MHPSS Specialist

What We Do

Since 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has worked to relieve suffering and preserve human dignity during war and armed violence. Alongside our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners, we deliver life-saving aid across front lines and strive to reconnect families and locate missing people.

Engaging with authorities and armed forces on all sides, often confidentially, we advocate for humane treatment of detainees and urge compliance with international humanitarian law to protect civilians from harm, including online.

Purpose of the Position

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Specialist provides technical expertise to strengthen the quality, coherence, and effectiveness of ICRC MHPSS programmes globally, and based on operational needs. Under the guidance of the MHPSS Programme Coordinator, and in coordination with MHPSS Regional Specialists and relevant colleagues across Health, Protection, and other operational métiers, the role contributes to aligning field operations with ICRC strategic directions, technical standards, and programming frameworks.

More specifically, the MHPSS Specialist contributes to and supports field teams in the development and implementation of context-appropriate MHPSS responses for people affected by armed conflict and violence. The position provides technical guidance and support to field teams through programme development, capacity strengthening, quality monitoring, and the development of relevant guidance and tools. The role promotes an integrated approach to MHPSS across ICRC responses, including community-based, psychosocial, and specialized mental health care (psychological and psychiatric care).

In addition to this, the position serves as a technical reference point for Level 4 specialized mental health care and provides technical leadership on the integration of MHPSS within detention responses and services addressing sexual violence.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides strategic and technical advice to delegations and field teams, including through field visits and direct engagement, to support the design, implementation, monitoring, and review of MHPSS programmes, including needs assessments, strategy development, planning, budgeting, and reporting processes.


• Supports the implementation of global and regional MHPSS priorities and ensure alignment with ICRC frameworks, standards, guidelines, and quality-of-care principles.


• Contributes to the development, adaptation, and dissemination of MHPSS technical guidance, tools, and monitoring approaches, including data collection and digital solutions, to promote evidence-informed and quality programming.


• Promotes the integration and mainstreaming of MHPSS across ICRC responses, including Health and Protection activities, and support its integration within Primary Health Care, Hospital Services, Physical Rehabilitation, First Aid and Prehospital Emergency Care, Health Care in Detention, Family of Missing, Forensic, survivors of sexual violence, and other relevant areas.


• Provides technical expertise including capacity building activities on specialized mental health care, referral pathways, and collaboration with relevant health services to strengthen comprehensive MHPSS responses.


• Provides coaching, mentoring, and technical support to MHPSS field teams and relevant colleagues through training, technical briefings, and learning initiatives.


• Works closely with MHPSS Program Coordinator, Regional Specialists, Health and Protection colleagues, and other relevant units to ensure coordinated and coherent programming.


• Represents the MHPSS métier in global discussions, technical forums, and coordination platforms, and maintain professional networks with relevant stakeholders as required. 


• Might be required to perform tasks not covered in this job description and to provide support to other departments when necessary.

Education Required

• Degree in Psychiatry or Clinical Psychology is required


• Training or experience in MHPSS in humanitarian context is required


• Training in public health is an asset


• Familiar with results-based management / logical framework tools is an asset

Experience Required

• Typically, 12-15 years of professional experience.
  
  
  
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    • Minimum 2 to 5 years of clinical experience is required
    
    
    • Minimum 5 to 10 years of international humanitarian experience working directly is required
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Valid license to practice in the country of origin or country of residence


• Fluency in verbal and written English is required. Proficiency in French and/or another language of ICRC interest: Arabic, Spanish and/or Russian is an asset,


• Exposure to psychiatry in places of detention/prison is an asset


• ICRC field experience is an asset


• Understanding of community public health psychiatry with multidisciplinary teams is an asset

Additional Information

• Type of Mobility: Required Rotation


• Working rate: 100%


• Starting date: ASAP


• Location: Geneva


• Job level: C2


• Length of assignment: 4 years


• Application deadline: 12th July 2026

The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. 

Important information: For future employees and their dependents who are not EU and/or EFTA nationals, settling in Switzerland is now required. Direct settlement in France upon arrival is no longer possible.

Our Values

• At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this page.