentoring, and case discussions. Ensure adherence to ethical standards and safe programming practices.
• Identify capacity gaps and implement tailored capacity-building plans.
• Strengthen staff ability to deliver quality psychosocial support services.

 Psychosocial Support & Case Guidance

• Provide focused psychosocial support to beneficiaries in complex or high-risk cases.
• Guide case management processes and ensure appropriate support pathways.
• Establish and monitor referral mechanisms to specialized mental health services.
• Ensure confidentiality, safety, and ethical handling of cases.
• Support field teams in managing sensitive beneficiary situations.

Integration with Livelihoods & Reintegration Programming

• Ensure MHPSS is embedded across livelihoods, enterprise, and training activities.
• Provide technical input to adapt interventions based on beneficiaries’ psychosocial needs.
• Support teams in addressing barriers such as low motivation, stress, and social exclusion.
• Promote approaches that enhance resilience, coping, and social functioning.
• Contribute to strengthening social cohesion and community recovery processes.          

Monitoring, Evaluation & Quality Assurance

• Support development of MHPSS indicators and monitoring tools with MEAL team.
• Monitor quality and effectiveness of MHPSS interventions.
• Conduct regular reviews and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Ensure documentation of cases, interventions, and outcomes in line with standards.
• Contribute to donor reporting and program learning.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE

Required Education, training, license, registration, and/or Certification  

1- At least bachelor’s degree in psychology (mandatory).
2- Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, Counseling, or a relevant discipline is preferred.
3- Certification or formal training in MHPSS, trauma-informed care, or case management is an asset.
4- Professional license (where applicable) is an advantage.

Required Professional Experience    

1- Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in MHPSS programming or mental health services.
2- Proven experience in technical design and supervision of MHPSS interventions.
3- Experience working with clinical psychologists, case workers, or multidisciplinary teams.
4- Demonstrated experience in post-conflict, humanitarian, or stabilization contexts.
5- Experience supporting vulnerable populations, including returnees, IDPs, women, and youth.
6- Familiarity with referral systems and coordination with specialized service providers.
7- Experience working with NGOs/UN or donor-funded programs, including reporting and compliance requirements.

Required Language(s)    

1- Fluency in Arabic (spoken and written).
2- Proficiency in English (spoken and written).
 

Required travel and/or work environment accommodations    

1- The position is based in Salah al-Din Governorate.
2- Willingness and ability to travel frequently across target locations, including Tikrit, Baiji, Shirqat, Samarra, and Balad, as well as remote and rural areas.
3- Ability to work effectively in a post-conflict, multicultural, and high-pressure environment.
4- Flexibility to adapt to evolving project needs, operational challenges, and field realities.

Position’s physical requirements  

1- Ability to conduct field visits in rural/agricultural settings, which may involve walking on uneven terrain and exposure to outdoor conditions.
2- No specific physical limitations, but reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge and/or other Qualifications 

1- Demonstrated expertise in trauma-informed care and psychosocial support in post-conflict or humanitarian settings.
2-  Experience working with survivors of violence, GBV, and displacement, including youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
3- Familiarity with national mental health systems, referral pathways, and coordination with health directorates and NGOs.
4- Strong understanding of cultural sensitivities and community-based approaches to mental health.
5- Experience in designing and delivering MHPSS training for local staff and facilitators.
6- Knowledge of ethical standards in psychosocial support, including confidentiality and informed consent.
7-  Proficiency in developing MHPSS indicators and integrating psychosocial dimensions into broader M&E frameworks.
8- Excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills.
9- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in diverse and high-pressure environments.
10-  Commitment to humanitarian principles, mental health advocacy, and inclusive

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Mode of Application:

If you are interested in this position, to apply, please register at: https://worldvision.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WorldVisionInternational/details/MHPSS-Specialist---Salah-al-Din_JR49732

No information inquiries will be handled over the phone. Only short-listed candidates will be notified for the interview. The deadline for application is May 02, 2026.

As a Child focused organization, World Vision is committed to the protection of children and does not employ staff whose background is not suitable for working with children. All employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of all applicable background checks