The international expert, supported by two national MHPSS officers, and in close collaboration with the MESU, will play a key role in driving this process forward by bringing in global expertise, facilitating national consensus, and ensuring institutional coherence, with the ultimate goal of building a resilient and learner-centred MHPSS system that serves children, teachers, and communities across Ukraine – during the war and beyond.
Responsibilities:
Provide strategic leadership and technical guidance for the transformation of the national system of psychosocial support in education, leveraging international expertise in mental health systems reform and crisis-responsive policy development.
Lead the adaptation and integration of global standards, models, and tools for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) within the Ukrainian education system, ensuring relevance to the national recovery context and alignment with humanitarian and development frameworks.
Coordinate the formulation of national MHPSS policies, including regulatory analysis, needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, and roadmap development in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) and relevant ministries.
Facilitate multi-sectoral dialogue among key actors – including government institutions, international organizations, civil society, academia, and community representatives – to promote shared ownership and interagency alignment.
Guide the development and implementation of a comprehensive reform roadmap for the transformation of school-based psychological services, grounded in international evidence, national priorities, and lessons learned from pilot initiatives.
Provide technical expertise in the design, assessment, and contextualization of MHPSS tools, protocols, and services, ensuring their effectiveness, cultural relevance, and sustainability.
Lead the drafting of policy briefs, technical guidance, and position papers for national stakeholders, donors, and decision-makers, articulating clear pathways for institutional change.
Oversee strategic engagement with ministries, parliamentary bodies, and technical working groups, ensuring alignment between national legislation, education reform, and public health policies.
Represent the reform process in national and international forums, sharing Ukraine’s experience as a case study in integrating mental health into education in the context of recovery and resilience.
Support advocacy and strategic communications around the reform, including public speaking, media engagement, and development of messaging for partners and the public.
Provide technical mentoring to project teams, national consultants, and implementing partners to ensure quality, coherence, and alignment across workstreams.
Perform any other duties as required to support the successful delivery of the reform process.
Education:
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in psychology, public policy, education, mental health, public administration, or another relevant field of social sciences.
Work Experience:
A least 4 years of progressively responsible professional experience, of which preferably 2 years acquired at international level, in the design, implementation, or coordination of public policy and systems reform in education and mental health sectors or related areas.
Demonstrated experience in working with government institutions, particularly ministries of education, health, or social policy.
Proven track record of advising on national policy development, legal frameworks, or institutional transformation, ideally in post-crisis or conflict-affected settings.
Experience with multilateral organizations, such as UN agencies, international NGOs, or development institutions.
Skills:
Familiarity with UN/UNESCO’s mandate and programme in Ukraine.
Excellent knowledge of global frameworks, standards, and tools related to MHPSS (e.g. IASC, WHO, INEE).
Strong ability to provide high-level policy advice and to translate international standards into locally relevant recommendations.
Ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder policy processes, including consultation, drafting, and technical validation.
Excellent analytical and writing skills, with experience in preparing policy briefs, strategic notes, or implementation roadmaps.
Strong communication and negotiation skills; ability to engage effectively with senior officials, donors, and partners.
Solid organizational and project management skills, with a focus on results, quality assurance, and strategic impact.
Proficiency in digital tools (Microsoft Office Suite, shared drives, collaboration platforms, etc.).
Languages:
Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English.
