Child Protection Specialist (MHPSS)

The Child Protection Specialist (MHPSS) will provide technical leadership and coordination support for the design, implementation, and monitoring of mental health and psychosocial support interventions in response to the Venezuelan earthquake. The role involves ensuring community engagement, accountability, and behaviorally informed approaches are embedded across sectors and aligned with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and coordination support for the design, implementation, and monitoring of MHPSS interventions in response to the Venezuelan earthquake.
• Ensure community engagement, accountability, and behaviorally informed approaches are embedded across sectors and aligned with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children.
• Coordinate multi-sectoral contributions to the mental health and psychosocial response under overall government leadership and through existing partnerships.
• Support the design and implementation of psychosocial programmes and support to displaced and affected children.
• Strengthen capacity and provide field support for MHPSS interventions.
• Document and manage knowledge related to MHPSS interventions.

Requirements

• Completed Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Social Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Communications, Public Health or any other related fields is required.
• A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in child protection, community based MHPSS interventions, community engagement, mental health, psychosocial support, interagency coordination, capacity building, knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation and any other relevant fields, with at least 3 years in humanitarian or emergency contexts, is required.
• Proven experience supporting emergency preparedness and response in contexts affected by natural hazards or/and complex crises is required.
• Demonstrated experience implementing MHPSS at community level, behavioural insights, community engagement, and participatory communication is required.
• Experience working with both Government and civil society partners is required.
• Strong analytical, coordination, and communication skills is essential.
• Experience in managing inter-agency coordination processes and supporting cross-sectoral teams is required.
• Ability to design and implement behaviourally informed interventions in dynamic and high-pressure environments is required.
• Proven capacity in data-driven decision-making, social listening, and community feedback systems is needed.
• Fluency in Spanish and fluency/proficiency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) is a plus.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is desirable.

Skills

• Child Protection
• Community-based MHPSS
• Mental Health Support
• Psychosocial Support
• Inter-agency Coordination
• Capacity Building
• Knowledge Management
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Emergency Preparedness
• Emergency Response
• Community Engagement
• Participatory Communication Campaigns
• Government Partnership
• Civil Society Partnerships
• Behaviourally Informed Interventions
• Data Driven Decision Making
• Social Listening Analysis
• Community Feedback Mechanisms
• Cross-Sectoral Team Support

Languages

Spanish, English