RESTORE HOPE LIBERIA (RHL) MENTAL HEALTH MANAGER – JOB DESCRIPTION

A member of the Senior Management Team – In close collaboration with the Executive Director, takes responsibility for the strategic direction, growth, development, and coordination of RHL’s mental health program activities in Kolahun and the surrounding communities. The Mental Health Manager is expected to have the ability to work well independently (and collaboratively) with all other RHL staff to successfully plan, manage, and implement RHL’s mental health activities, at existing sites, while also supporting all expansion efforts within and beyond the Kolahun region. The MHM will be expected to demonstrate experience and expertise in the following areas: leading and overseeing the creation and delivery of scalable, high quality, innovative, cost effective mental health programs while also supporting the long term development of program monitoring measures, providing technical leadership of program implementation with a focus on mental health, overseeing reporting, documentation and dissemination of best practices and other key messaging; leading on advocacy through networking and collaboration with relevant stakeholders (in Kolahun and occasionally Monrovia); materials development, and serving as RHL’s mental health representative at meetings. The MHM plays a key role in national strategy planning and management of RHL operations, in close partnership with the ED.

At a more granular level, the MHM is responsible for the direction and coordination of RHL’s mental health activities and for providing leadership and guidance to all staff (FT and PT) and volunteers. They oversee annual and phase design, implementation, and the execution of monitoring, and evaluation activities – in synergy with the M&E team. They will also coordinate administration of all activities within the region in line with RHL policies and guidelines.

Specific Tasks & Key Areas of Accountability

Program development and coordination:

• Execute and improve upon the pre-existing evidence-based, scalable mobilization strategy utilizing best practices and technological advancements.
• Use organizational data to inform and guide changes, development and planning for annual and phased program activities.
• Develop and effectively manage program timelines to ensure completion of all donor outlined mental health targets.
• Manage and coordinate programmatic mental health meetings including oversight and management of consultants in line with outlined deliverables.
• Work with ED, Mental Health Supervisor, and external counseling professionals to identify capacity gaps and remedial measures necessary to address them.
• Suggest pilots and/or adjustments to improve implementation and efficiency.
• Support ED in the implementation of RHL approved work-plans and deliverables, ensuring proper coordination across all project areas.
• Support ED with initiatives to ensure RHL objectives and core values are maintained at all levels of implementation within mental health programming and teams.
• Lead creation and execution of improved program expansion strategy for cyclical implementation at all defined mental health program sites.
• Provide ongoing guidance on the process to understand and visualize historical and current program saturation/impact.

Program Implementation:

• Developing a comprehensive district phase work plan (from mobilization and sensitization to Termination) in line with the organizational work plan
• Regular monitoring individual and group supervision of field facilitators to ensure all activities are in line with RHL guidelines and targets.
• Preparation of work plans, ensure timely and quality work plans implementation.
• Ensure that logistics support, transport and other support for the field activities are coordinated in time with the Fleet Coordinator and Admin/Fin Officer (AFO).
• Lead the project implementation and budget management, ensuring effective and timely activity implementation and budget management.
• Plan and approve leave schedules for group facilitators – coordinate group coverage if needed – in collaboration with AFO and other key staff.
• Conduct IPT-G sessions and ensure that your sessions are carried out as per the required standards (see required standards below)
• Conduct ongoing live supervision of other group facilitation sessions and ensure quality services are delivered to clients regularly – create modification plan for group leaders who are not maintaining the identified quality assurance standards.
• Conduct debriefs for the teams and ensure proper filing of client information

Monitoring and Supportive Supervision:

• Lead designing a volunteer facilitator (VF) model focused on quality service delivery, volunteer retention and increased engagement/cost efficient growth.
• Implement innovative management and supervision techniques to ensure full oversight of staff activities while building team cohesion and buy-in.
• Support efforts to build an effective mental health team using measurement and active feedback for all staff grounded in data.
• Provide support to M&E team in the collection and maintenance of client records.
• Mentor the Mental Health Supervisor, Part-Time Facilitators, Part-Time Plus Facilitators, and VFs ensuring org. values are respected and maintained.
• Lead by example to impart excellent and detail-oriented clinical/psychological supervision techniques and standards for all program staff.
• Liaise with ED, M&E Manager, and external experts to develop mechanisms that ensure quality service delivery and address challenges/ gaps.
• Ensure program activities comply with legislation and professional standards.

Program Reporting:

• Ensure that complete weekly activity reports and other M & E forms are submitted by all facilitators for every group – to the required standard.
• Submit monthly reports to the ED (using agreed format).
  • Ensure a standard filing of documents created and maintained
  • Conduct regular reporting to the ED, the RHL board, and RH America on successes, challenges and lessons learned.
• Lead program teams in the production of timely and detailed performance progress reports; monthly, quarterly, and annual.
• Support the ED in the dissemination of approved reports to partners; donors, board, and government representatives- as is applicable.
• Ensure that mental health program staff are adequately updated with program trends including awareness of ongoing plans and achievements.
• Oversee and ensure on-time reporting and data submission across all types of mental health group leaders and program staff.

Program Marketing and Advocacy:

• Coordinate with community experts and RHL connected leaders to ensure expert facilitation of meetings and trainings.
• Support Restore Hope US in development of program marketing materials.
• When needed, serve as programmatic liaison to external partners, including representing RHL at national, regional, and local meetings – as delegated by ED.

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Research:

• Seek to consume, understand, and utilize current research, learnings, and strategies, to enhance development of the Restore Hope Mental Health model.
• Provide support to ED, Admin/Fin. Officer, Health Coordinator, and other program staff in learning to maximize resources for greater impact in communities.

COMPETENCIES (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Behaviors)

Education

• A minimum of Bachelors (Masters preferred) in Community Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Mental Health, Psychiatry, or relevant Health or Social Work qualification.
• Additional training/ experience with Psychological First Aid, Interpersonal Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and/or MHPSS in Emergencies is a big plus.

Job related experience, knowledge & skills

• 5+ years’ experience with mental health field work in Liberia or similar setting – as a direct implementor/clinician.
• 3+ years’ experience with giving/receiving mental health/clinical supervision including oversight, coaching, mentoring, and guiding young clinicians to improve their counseling skills and the quality of their service delivery.
• 4 years providing oversight and leadership for program implementation and management – including development of strategy, identification of measurement indices, achievement of annual targets and a contribution to data collection, consumption, and re-integration to guide programmatic direction.
• Experience supervising and leading teams that work remotely or independently (away from an office setting) across multiple locations.
• Demonstrated experience with creation of national mobilization models designed to recruit and impact hundreds or thousands of people at a time.
• 5+ years’ experience working with volunteers including volunteer recruitment, engagement, retention, and management.
• Demonstrated ability as a “second in command” to ED, to lead independently and to take responsibility for achievement of job requirements through dynamic, responsible, and collaborative supervision of staff and when necessary – doing the work yourself to ensure it is completed on-time and within budget.
• Technical and clinical experience with psychology, psychiatry, social work and/or community service models.
• In-depth understanding of mental health, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
• Understanding of self-help approaches, empowerment through mental health or other proven activism related methodologies tied to client empowerment.
• A strong belief in and commitment to mental health professional ethics both inside and outside of the work environment.
• Experience with group therapy and/or management of group dynamics
• Excellent verbal/ communication skills- focused on transparency and accessibility.
• Ability to develop and sustain professional relationships, partnerships, and networks.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Ability to build a strong/cohesive team and perform effectively as a team member.
• Proven ability to work with a team under minimal supervision and being able to prioritize work and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong planning, organizing and negotiation skills with creative problem-solving.
• NOTE: All APPLICANTS MUST either already know how to drive a motorbike OR must be willing to learn to independently drive a motorbike in occasionally difficult terrain – if they are selected for this role.

Essential Characteristics:

• Strong leader focused on self-accountability & leading by example.
• Flexible & creative approach to work tasks that welcomes new ideas from all team members and that looks for solutions that have never been explored before.
• Ability to work with diverse cultures/ openness to new people and experiences.
• Ability to work hard while under pressure while maintaining a positive attitude.
• Self-respect and equal respect shown in the way you treat others.
• Self driven, results oriented, eager to learn & grow.
• A team player that values collaboration and helping other teammates succeed.
• To Apply: Submit Cover letter and CV to:
• admin@restorehopeliberia.org;
• kdatokpah@restorehopeliberia.org
• drdavid@restorehopeliberia.org