Senior Staff Welfare Officer (P.4)

Position Title : Senior Staff Welfare Officer

Duty Station : Geneva, Switzerland

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P4

Type of Appointment : Fixed term, eight years

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 15 December 2020

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process.

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candiates
2. External female candidates
3. Candidates from the following non-represented member states: Antigua and Barbuda; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Cook Islands; Cuba; Djibouti; Fiji; Gabon; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Libya; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Montenegro; Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Seychelles; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include all external candidates, except female candidates and candidates from non-represented member states.

Context

Under the direct supervision of the Director, Human Resources Management (HRM) Division, the Senior Staff Welfare Officer (SSWO) is expected to develop and strengthen mental health care strategies within the Organization.

The successful candidate will be responsible and accountable for designing and implementing a system and approach facilitating access to mental health care, counselling of staff with specific needs and following up. S/he will develop policies and implement strategies, as well as conduct training with Occupational Health (OHU)/Human Resources Management (HRM) and other colleagues on Staff Welfare in IOM. The successful candidate will be required to travel to different locations around the world.

This position is a ‘Limited Service’ post, with the maximum time allowed in post and the Organization being eight years.

Core Functions / Responsibilities

1. Further implement the IOM Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy in the spirit of the IOM Strategic Vision and in line with international standards including various types of psychosocial interventions for staff and their family members, which should address (strategically and operationally):

• Staff wellbeing, mental health and mental illness needs including risk factors, e.g. working in non-family duty stations and emergency operations.
• The orientation and adaptation to a new environment in non-family duty station including social issues (such as work-life balance, family- work related limitations etc.).
• Staff’s wellbeing specific needs arising from emergency operations and critical incidents (security incidents). In particular, it should address the provision of support, during deployment and perform as needed a psychological evaluation upon return from hardship or highly insecure Country Offices (with the help of modern technologies).
• Global and local interventions to enhance staff wellbeing including peer support, team dynamics and team building as needed.
• Provide managerial advice and consultation on various aspects of staff management processes (e.g. Recruitment, rotation, career development, downsizing, retirement) taking into account the interest of the Organization and of the staff through various stages of their professional life in IOM.
• Ensure that all aspects and staff of the Staff Welfare service adhere to agreed professional standards including utmost confidentiality. Staff wellbeing, mental health and mental illness needs including risk factors, e.g. working in non-family duty stations and emergency operations.

2. Provide assessments:

• Ensure that staff members, who have a history of mental health illness, are assessed as fit to work in the assigned position and duty station and, if necessary, share the relevant recommendations on complex case coordination with the OHU/Health and Insurance Medical Units (OHU) Medical Officers
• Refer concerned staff for an independent psychiatric assessment in coordination with the OHU Chief Medical Officer. Proceed accordingly with the staff pre-deployment mental health preparedness protocol, in case of complex emergencies.
• Provide guidance to the OHU/Health Insurance Medical Unit Doctors on staff with acute mental health problems requiring evacuation, on a 24/7 basis.
• Participate, in complex case coordination, with OHU and HR colleagues as needed for staff with complex mental health/illness needs.

3. Provide counselling:

• In Headquarters, provide initial counselling services to staff. If therapy is advisable, refer them to mental health specialists in Geneva.
• Counsel or contact by e–technologies staff upon request. Follow up with and facilitate the access to mental health care worldwide of staff and family’s dependents.
• Conduct training with OHU/ HRM on Staff Welfare issues.

4. Maintain close collaboration with:

• HRM and OHU, to consistently implement across the Regions the IOM Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, in line with other similar programs in the UN system.
• Staff Counsellors in UN agencies with similar programs, to share experiences and resources to the extent possible. He/she will represent IOM at meetings of the CISMU, especially the CISWG; be a member of the Advisory Committee of the UNSSCG (United Nations Staff and Stress Counsellors Group) and International Conferences on questions related to staff welfare issues (i.e.: Critical Incident Stress, Support to Humanitarian Aid Workers).

5. Maintain a proper system of reporting and documentation management:

• Ensure that filing of cases are confidentially and rigorously organized to ensure a proper follow up.
• Analyse data and provide HRM with yearly statistics on staff’s mental health and wellbeing
• Provide administrative recommendations relating to psychosocial situation of staff during their career in IOM (i.e. transfer, rotation) to the Human Resources Management Division and the ODG.
• Ensure that all required Section reporting and planning is timely and accurate.

6. Perform such other duties that may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Doctoral or Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, Counselling, Nursing, Social Work or Psychiatry or a related field from an accredited academic institution and seven years of relevant professional experience;
• The successful applicant must holds a valid license to practice clinical psychology or is eligible to hold a license to practice from an accredited academic institution.

*Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database*.

Experience

• Minimum seven years of practical experience as a counselor advising staff and employers on various aspects of psychosocial issues.
• Minimum five years’ experience working in UN / humanitarian international organizations.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the impact of working conditions of humanitarian workers on their well-being.
• Experience in the development of staff welfare programmes and policies is desirable.
• Experience of mental health risks related to civil unrest and terrorism contexts is desirable.
• Experience in liaising with international organizations and health care providers in different countries is desirable.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Familiarity with cross-cultural issues.
• Familiarity with counselling and psycho-social interventions (team building; training development and delivering).
• Knowledge of team building and of conflict resolution techniques.
• Knowledge of modern technologies (tele-mental health services; online training).
• Readiness to travel to emergency contexts.

Skills

• Effectively applies knowledge of health issues in execution of responsibilities at appropriate level;
• Maintains confidentiality and discretion in appropriate areas of work; and,
• Demonstrated capacity to analyse information for decision making.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish. For this position, fluency in English and either French or Spanish is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of the remaining language is an advantage.

Required Competencies

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 3

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• *Managing and sharing knowledge**: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 3

• Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision; assists others to realize and develop their potential.
• Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.