Director, MHPSS At HIAS

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks a Director, MHPSS to provide strategic leadership to our community-based mental health and psychosocial support programs globally. This person leads a dynamic team of MHPSS technical advisors and specialists designing and supporting all aspects of HIAS’ MHPSS programming across Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa/Eurasia, and the Ukraine Response region. The Director, MHPSS leads and drives HIAS’ global technical strategy, owns capacity building initiatives (including resource development and standards of program design and delivery), directs integration of best practice and ensures that programs are evidence-based, results-oriented and fully accountable to a diversity of affected populations. With a focus on humanitarian and development programming, the Director, MHPSS shares in the overall ownership of HIAS’ impact and is responsible for ensuring that resources are available to deliver and position HIAS as a global MHPSS leader.

Additionally, the postholder develops, monitors and supports MHPSS programs in line with HIAS’ refugee rights impact framework. This rights-based approach, based on international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law and practice, provides a programming framework for HIAS’ focus on refugee protection.

This role brings vision, cohesion and knowledge to build a collaborative approach to community based MHPSS at HIAS. Reporting to the Senior Director, Technical Excellence, and working closely with HIAS’ technical teams (Gender & GBV, Economic Inclusion, Legal Protection, Child Protection), regional teams, HQ, country teams and other field staff and partners, the successful candidate will provide strategic vision and technical support to a team of regional technical advisors and specialists, as well as backstopping for country program planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. The Director, MHPSS further leads HIAS in advocacy relevant policy fora for MHPSS, contributing to global dialogue, learning and advocacy, and promoting HIAS’ leadership in this sector.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

This role contributes to all of the broad functional areas of HIAS’ technical teams (Technical Strategy, Quality Assurance, Delivery/Implementation Support, Capacity Building, New Business Development/Donor Engagement, Representation, Advocacy & Networking, Research & Learning, Management) through the following responsibilities:

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

• Sets and drives global strategy for HIAS’ MHPSS programs, including design and delivery approaches with focus on visibility, sustainability and impact at scale.
• Manages a global team of technical experts, consultants and, when necessary, program budgets.
• Supports contextualization of MHPSS programming at a regional level to strategically meet diverse needs, and ensures communication and integration where possible with other core sectors (including Gender & GBV, Economic Inclusion, Legal Protection, and Child Protection).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Ensures that all MHPSS programming is developed and implemented in alignment with IASC MHPSS Guidelines and the IASC MHPSS Minimum Service Package.
• Develops and promotes coordinated and integrated community-based MHPSS programming across sectors.
• Develops evidenced-based technical standards/benchmarks for measurement, design and delivery quality, ensuring that processes for measurement are clear, realistic and responsive to the needs of beneficiaries and stakeholders (including donors).
• Supports program delivery and acts as a conduit for communicating global standards and change initiatives to country teams, providing remote and on-site technical guidance.
• Shares cross-context learning with program staff across the regions.
• Develops, adapts and shares specific tools/resources/curricula/protocols, and works with countries and HQ to contextualize and adapt global and country-specific materials.
• Harmonizes MHPSS approaches across regions in accordance with HIAS MHPSS standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

CAPACITY BUILDING

• Identifies and maps HIAS’ global capacity gaps, developing tools and resources to address identified gaps, and anticipating future technical programming needs on a timely basis aimed at reducing risk.
• Supports the development of effective supervision structures and processes for MHPSS staff involved in programming in the region.
• Contributes to capacity strengthening of MHPSS staff of key partners and other stakeholders at the regional and national level (with emphasis on IASC and WHO methodologies for MHPSS in emergencies).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/DONOR ENGAGEMENT

• Works with Institutional Development, regional teams and relevant departments to identify and build relationships aimed at expanding HIAS’ revenue for expansion.
• Supports country teams to develop robust program proposals and build HIAS’ global profile in the sector.
• Supports and contributes to drafting and review of concept notes, proposals, and technical reports in terms of language and associated technical references and methodologies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

GLOBAL/REGIONAL REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY & NETWORKING

• Represents HIAS in relevant global platforms/spaces (such as IASC WG, InterAction, Clusters, recognized technical bodies) to amplify HIAS’ leadership relating to core programming at international level to influence policy.
• Contributes to positioning HIAS as key actor and partner of choice on MHPSS globally, through alliance building, direct response to migrant population and generation of evidence; shares critical MHPSS developments and best practices across the region.
• Facilitates the development, strengthening and expansion of partnerships with national partners, pertinent UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders on MHPSS issues.
• Provides timely and accurate information to the Advocacy team in support of Communications, Media and Advocacy efforts around the humanitarian situations and MHPSS needs; this will include ensuring that all information, publicity and fundraising material recognizes and respects the dignity of those affected by disasters or emergencies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

RESEARCH & LEARNING

• Facilitates and uses research as a learning tool to inform program design and delivery approach to advance HIAS’ humanitarian and development principles and standards.
• Ensures consistent, standardized tools for monitoring and evaluation and outcomes of HIAS MHPSS programs globally; captures lessons learned from existing projects.
• Contributes to case studies, promising practices, lessons learned and other knowledge-based products to share HIAS’ learning with the broader forced migration field.
• Supports program monitoring in collaboration with SAM (Strategy & Measurement) colleagues and MHPSS project staff, and ensures monitoring data is used to inform programming as needed to ensure high-quality implementation of MHPSS programming.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduate degree or higher in psychology, social work or related field; equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
• 6-8 years of experience overseeing global MHPSS programs in humanitarian, emergency and development settings; 3-5 years of experience with direct implementation of MHPSS programs; field-based experience (including in emergency settings), particularly in Africa, Europe or Latin America and the Caribbean preferred.
• English fluency required; Spanish and/or French fluency preferred.
• In depth understanding and practical experience with IASC MHPSS guidelines, in addition to other MHPSS global guidelines and best practices.
• Knowledge/experience of mental health considerations and best practices related to the treatment for individuals impacted by displacement, conflict, torture, gender-based violence and other human rights violations.
• Demonstrated ability to train staff and implementing partners on MHPSS, including excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated experience in implementation of multi-sectoral response to MHPSS, including (but not limited to) GBV, child protection, legal response and economic inclusion.
• Demonstrated understanding of the gendered drivers of violence against women and girls and the links between patriarchy and the violence faced by LGBTQ identified migrants and refugees.
• Demonstrated successful experience in capacity building, mentoring, facilitation of learning and provision of technical support.
• Demonstrated capacity and experience in conducting field level assessments and developing assessment tools, e.g. questionnaires, focus group discussions.
• Experience in development of theories of change, including output and outcome level performance measurement indicators and targets related to MHPSS.
• Collaborative, flexible team player with the ability to think creatively, logically and critically about solutions to gaps in economic inclusion programming.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, including the ability to regularly communicate with, motivate and support field-based staff as well as effectively communicate key program achievements and operational challenges.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills required.
• Up to 40% travel may be required.
• Travel, to include travel to insecure operating environments, may be required.

HIRING PROCESS:

We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. Here’s a snapshot of our hiring process:

Step 1: Submit your application!

Step 2: Phone screen with a HIAS recruiter.

Step 3: Video interview with the hiring manager.

Step 4: Video interview with a panel of HIAS employees.

Step 5: Online reference check with SkillSurvey.

Step 6: Offer and background check with Shield Screening or HireRight.

Step 7: Start your professional journey with HIAS!

Note: Some of our hiring processes may vary, and not all candidates will advance to each step.

ABOUT US:

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.

VISION:

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.

MISSION:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

VALUES:

Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • Hachnasat Orchim

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • Tzedek

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • Chesed

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • Chevruta

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • Ometz

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • Ruach

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience

DIVERSITY:

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.

SAFEGUARDING:

HIAS is committed to the protection of children, vulnerable adults and any other person from any harm caused directly or indirectly due to their coming into contact with HIAS. We will not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or any form of child abuse or neglect by our staff or associated personnel. Any candidate offered a job with HIAS will be expected to sign and adhere to HIAS’ Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. HIAS also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. Likewise, HIAS will share this information when other organizations inquire about current and former HIAS staff as part of their recruitment process. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.