Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from healthcare. MSF’s actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.

The Asia Pacific (APAC) Project is a formal partnership between the Institutional members of MSF Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Australia in close collaboration with the branch office of The Republic of Korea. It was established to develop MSF’s institutional footprint in this region for the benefit of MSF operations world-wide, founded on the core assumption that more can be achieved at scale to support the movement by pooling resources, expertise and experience, than through independent section initiatives. As such the APAC Project is neither an independent entity nor enterprise, rather it is the sum of each section’s commitment to work together, and is considered a space for incubating new ideas and ways of working.

Benefits of working with MSF Australia

• Flexible & hybrid working arrangements  
• Annual Performance review
• Annual individual training budget & LinkedIn learning licence
• Additional leave
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Headspace app and wellbeing support
• Strong culture of diversity and inclusion
• Career growth & development opportunities
• Monthly Friday afternoons off!

Responsibilities 

This 12-month contract (with option to renew) will lead the implementation of MSF’s psychosocial support units (PSU) strategy for staff across the Asia Pacific region, ensuring access to timely, high quality mental health support in collaboration with local and international stakeholders.  

This supporting role will be accountable for:

• Lead strategic development and implementation of PSU services across APAC
• Supervise and support local psychologists and ensure clinical quality
• Deliver mental health awareness and training programs to staff and coordinators
• Provide direct psychological support (remotely or in-person) when local options are unavailable
• Conduct field visits and provide support during critical incidents
• Build and expand a network of regional mental health professionals and institutions
• Monitor and evaluate psychosocial support delivery; prepare regular reports and budgets
• Act as liaison between APAC PSU and other MSF PSU units, regional HR teams, and crisis management actors

Ideally based out of Maylasia (or other APAC office locations) you will collaborate with international Operational Centres and Psychosocial Support Unit teams and regional Psychosocial Focal Points globally.

Requirements 

To be successful in this crucial position you will be known for your expertise in engaging with staff working in stressful environments and can comfortably navigate culturally diverse expectations across the Asia Pacific. Ideally you will be reliable in crisis response and complex project management situations, and can demonstrate the following: 

• Tertiary qualifications in Clinical Psychology
• Significant experience in delivering psychosocial support to humanitarian or frontline staff
• Strong understanding of mental health issues and psychosocial interventions
• Experience supervising or mentoring mental health professionals and the ability to facilitate learning
• Knowledge of stress management, burnout prevention, trauma informed care and conflict management
• Experience in providing psychosocial support remotely (telehealth video/phone)
• High level communication, diplomacy, confidentiality and negotiation skills
• Fluent English, proficiency in one or more Asian languages will be well regarded.
• MSF or similar international NGO field experience will be well regarded.

Applications

Select the Apply button and upload your resume and cover letter via the MSFA Careers Portal. Applications will be reviewed on receipt. 

For more information, see the link to the Job Description or contact the MSFA Talent Acquisition team with any questions via MSFAOfficeRecruitment@sydney.msf.org   

At MSF Australia, we believe the following five values form the foundations of our culture – Transparency, Respect, Understanding of Diversity, Stepping In and CollaboraTion. 

We value T.R.U.S.T as an essential element to how we operate and believe that these organisation values flow from this trust that we build. 

MSF Australia (MSFA) is committed to developing diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplace and fostering a culture of belonging for all our staff. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better achieve our social mission of providing aid without agenda. We strongly encourage First Nations peoples, people from LGBTQIA+ communities, people from diverse cultures and language groups, and people who live with a disability to apply. We invite all requests for a reasonable adjustment to the recruitment process if this will support your application. For more information, call or email MSFA Human Resources on +61 2 8570 609   MSFAOfficeRecruitment@sydney.msf.org

MSF Australia has a Child Protection Policy and COVID-19 vaccination policy in place, all employees are required to comply with these policies. 

In support of the Child Protection Policy, a criminal background check will be required during the recruitment process for selected candidates. A criminal record will not automatically preclude anyone from the position they have been selected for.