Background:
The OSCE Mission to Skopje (the Mission), through the Public Safety and Community Outreach Department (PSCOD), is supporting the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) to strengthen institutional mechanisms for psychological support to police officers exposed to traumatic incidents. To address gaps in early identification, coordinated response, and destigmatisation of trauma-related challenges, the Mission has supported the development of the Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) Team Response Policy, a framework establishing multidisciplinary Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Teams, activation protocols, trauma-informed response standards, and training structures for mental health professionals, peer support officers, and first responders.

Building on the introductory (orientation) training delivered in December 2025, the Mission will continue the phased PTS Response Training Programme in 2026. The training is planned for MoIA/Border Police Station (BPS) officers, delivered in two groups, to ensure an interactive, practice-oriented approach. 

Objective of Assignment: 
The overall objective is to support MoIA in operationalizing the PTS Team Response Policy through delivery of the PTS Response Training Programme in 2026. Specifically, the consultant will:
• Design training curriculum and materials in line with the PTS Team Response Policy and the phased timeline.
• Deliver the planned modules to two groups of participants, using practical and scenario-based methods.
• Conduct short assessments, collect feedback, and produce phase-specific and final reports with recommendations.
• Provide expert advice to Criminal Justice and Police Reform Unit (CJPRU)/MoIA on institutional integration of the programme, including refresher training and inclusion in the MoIA Training Catalogue.

Duration of Assignment:
The foreseen period of engagement is from April to December 2026.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Acting/Chief of Criminal Justice and Police Reform Unit (CJPRU), the consultant will perform the following tasks:

1. Throughout the consultancy period:
   • Design the training content in line with the PTS Team Response Policy and align its roles, response protocols, activation mechanism, and confidentiality safeguards accordingly;
   • Prepare and regularly update a detailed implementation schedule, taking into account delivery to two groups of participants;
   • Prepare training materials (agenda, handouts, slides), assessment tools, and scenario packages as appropriate for each training module;
   • Deliver all training modules at the MoIA Training Centre in Idrizovo (or other agreed premises), ensuring an interactive, practice-oriented approach;
   • Collect participant feedback and advise CJPRU/MoIA on institutional follow-up.

2. Phase 1 (April-May 2026): 
   • Module design and content development: intro modules on crisis intervention, trauma basics, Psychological First Aid;
   • Delivery of the training;
   • End-of-Phase 1: evaluation workshop and Phase 1 report.

3. Phase 2 – Advanced and Specialized Modules (May–September 2026)
   • Module design and content development: advanced specialized one-day training modules on trauma-informed communication under stress, de-escalation, multidisciplinary coordination, peer support functions, case-based learning;
   • Delivery of role-play/simulations-based training;
   • End-of-Phase 2: evaluation workshop and Phase 2 report, including recommendations and material adjustments, as needed.
4. Phase 3 – Institutional Integration (October–November 2026)
   • Module design and content development of Refresher Training;
   • Delivery of the refresher training;
   • End-of-Phase 3: evaluation workshop and Phase 3 report.
5. Final report (mid-December 2026) 
   • Produce a final report summarizing results, feedback, lessons learned, and recommendations for integrating the programme (regular and refresher training) into the MoIA Training Catalogue to establish a sustainable learning framework for continued delivery.

Deliverables:
1. Training curriculum and implementation plan (incl. two-group delivery schedule, agendas and materials) developed by mid-April 2026;
2. Phase 1 delivered to two groups (18 participants/each group), and the end-of-phase 1 report delivered by mid-May 2026;
3. Phase 2 delivered to two groups (18 participants/each group), and the end-of-phase 2 report delivered by end of September 2026;
4. Refresher Training curriculum and implementation plan (incl. two-group delivery schedule, agendas and materials) developed by mid-October 2026;
5. Phase 3 delivered to two groups (18 participants/each group), and the end-of-phase 3 report delivered by end of November 2026;
6. Final report with recommendations, submitted by mid-December 2026.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, please see http://skopje.osce.org 

Necessary Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in psychology, clinical psychology, psychotherapy, counselling, or a related mental health discipline. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in similar fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• A minimum of 10 (ten) years’ professional experience and practice in:
  o    Clinical psychology and psychotherapy
  o    Trauma-informed psychological support
  o    Adult education and professional training
  o    Stress management and organisational wellbeing
  o    Counselling for individuals, families, and teams

• Proven track record in developing and delivering large-scale capacity building programmes for government institutions, international organizations, corporate organizations, NGOs;

• Ability to design and deliver engaging, practical, and interactive training for adult learners;

• Excellent facilitation and presentation skills adapted to multidisciplinary and multi-ethnic groups;
• Proven ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including trauma-informed communication;
• Excellent written and spoken Macedonian; very good English;
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;

• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;

Remuneration Package:

150 EUR/consultancy day, in accordance with the OSCE Mission to Skopje established rates.

Payment will be made upon successful completion of all tasks and responsibilities, as per the Terms of Reference.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

Please note that applications received after the deadline, submitted in different formats than the OSCE Online Application Form or in other languages than the English language would not be considered.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, or offer the position with modified terms of reference or a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. 

The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.