MHPSS and Protection Specialist

Organization: Organization of Development Pioneers (ODP)

Job Title: MHPSS & Protection Specialist

Duty Station: The position is based in Tripoli, Libya, with regular travel to project sites, subject to security and access conditions.

Reporting To: Programs Manager

Department: Programs Department

Working Arrangement: Full-time, with regular travel to project sites.

Purpose:

The MHPSS & Protection Specialist serves as ODP’s senior technical lead for protection and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). The role provides technical oversight and guidance across ODP projects, supports project teams in delivering safe, inclusive, and high-quality services, and strengthens staff capacity through training and mentoring. The Specialist also leads the technical development of protection and MHPSS components in proposals, contributes to programs quality and learning, develops technical policies and procedures, and represents ODP in relevant technical coordination forums.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Supervision and Programs Quality:

• Provide technical oversight of protection and MHPSS components across ODP projects in line with relevant international standards, including the IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings.
• Guide the implementation of case management, Psychological First Aid (PFA), individual and group psychosocial support, psychoeducation, and community-based activities.
• Ensure services are age-, gender-, culturally, and diversity-sensitive and adhere to the principles of Do No Harm, confidentiality, and survivor-centered approaches.
• Support project teams in developing work plans, budgets, and implementation strategies, and review project tools and reports for technical quality.
• Provide ongoing technical guidance through field visits, case reviews, coaching, and remote support.

2. Protection Response and Case Management:

• Supervise protection case management, including identification, assessment, safety planning, referrals, follow-up, and case closure.
• Ensure the safe, confidential, and ethical handling of sensitive cases, including gender-based violence, child protection, and trafficking-related concerns.
• Maintain updated service mapping and referral pathways with relevant health, legal, shelter, livelihood, and other service providers.
• Support protection monitoring, risk analysis, and evidence-based advocacy informed by field findings.

3. Capacity Building and Staff Supervision:

• Train and mentor staff, volunteers, community workers, and partners on MHPSS, PFA, protection principles, safe identification and referral, and the Code of Conduct.
• Provide appropriate technical supervision and promote staff care and self-care practices for frontline workers.
• Develop context-appropriate training materials, operational tools, and guidance in Arabic.
• Support teams in applying approved policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and relevant technical standards.

4. Protection Mainstreaming and Safeguarding:

• Promote the integration of protection and MHPSS considerations across sectors, including health, WASH, shelter, education, and livelihoods.
• Support compliance with ODP’s safeguarding, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), child safeguarding, and data protection requirements in coordination with designated focal points.
• Support the implementation of accessible and safe feedback and complaints mechanisms.

5. Proposal Development and Resource Mobilization:

• Lead the technical design of protection and MHPSS components in concept notes and proposals, including needs analysis, results frameworks, activities, and budget inputs.
• Review technical content prepared by project teams to ensure quality, donor alignment, and consistency with ODP standards.
• Contribute to donor applications, partnership and consortium proposals, programs strategies, learning products, and donor reporting.

6. Technical Coordination and Representation:

• Serve as ODP’s main technical focal point for program-related protection and MHPSS matters.
• Coordinate with donors, partners, relevant authorities, civil society organizations, UN agencies, and international NGOs.
• Represent ODP in relevant protection and MHPSS coordination forums and contribute to joint assessments, strategies, and advocacy initiatives.
• Coordinate technical representation with the Programs Manager and respect the responsibilities of designated institutional safeguarding and PSEA focal points.

7. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL):

• Develop and apply appropriate indicators and tools to monitor programme quality, outcomes, and psychosocial well-being.
• Analyze program data and field findings to inform decision-making, adaptive management, and continuous improvement.
• Prepare high-quality narrative reports and document lessons learned for donors and internal stakeholders.
• Promote community participation and accountability to affected populations.

8. Technical Policies, SOPs and Standards Development:

• Lead the development, review, and updating of protection and MHPSS policies, SOPs, manuals, guidelines, and technical tools.
• Ensure technical documents align with international humanitarian standards, donor requirements, ODP priorities, and the Libyan operational context.
• Identify gaps in existing procedures and recommend improvements to strengthen program quality, safe service delivery, and accountability.
• Standardize practical tools and procedures for protection monitoring, safe identification and referral, service mapping, PFA, and psychosocial support.
• Support implementation of approved policies and procedures through staff training, mentoring, and technical guidance.
• Coordinate with the Programs Manager and relevant departments to ensure appropriate technical review, document control, and approval.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master’s degree in psychology, clinical psychology, counselling, social work, public health, psychiatry, or a related field. A bachelor’s degree combined with substantial relevant experience may be considered.
• At least three years of progressive experience in MHPSS and/or protection programming in humanitarian or fragile contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in protection case management, technical supervision, staff training, and development of donor concept notes and proposals.
• Strong knowledge of IASC MHPSS Guidelines, GBV and child protection standards, humanitarian principles, and survivor-centered approaches.
• Experience in community-based and culturally adapted programming.
• Fluency in Arabic and good working proficiency in English, both written and spoken, with strong analytical and report-writing skills.

Desirable:

• Professional license or registration as a clinician, psychologist, or social worker.
• Training in WHO MH GAP, Problem Management Plus (PM+), Self-Help Plus, or Psychological First Aid.
• Experience working in Libya and familiarity with local communities, institutions, and the legal and social context.
• Knowledge of additional languages used by target communities, such as Tamazight, Tebu, French, or migrant community languages.
• Experience implementing projects with donors or agencies such as ECHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, IOM, or WHO.
• Experience in remote management or insecure operating environments.

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Strong technical leadership, coaching, mentoring, and team supervision skills.
• Excellent communication, coordination, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong analytical, reporting, and program development abilities.
• Sound ethical judgment, integrity, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and uphold the dignity and rights of affected populations.
• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to work under pressure.
• Commitment to ODP’s values, safeguarding standards, and humanitarian principles.

Working Hours:

40 hours per week, from Sunday to Thursday, with an 8-hour workday.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

ODP is committed to creating an equal opportunity work environment, ensuring that all employees are treated with respect and dignity.

Application Instructions:

Please submit your updated resume (maximum of 3 pages) along with a cover letter detailing why you are a good fit for this role. Use the subject line: “MHPSS & Protection Specialist” when emailing your application to recruitment@odp.org.ly. The closing date for applications is November 07, 2026. Applications received after this date will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Note: ODP reserves the right to close the vacancy once a sufficient number of applications have been received

Location: Tripoli_/_طرابلس | Type: Full_Time_-_دوام_كامل | Category: Protection-حماية | Tags: #طرابلس