Head of Community Mental Health

Position: Head of Community Mental Health

Location: Gurugram, Haryana, India

Role Overview: The Head of Community Mental Health will provide strategic and operational leadership for community-based mental health capacity-building initiatives. This critical role demands a seasoned professional capable of driving program excellence, cultivating strong community relationships and making a meaningful contribution to the organizations mission. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in navigating the Indian mental health landscape, exceptional program management skills, and a deep commitment to social impact. 

Responsibilities:

Programme Leadership

• Develop and execute strategic plans in community mental health capacity building, aligning with the organization's overarching vision.
• Analyze emerging trends and best practices in community mental health, adapting programs for optimal effectiveness.
• Lead the development of capacity building for community mental health, including identification of priority areas, finding the right partners, and co designing our pilot programmes.
• Work closely with the Executive Director and the Founding Cohort to develop the initial thesis, and present the same to the Board.

Strategic Partnership Development:

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with organizations specializing in community-based mental health capacity building.
• Evaluate potential partners based on their expertise, track record, and alignment with organization's mission.
• Negotiate and establish clear partnership agreements, outlining roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations.

Partner Management and Oversight:

• Provide strategic guidance and support to partner organizations in the design and implementation of community capacity-building programs.
• Monitor partner performance against agreed-upon targets and deliverables, ensuring quality and impact.
• Facilitate regular communication and collaboration among partner organizations, promoting knowledge sharing and best practices.
• Conduct site visits to partner locations to ensure quality of programme implementation, and to build relationships.

Program Design and Evaluation Frameworks:

• Collaboratively develop program design frameworks with partners, ensuring alignment with evidence-based practices and community needs.
• Establish robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness and impact of partner-led capacity-building initiatives.
• Analyze program data and generate insights to inform program improvements and strategic decision-making.

Knowledge Synthesis and Thesis Development:

• Synthesize learnings from partner-led capacity-building programs to develop a comprehensive thesis on effective capacity building interventions for community-based mental health.
• Document and disseminate best practices, lessons learned, and case studies to inform the wider mental health sector.
• Contribute to the development of thought leadership on capacity building for community-based mental health.

Data and Insights:

• Leverage insights from programmes to inform internal and external discussions.
• Represent organization in relevant policy discussions related to community based mental health implementation.
• Prepare comprehensive reports on partner performance, program outcomes, and strategic recommendations.
• Maintain meticulous documentation of partnership agreements, program activities, and evaluation findings.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on programme progress and strategic insights.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, or a related field.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in managing community-based mental health programs in India.
• Deep understanding of the Indian mental health landscape, including policies, challenges, and opportunities.
• Proven expertise in program management, including budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and challenging environment.
• Fluency in English and proficiency in relevant regional languages.
• Extensive experience working with marginalized populations.
• Strong knowledge of current mental health interventions.
• Must be able to work from office in Gurugram, Haryana.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with government agencies and international organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting research and evaluation studies.
• Proven track record in training and capacity building.