Vacancy No: 17375
Section/Unit: Operation
Grade Level: NAT 4
Supervisor: Child Protection Coordinator/Manager
No. of Post: 1
Duty Station: Sinja, Sennar State
Duration: 12 Months
Closing Date: 30 August 2026

Background

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 4:

the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

Under the supervision of Child Protection Coordinator/Manager, the MHPSS Officer will support cross-sectorial integration of MHPSS dimensions in programme delivery, building on an evidence-based, psychosocial, developmental and multi-leveled approach, in line with global and regional standards. The role will encompass direct implementation of MHPSS interventions and services, alongside capacity building, coaching and supervision of MHPSS facilitators and animators. The MHPSS Officer will act as Focal Point for MHPSS in Child Protection and will participate in relevant local coordination platforms.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

The MHPSS Officer will oversee and support the implementation of SCI common approaches and MHPSS interventions at the CFSs and multi-Purpose Centres. He/she will ensure quality implementation according to global standard and SCI quality benchmarks; coordinate and support the implementation of MHPSS or multi-dimensional needs assessments; ensure ongoing assessment/analysis of local context, priorities and needs related to MHPSS; and in collaboration with MHPSS facilitators and partners, contribute to the identification of the most vulnerable groups of children and caregivers in the community in need of MHPSS services.

Duties and responsibilities

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

This position will be working closely with the MHPSS facilitators and animators, as well as CP/Education staff supporting MHPSS implementation, with the aim of:

1. Initially contribute to the formulation of project work plans and ensure systematic integration of MHPSS priorities and interventions in programme delivery.
2. Establish close relationships and patterns of collaboration with key stakeholders in the community around MHPSS priorities.
3. Conduct/update MHPSS service mappings, provide quality vetting of potential referral options, and establish/maintain referral pathways and mechanisms in collaboration with Child Protection and Education teams and partners.
4. Review and contextualize MHPSS intervention packages, tools, activity plans and key messages, ensuring context relevance and sensitivity.
5. Select, engage, motivate, coordinate, train, coach and supervise MHPSS facilitators in RoS Area1.
6. Select, engage, motivate, coordinate, train, coach and supervise MHPSS facilitators and animators in project areas.
7. Participate in local MHPSS coordination platforms, and other relevant coordination fora.

In Education programming:

Under education, use evidence-based resources and modalities as advised by the MHPSS Technical Advisor, and in collaboration with Education teams and partners to:

1. Design, plan, coordinate and contribute to implementing school-based mental health promotion and prevention activities targeting children, adolescents and caregivers.
2. Train, coach and support Education teams and partners in integrating key MHPSS dimensions in their practice – including MHPSS/SEL core components, Basic Helping Skills, PFA and PFA for child practitioners, safe identification and referral to MHPSS services, paraprofessional counseling, evidence-based MHPSS interventions, etc.
3. Design, plan, coordinate and contribute to implementing mental health promotion and wellbeing activities targeting teachers and educators.
4. Provide individual and group person-focused support to students experiencing higher levels of distress and/or more enduring emotional or behavioral difficulties.

In Child Protection programming:

Under Child Protection, use evidence-based resources and modalities as advised by the MHPSS Technical Advisor, and in collaboration with Child Protection teams and partners to:

1. Design, plan, coordinate and contribute to implementing community-based mental health promotion and prevention activities targeting children, adolescents, and caregivers. 
2. Integrate key MHPSS dimensions in their practice – including Basic Helping Skills, PFA and PFA for child practitioners, safe identification and referral to MHPSS services, paraprofessional counseling, evidence-based MHPSS interventions, etc.
3. Design, plan, coordinate and contribute to implementing mental health promotion and wellbeing activities targeting government and community social workers/psychologists and other CP staff.
4. Provide individual and group person-focused support to children and caregivers experiencing higher levels of distress and/or more enduring emotional or behavioral difficulties.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development, and encourages others to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.

COMPETENCIES

Delivering results

Takes personal responsibility and holds others to account to deliver our ambitious goals for children, continually improving own performance or that of the team/organisation. 

Applying technical and professional expertise

Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practice within and outside the organisation.

Working effectively with others

Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives; knows when to lead and when to follow and how to ensure effective cross-boundary working.

Communicating with impact

Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust with others

Minimum Qualification, Skills and Experience Required

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A university degree in psychology, social science, mental health or relevant degrees
• Experience with children and adolescents, knowledge on child development and child and adolescent mental health.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) field in the humanitarian context, experience in working with migrants and refugees is an asset.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including team leading and influencing.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in Arabic and English is an asset. 
• Comfortable with high levels of ambiguity and able to take decisions independently in fluid context.
• Experience with refugee/marginalized communities desired.
• Commitment to Save the Children values and Child Safeguarding.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the postholder may be required to carry out additional duties within reason expected of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities 

The postholder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

Save the Children is committed to ensuring that all children who have contact with the organization are safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from child abuse and sexual exploitation. This commitment is implemented through the organization’s Child Safeguarding Policy, which includes mandatory requirements that apply to everyone in all aspects of Save the Children’s work. It applies equally to all children irrespective of their gender, disability, ethnicity, sexuality, marital status or religion.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Females are highly encouraged to apply.

Kindly apply through the link below. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the next steps. The closing date will be 30/08/2026. Any application after this date will not be considered. All interviews will be done in the Save the Children office or remotely.

Disclaimer: Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents. SCI will be undertaking child safeguarding checks for all candidates. The selected candidate will be asked to provide a police check before signing the contract.