National Staff Counsellor (SC10) Damascus VA007-2026

World Food Programme - WFP

Staff Closes 09 Apr 2026 6 days left

Overview

Support the provision of essential psychosocial support for staff and dependents in Syria, mitigating psychological impacts and supporting staff with ongoing stressors.


Key Responsibilities
  • Support in identifying psychosocial hazards and risk factors, and assessing mental health needs.
  • Provide culturally sensitive and trauma informed individual and/or group counselling.
  • Provide pre and post deployment briefings.
  • Participate in crisis response and provide crisis counselling.
  • Provide active psychological support during emergencies and after critical incidents.
  • Support and maintain the WFP Wellness Support Volunteer Network (WSV).
  • Liaise with the Family Liaison Officer on family related issues.
  • Contribute to the design of guidelines and information materials.
  • Contribute to building a mental health referral network.
  • Maintain the highest ethical standards related to psychological services.
  • Complete administrative duties, including maintaining statistics and reporting.
Required Experience

With a master’s degree, at least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional post-graduate experience, or with a bachelor’s degree, at least seven (7) years of experience relevant to the field, is required. Experience either working in a hardship location or providing counselling services to staff working under very difficult and insecure environments is an asset.

Qualifications

Advanced university degree (Doctorate, Masters or equivalent) in Psychology, Psychiatry or demonstrably equivalent studies from a recognised institution. The candidate must be licensed/registered or equivalent with a governing body as a mental health professional. Additional training or certification in a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, critical incident stress, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, mediation, trauma etc. will be an advantage.

Other Details
Languages Required
Proficiency (level C) in writing and verbal communication in English and fluency in Arabic is required.
Languages Preferred
Not specified
Contract Duration
12 months
Work Modality
The Staff Counsellor will be based in Damascus and will be expected to travel frequently to other WFP Syria duty stations for short missions to provide support.
Remuneration
Not specified
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