ROLE SUMMARY:

The Psychosocial Support (PSS) Specialist will provide technical leadership and support to guide the effective integration and achievement of psychosocial wellbeing outcomes across Right To Play’s (RTP’s) programs in Ethiopia. You will provide technical guidance on PSS standards and approaches. This position will also be responsible for providing skills building, resource development, coaching and mentorship support, including facilitating a PSS community of practice and encouraging learning and best practice in PSS amongst teams. You will guide the development of new project models to address the protection and psychosocial support needs of children in diverse contexts.

Reporting to Country Director, you will work closely with a diverse team of program specialists within the Global Program Development (GPD) and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) teams. You will work in close collaboration with Country Office based Program Manager, Education Specialist, Finance Manager and focal points  to ensure that psychosocial wellbeing programs are developed, implemented, and measured in line with global best practice and learning on what works from the sector. You will also be responsible for ensuring that child protection and psychosocial wellbeing program results are achieved and

appropriately measured to further RTP’s thought leadership and advocacy efforts.

• This position will include international travel up to 20% per year.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

#1: Strategic Leadership on Psychosocial Support (30% of Time):

• Design context relevant Child Protection/PSS Strategy, build on existing strategies, theory of change

• Analyze PSS information and data to inform program designing, learning exchange and training material development

• Lead the design and material development of Play Based Learning for PSS intervention.

• Provide guidance and collaborate with other subject matter specialists to integrate Education, child protection and PSS approaches into programming and guidance documents, toolkits, MEL guidance documents, resources, and quality assurance processes.

• In partnership with Global Program Unit, establish quality assurance mechanisms, document learnings and report on delivery of RTP’s Strategic Plan goals related to child protection and psychosocial wellbeing.

• Collaborate with MEL team to effectively integrate child participation and protection considerations within standards and guidelines.

• Contribute to organizational initiatives at the country office and field office level to implement and reinforce RTP’s thought leadership strategy for psychosocial wellbeing of children.

2: Drive Innovation and Program Design (25% of Time):

• Develop new, or revise existing, psychosocial wellbeing project models based on

evidence from RTP’s programs and learning from what works in organisations delivering similar work.

• Collaborate with implementing partners to strengthen program adaptation based on results and learnings of      what works in programming to support children’s wellbeing through child protection and PSS, particularly in relation to education.

• Collaborate with Program Manager, MEL and technical specialists to develop standards and guidance on play- based approaches and methodology to achieve child protection and psychosocial wellbeing programs outcomes.

• Collaborate with MEL and Scale and Innovation functions to align Child Protection and PSS portfolio with

• RTP’s emerging approach to piloting, research and development.

3: Support Quality Programming (25% of Time):

• Support ongoing learning and knowledge sharing with Country Office Child Protection Specialists/Focal Points and Program and MEL Teams on child protection and psychosocial wellbeing programming and measurement approaches.

• Coordinate and facilitate Child Protection and PSS trainings that focus on: knowledge, attitudes and behavior towards child rights and protection; and child protection referral systems.

• Train RTP staff to train volunteers and service providers on basic, focused, non-specialized PSS services (level 3).

• Provide technical backstopping on child protection and psychosocial wellbeing programming, based on needs and priorities identified by Country Offices.

• Lead global initiatives for child protection and psychosocial wellbeing related to coaching and capacity building, including facilitating a Child Protection and PSS community of practice.

• Provide child protection and psychosocial wellbeing technical leadership on multi-country and strategic business development opportunities.

• Work in partnership with Global Partnerships Team and Fundraising Offices to communicate RTP’s strengths related to play, child protection and psychosocial wellbeing programming and outcomes, including contributing to capacity statements, proposal development and representing RTP in key donor forums.

Organization:                                    Right To Play Ethiopia

Department/Division:                   Program Development

Work Location:                                 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Target Hiring Range:                       Local salary scale applies (Grade 8). Hiring range and benefits will be shared with applicants as part of the recruitment process.

Target Start Date:                            January 2024

Contract Duration:                          One year with a possibility of contract extension

Application Closing Date:             November 30/2023

Job Requirements

5: Other Tasks as Assigned (5% of Time)
WHAT YOU’LL BRING (ESSENTIAL):

EDUCATION/TRAINING/CERTIFICATION:

• Master’s degree in related field (Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Education, International Development, , Child Protection, Child Rights, etc.) or equivalent professional experience

• Child rights and protection courses and/or certificates

EXPERIENCE:

• Proven experience in child protection system development in a humanitarian or development child centered organization focusing on PSS

• Active involvement with the National/regional child protection or PSS network and MHPSS networks, including experience of working with government and child protection partners at national level

• Demonstrated experience in designing interventions and training related to PSS interventions for children

• Strong experience of embedding safeguarding protocols within child protection programming including considerations on consent, information sharing and monitoring

• Experience with strengthening of child protection or PSS delivery preferably in emergency or humanitarian contexts

• Demonstrated experience in policy processes, including research, reviews and formulation with evidence of similar assignments in other countries; and experience to advocate and provide policy advice

• Consolidated experience in safe information management within child protection programming

COMPETENCIES/PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Ability to multi-task, maintain a high degree of organization, and meet deadlines

• Highly adaptable, demonstrating a flexible attitude and an ability to work with people from various backgrounds and cultures

• Effective leadership and team management skills

• Demonstrated change management skills, including the ability to lead implementation of new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

• Strong conflict management and resolution skills

• Excellent relationship building and management with internal and external stakeholders

• Ability to address the intersectionality of child protection issues and program with gender, inclusion, poverty and racism

• Focuses on impact and result for the client

• Growth mindset, open to feedback and actively engage in continuous learning and development

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• Knowledge of Standards to ensure a quality Child Protection response, Child Protection risks, develop adequate strategies and work across sectors

• Knowledge of child protection in development and humanitarian contexts, and applying humanitarian principles and standards, including do no harm principles

• Excellent knowledge of preventing and responding to psychosocial distress and promoting mental health of children in different settings

• Strong knowledge of developing community-level approaches

• Outstanding communication skills, oral and written, including reporting writing

• Proven facilitation and presentation skills

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting

• Ability to support the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programs and projects

LANGUAGES:

• Fluency in spoken and written English

BONUS IF YOU’LL BRING (NOT ESSENTIAL):

• Knowledge of 2 or more local languages widely spoken in Benishangul Gumuz Region

• Training/professional experience in gender equality and/or inclusion

• Experience supporting teams in developing countries

WHAT YOU’LL GET:

The opportunity to collaborate with an innovative global team who are passionate about working with children and youth. You will gain experience working for a globally recognized organization with a healthy culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care and be playful). You will be immersed in an environment where learning and development is encouraged and valued, and “play” is appreciated as a core avenue to building community.

• Competitive salary and benefits

• Flexible work arrangements (e.g. work from home and flex hours)

• Up to 5 personal learning and development (L&D) days per year

• Annual learning week

• Annual staff recognition awards

• Opportunity to connect with employees across our offices (Global Buddy Chat, Facebook Workplace)

• Opportunity to engage in global projects and initiatives

• Wellness programs

• Playful activities and events

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please apply with your resume and cover letter in English via the application link.

Application Link: CLIK HERE

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Right To Play provides equal employment opportunities to employees regardless of their gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. As such, we encourage groups who have been historically disadvantaged with respect to employment to apply for positions at Right To Play. We offer a family-friendly environment that allows for flexible work arrangements in order to support staff diversity and ensure a healthy work-life balance.

We value and promote a culture   of   diversity,   equity,   inclusion,   and belonging.   Should   you   require any accessibility related accommodations or specific adjustments to ensure fair and equitable access throughout the recruitment and selection process, and thereafter, please reach out to the People & Culture team by email at careers@righttoplay.com. All information provided will be treated as confidential and used only to provide an accessible candidate experience.

We are a child-centered organization. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety and protection of children in our programs. The successful candidate will be required to provide a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening or equivalent criminal check as a condition of employment.

 EMPLOYEE VACCINE POLICY:

To protect the health and safety of our employees and the communities we serve, Right To Play requires all employees and volunteers based in Canada to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The successful candidate will be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

To learn more about who we are and what we do, please visit our website at www.righttoplay.com.