Senior Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Advisor

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A. Summary Statement:

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

The Global Health Training, Advisory and Support Contract (GHTASC) delivers effective global health programming to advance the mission of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Global Health (GH) through institutional support and workforce development services from junior, mid-level, senior and expert advisory, and administrative professionals.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is the United States’ primary foreign assistance agency. Over its 60-year history the Agency has supported long-term and equitable economic growth, health, democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance throughout the developing world.  The need for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services is at a critical level, which was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Globally, more than 1 billion people are living with a mental health condition, and more than 80 percent of individuals with mental health disorders worldwide do not receive the treatment they need despite the evidence that effective interventions can be delivered appropriately.  In 2018, The Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health highlighted significant evidence on the link between mental and physical health as data shows that people living with mental health conditions are more likely to develop physical health problems including infectious and chronic diseases and have poorer physical health outcomes, including higher rates of premature mortality.

Against this backdrop, the Bureau for Global Health plays a critical role to advance evidence based MHPSS integration into health programs when deemed appropriate and when integration strengthens our existing health interventions and intended outcomes. Despite the inextricable link between mental health and the achievement of global development goals including Sustainable Development Goal 3, USAID’s Global Health Bureau has just recently incorporated mental health and psychosocial support interventions into large scale programs.

B. Position Summary:

The Bureau for Global Health seeks a highly qualified MHPSS Technical Advisor who will provide support for growing mental health activities in the context of existing health programming with an emphasis placed on primary health care. Working under the leadership of the Agency Mental Health Coordinator, the MHPSS technical advisor will strengthen the Global Health Bureau’s readiness to integrate MHPSS efforts into health programming as appropriate. The MHPSS technical advisor will focus on providing technical support to countries in their efforts integrate mental health and well-being across health services. This will include the incorporation of mental health knowledge and understanding in program design and implementation, especially in missions in fragile settings, to improve overall health outcomes.

Full salary range for this position is $129,740 – $195,000 per year, with the starting salary determined based on candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.

Employment Type: Full Time

C. Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with the Agency MHPSS Coordinator and Core MHPSS Team, USAID MHPSS Interest Group, and other relevant Agency stakeholders.
• Promote and identify opportunities for appropriate integration of MHPSS interventions in GH programs, including providing topic-specific summaries of existing knowledge that describes the need for integration.
• Serve as a technical resource to USAID Mission, USAID headquarters, and among key stakeholders to integrate MHPSS into health programs managed by USAID staff, in line with established USAID policies and procedures.
• Provide technical support to field missions and partner countries in the development of activities linked to national plans of action working across health programs.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders in the execution of program activities, such as situation analysis; organize events, and support the integration of these efforts to work towards a comprehensive approach to MHPSS interventions and the proper handling of cross-cutting issues.
• Provide MHPSS expertise in the evaluation of program activities (GH, regional bureau, or field mission), including the support of MHPSS indicators, performance monitoring, and some analysis of indicators.
• Provide subject matter expertise in support of the MHPP Coordinator in preparing of reports and materials related to mental health and health programming.
• Communicate with the field and provide day-to-day assistance, in support of accelerating support for mental health services.
• Promote and identify opportunities for appropriate integration of MHPSS interventions in GH programs, including providing topic-specific summaries of existing knowledge that describes the need for integration.
• Document and track lessons learned which will help guide MHPSS support to health programming, including sharing best practices and facilitate learning and information sharing between mission Health Offices and GH Offices.
• Build and maintain effective working relationship with colleagues across the USG and among development partners and field missions.
• Support the MHPSS Coordinator in the development and maintenance of a GH-specific MHPSS resource hub for Missions and GH Offices.
• Conducts travel 15-20% of the time.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

D. Qualification Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree with 10 years of relevant experience, bachelor’s degree with 12 years of relevant experience, Associate’s degree and 14 years of relevant experience, or High School graduate and 16 years of relevant experience.

Other Qualifications:

• College degree in mental health, health and/or behavioral science preferred.
• Minimum five (5) years’ work experience in mental health including but not limited to, public health measures to prevent and control mental health and behavioral disorders; clinical management including exposure at an international level.
• Experience in public health and development (program management, project implementation, technical leadership) or similar related experience in developing countries desirable.
• Knowledge of mental health issues, challenges, and requirements in limited resource environments, including knowledge on recovery and evidence-based mental health interventions and experience with policy and strategy development processes.
• Knowledge on human rights including international human rights instruments such as Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• Skills in analysis, planning, management of public health programs with mental health specificity; ability to work harmoniously with partner agencies, development partners and country counterparts.
• Ability to travel 15-20% of the time, as needed.
• US citizen or US permanent resident with the ability to obtain and maintain facility clearance.

E. Competencies:

• Innovation: Employee takes initiative to propose new ideas/approaches and demonstrates ability to find new and better ways to accomplish work.
• Customer Service: Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers, follows procedure to solve customer problems, understands company products and services, maintains pleasant and professional image.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of work responsibilities and holds high standards. Keeps commitments and takes appropriate actions to ensure obligations are met. Pursues efficiency and effectiveness and adheres to Organization policies and procedures.
• Interpersonal Skills: Employee demonstrates ability to work in cooperation with others and communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisors, subordinates, clients, and other outside contacts.
• Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues professional development that is aligned with organizational role, contribution, and goals. Proactively shares knowledge with others to foster learning across the Organization.

F. APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Prior to submitting your application your resume must include relevant paid and non-paid experience showing dates held with month, year and hours worked per week for each position. Please ensure that all relevant experience and education is documented on your resume. There is no limitation to resume length; updates to resumes will not be accepted during the interview and selection process.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) STATUS

This position is classified as exempt based on the job duties. However, based on the FTE, salary level of the employee, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.

PHI WORKFORCE MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY

Per the PHI Workforce Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, it is a condition of employment for all domestic based employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless they are granted a reasonable accommodation under applicable law.

New hires need to provide proof of full vaccination prior to their start date or apply for an exemption/accommodation within three business days after their start date. Depending on the circumstances, new hires who do not comply with this Policy, or who cannot be reasonably accommodated, will either have their employment suspended or terminated. Candidates who are non-compliant will have their offers rescinded.

This position described in this announcement falls under a contract with the Federal Government, and therefore is subject to the provisions put forward in OMB Circular A-76 which prohibit contractors from performing inherently governmental functions.  Specifically, employees placed in agency positions will not perform inherently governmental functions, nor supervise any personnel other than the contractor’s own staff, nor make final decisions or sign documents that commit the U.S. Government

EEO STATEMENT

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

For further information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

ADA STATEMENT

The Public Health Institute is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Recruitment Team at least 48 hours in advance at Recruitment@phi.org.