Regional Staff Counsellor - LAC (P-4), #114366, LAC Regional Office – Panama City

We are seeking a Regional Staff Counsellor via Temporary Appointment (TA) to provide expertise to LAC UNICEF management and staff of the LAC regional office and country offices in the region; to support the overall well-being of UNICEF staff and their families, as well as teams in UNICEF offices in the region.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a brighter future

UNICEF is striving for a work environment where staff wellness, resilience and work-life balance are integrated parts of the organizational culture. Due to the nature and location of their work, UNICEF staff are frequently exposed to high levels of day to day, cumulative stress, including those stressors related to their workload as well as the demands related to living and working in multicultural, often unstable and insecure, environments.

The position is office-based, located in the regional office and reports to the Regional Director of LACRO, while also being under the Technical Supervision of the NYHQ Staff Counsellor. It serves mainly UNICEF staff and offices in the region and contribute to the global staff well-being functions and activities. It involves travel to country offices in the region.

How can you make a difference?

The P-4 Regional Staff Counsellor Temporary Appointment (TA) is expected to provide expertise to LAC UNICEF management and staff of the LAC regional office and country offices in the region; to support the overall well-being of UNICEF staff and their families, as well as teams in UNICEF offices in the region.

The TA post will contribute towards the continuing development of a corporate framework for Staff Well-Being and promote its implementation at the regional level. The framework will identify activities aimed at raising awareness about healthy work practices; improving the work-life balance of UNICEF staff; facilitating the provision of assistance to staff/family experiencing work-related and/or personal problems; facilitating the provision of immediate support following a traumatic incident and related tasks.

The Regional Staff Counsellor will coordinate and work in collaboration with the network of UN counsellors regionally. Frequent field missions and close collaboration with Country Offices are required

The detailed job description is available here:  JD - Staff Counsellor (P4) LACRO.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced University degree in counselling, clinical psychology or related mental health profession is required. Additional training or certification in staff support and traumatic/critical incident stress as well as a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, family counselling, training, stress management.

• A minimum of eight years of national and especially international professional experience in staff support, mental health, cross cultural communications, counselling, and related areas, preferably gained within the UN system or international development/humanitarian aid sector.

• A proven track record showing resourcefulness and keen social awareness and sound judgement pertaining to common counselling caveats, e.g. overzealous client advocacy, burnout, the need for self-care and personal counselling. An empathic non-judgmental clinical approach with tact and confidentiality.

• Evidence of previous experience in adhering to professional boundaries, e.g. administrating only those services for which supervised training has been administered.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish is required. Additional knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are: Relating and Networking (Level 3); Applying Technical Expertise (Level 2); Formulating Strategies & Concepts (Level 2); Planning and Organizing (Level 2); Adapting & Responding to Change (Level 2)

View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.