South Sudan: Psychosocial Coordinator

Position Title: Psychosocial Coordinator

Location: Maban County, Upper Nile State-South Sudan

Reports to: Project Director

Starting date: 16^th September 2019

Contract Type; International

Salary Range & Benefits: To be discussed with successful candidates.

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is a Catholic international humanitarian organization with a mission to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. JRS has a priority to work wherever the needs of displaced people are urgent, and offers a human service to refugees and their communities through a wide range of rehabilitation and relief activities. JRS is currently working in over 50 countries throughout the world.

Since its establishment in 2013, JRS Maban has been serving refugees and the host community living in Maban County, South Sudan (approximately 200,000 people) with a range of psychosocial, educational, and pastoral services. Refugees in Maban represent one of the largest concentrations of refugees in South Sudan and is located in the North East of the country in Northern Upper Nile State.

JRS PSYCHOHOSOCIAL RESPONSE

In response to the needs of the communities in Maban, JRS is implementing a diverse suite of psychosocial programs. Healthy relationships are the foundation of safe, thriving communities and strong families. Bonds rooted in respect and understanding sustain peace at all levels of society and protect individuals from abuse, exploitation, and exclusion. JRS’ psychosocial activities aim to equip community members with tools to build and maintain such a foundation. Specifically, JRS’s work aims to strengthen the community’s capacity to:

a) Remain resilient in managing the daily hardships and challenges of life

b) Resolve conflicts

c) Manage adversity and promote healing of trauma in healthy ways

d) Sustain supportive, empathetic relationships

Acknowledging the unique challenges faced by people with special needs, women, and children, JRS employs a holistic approach inviting families, caregivers, and community leaders to participate in its activities. These activities are framed by the global organization’s values of Accompany, Serve, and Advocate.

Program activities include

(a) Support Groups

(b) Individual Counselling

(c) Referrals for Additional Services

(d) Day Care for Children with Disabilities

(e) Youth Sports & Recreation

(f) Trainings in Psychosocial Skills

(g) Physiotherapy

(h) Home Visits

(i) Material/ Non-food Item (NFI) Distribution

Psychosocial Coordinator Role

The Psychosocial Coordinator oversees the Psychosocial Department and is ultimately responsible for the successful implementation of all program activities within its purview. The successful candidate will have proven ability in leadership and management, experience in organizational and programmatic management, an ability to solve problems creatively with minimal resources, and technical expertise and recognized qualifications in MHPSS or related field.

Psychosocial Coordinator Responsibilities & Activities

JRS Project Senior Management Team Leadership

· Serving as a member of the JRS Maban Senior Management Team (SMT) and providing support to Project Director as necessary

· Contributing to personal and professional development opportunities for the entire JRS team

· Fostering the JRS ethos in all team members

· Ensuring JRS Policies, including Child Safeguarding, are upheld to the highest standard across the entire JRS community

· Representing JRS at Camp Coordination and other partners’ meetings

Psychosocial Department Staff Supervision

· Providing ongoing professional and technical support and supervision to 15-20 staff on the Psychosocial team and oversight of 50-60 community-based incentive workers in the field

· Facilitating capacity-building opportunities for JRS staff team in service of project sustainability and building professional skills of South Sudanese

Project Management

· Ensuring that budget and funded targets for PS department are achieved, and the work plan is successfully carried out in a timely manner

· Managing data collected by the team and using it to inform program decisions

· Serving as JRS focal point for all referrals to Psychosocial services and coordinating effectively with other humanitarian actors to deliver services to clients

· Completing accurate and timely reports for JRS and donors

· Monitoring budgets and resources allocated to the project

· Assuring high-quality service provision

Qualifications & Experience:

The ideal candidate will have

· A clear commitment to the mission and ethos of JRS and share its values of compassion, professionalism and desire to be with those most in need.

· Master’s degree in social work, counselling, psychology, human services, or other related field

· Minimum 3 years’ professional experience in project management of a human services delivery project.

· Working and updated knowledge of MHPSS best practices and techniques, including: Psychological First Aid (PFA), Mental Health Global Action Programme (mhGAP), IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings, Problem Management Plus (PM+), theories of community-based services

· Experience with service delivery to multicultural and diverse populations, particularly in international and emergency humanitarian settings

· Experience with data management and an ability to use data to inform program decisions

· Experience in program design, quality assurance, and monitoring/evaluation

· Demonstrated success supervising and leading teams

· Expertise in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)

· Strong skills in thinking analytically and strategically

· Demonstrated ability to solve problems effectively and quickly with minimal resources available

· Demonstrated ability to work and live in a stressful environment with only basic amenities

· Commitment to working with marginalized and vulnerable communities

· Excellent skills in English (required); skills in oral Arabic desirable

Please send your CV and a cover letter that indicates what skills and experience you have that meets the criteria and your availability. The CV (maximum 3 pages) should include contacts (phone and email) for three referees. Kindly send the application to: sds.recruit@jrs.net or sds07.psychosocial@jrs.net and to sds07.director@jrs.net by 27 August, 2019.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications without all the required materials will not be considered. Only successful candidates will be contacted. Previous applicants for this position need not apply.

Commitment to Child Safeguarding

JRS is committed to the safeguarding of children (under 18 years) who come into contact with JRS South Sudan personnel and volunteers in all JRS South Sudan works. All JRS-South Sudan Staff are expected to comply with JRS South Sudan Policies and Procedures in this regard.