Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Health Services Section of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), based in Juba. The Staff Counsellor reports directly to the Chief Staff Counsellor and the incumbent supports the Chief Staff Counsellor in the management, coordination and delivery of mission-wide mental health, psychosocial support and staff wellbeing programmes, including the supervision of assigned personnel and the coordination of critical incident response activities.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Staff Counsellor will be responsible for the following duties:

Conduct individual psychosocial and mental health assessments for personnel experiencing psychological distress, difficulties with adjustment, operational stressors, or mental health-related conditions.
Provide confidential counselling, psychological support, consultation and referral services to civilian, military and police personnel, as appropriate, while maintaining professional standards and ethical guidelines.
Liaise with the Chief Staff Counsellor and relevant stakeholders regarding cases requiring multidisciplinary intervention, workplace accommodations, conflict resolution support, or specialized mental health services.
Design and implement evidence-based psychosocial support interventions and resilience-building initiatives that promote individual wellbeing and occupational functioning.
Contribute to the development of psychologically safe, respectful and inclusive workplace environments through consultation, awareness activities and preventive interventions.
Deliver critical incident stress management services, including psychological first aid, crisis interventions, individual and group support sessions, and post-incident follow-up in response to critical incidents, emergencies and traumatic events.
Collaborate closely with Health Services, Human Resources, Security, and other mission entities to ensure a coordinated and holistic approach to staff wellbeing and mental health support.
Develop and facilitate workshops, awareness campaigns, briefings, e-bulletins and training programmes on topics including stress management, resilience, burnout prevention, psychological wellbeing, suicide prevention, substance use, trauma, and related mental health issues, in line with the United Nations Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
Participate in psychosocial needs assessments, surveys, focus group discussions and related activities to identify emerging mental health concerns and organizational wellbeing needs, particularly in high-risk and hardship environments.
Analyze trends and assessment findings and support the development, implementation and evaluation of staff wellbeing and stress management programmes across the Mission.
Prepare reports, briefing materials, educational resources and other documentation related to staff counselling and psychosocial support activities.
Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism Demonstrates advanced knowledge of clinical psychology/psychiatry, mental health and psychosocial support practices. Ability to conduct psychological assessments, conceptualize client presentations, establish therapeutic rapport, and provide appropriate interventions in multicultural and high-stress environments. Demonstrates sound judgment, professionalism, confidentiality and ethical practice. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments and achieving results; remains calm under pressure and responds effectively in crisis situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives. Communication Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens actively and interprets messages accurately; asks questions to clarify understanding; tailors communication to the audience; demonstrates sensitivity and discretion when addressing complex or sensitive issues; promotes open communication and information sharing. Client Orientation Considers all those to whom services are provided as clients and seeks to understand their perspectives and needs. Establishes and maintains productive relationships built on trust, respect and professionalism. Anticipates emerging needs, identifies appropriate interventions and delivers services in a timely and client-focused manner. Accountability Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable; ensures accountability for the delivery of mental health and psychosocial support services while maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics, confidentiality and duty of care.

Education

An Advanced University Degree (Masters or equivalent) in clinical Psychology, Psychiatry or Clinical Social Work with clinical license to provide psychological counseling or psychotherapy. Additional training or certification in one or more related areas, such as trauma and stress management, psychological first aid, critical incident stress management, substance abuse counselling, cross-cultural communication, conflict management, resilience programming, or organizational wellbeing is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in psychiatry, clinical psychology, mental health, psychotherapy, clinical social work, employee wellbeing programmes, organizational mental health, or related fields is required. Experience providing psychosocial support in hardship, conflict, humanitarian, peacekeeping or multicultural settings is desirable. Experience in critical incident response, trauma-focused interventions, employee assistance programmes, organizational wellbeing initiatives or psychosocial support in emergency settings is desirable. Prior experience within the United Nations Common System or other international organizations is desirable.

Languages

Language	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
English	UN Level II	UN Level II	UN Level II	UN Level II

Assessment

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice

This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

STAFF COUNSELLOR