Staff Counsellor

About the role

The Staff Counsellor provides psychosocial support to UNRWA staff and their families during emergencies, critical incidents and routine stressors. Working under the Technical Supervisor of the Staff Care and Wellbeing Division, the role ensures a resilient and healthy work environment.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver psychological first aid, psycho‑education and family support to individuals and groups affected by emergencies or traumatic events.
• Assess the impact of critical and security incidents, coordinate with UNDSS and other UN counsellors, and arrange follow‑up interventions.
• Develop resilience‑building programmes, psycho‑education materials and strengthen referral mechanisms in line with UNRWA’s mental‑health strategy.
• Advise management on stress‑mitigation strategies, healthy work culture and support staff with chronic or serious mental‑health conditions.
• Maintain detailed records of psychosocial activities, produce monthly reports and analyse trends while ensuring confidentiality.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Counselling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry, Social Work or related field.
• At least five years of professional counselling experience, including work in humanitarian or large international settings.
• Relevant certification in traumatic/critical incident stress and, where required, a licence to deliver mental‑health services.
• Minimum two years of continuous international experience outside the candidate’s country of nationality.

Required skills

• Psychological first aid and trauma‑focused counselling.
• Development and delivery of psycho‑education and resilience‑building programmes.
• Coordination with security and well‑being stakeholders in emergency contexts.
• Data collection, reporting and analysis of psychosocial activities.