Psychologist

International Rescue Committee; Haripur; On-site; PKR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is seeking a Psychologist to lead Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities in Pakistan’s KP region, including Haripur. The role focuses on Psychological First Aid, community education, and strengthening referral pathways to formal care.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s in psychology with 3–5 years of field experience in MHPSS, GBV, and protection programs, and are fluent in English and Urdu.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of GBV, MHPSS core principles, and protection program design.
• Experience in case management and counseling services in field settings.
• Excellent report writing, communication, and interpersonal skills. Proficiency in English and Urdu.

Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and implement structured MHPSS interventions tailored to target populations in KP and Haripur.
• Facilitate psychosocial support sessions for individuals, families, and groups to build resilience.
• Deliver Psychological First Aid training for health facility staff and community workers.
• Develop mental health awareness campaigns to promote understanding and reduce stigma.
• Establish and maintain referral pathways for access to mental health care.
• Coordinate with protection teams and healthcare providers to deliver integrated MHPSS services.
• Monitor, review, and document intervention impact for learning and improvement.
• Prepare progress and impact reports for stakeholders.
• Mentor and supervise staff to strengthen MHPSS delivery.

Skills

GBV knowledge

Counseling skills

MHPSS design

Case management

Report writing

English/Urdu languages

Education

Master’s degree in psychology

Job description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions.

The Integrated Services for communities in Pakistan project aim to enhance the safety, dignity, and well-being of Afghan refugees and host communities in two districts of KP, Haripur and Nowshera. It focuses on multi-sectoral integrated program delivery providing quality protection, GBV, SRH, and MHPSS services, alongside climate-resilient, livelihoods, youth engagement, and social cohesion initiatives. The project adopts a participatory, inclusive approach to address vulnerabilities and promotes sustainable development.

The Psychologist will lead the implementation of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities, aligned with the project’s goals. Key responsibilities include providing Psychological First Aid, conducting mental health awareness campaigns, training health facility staff, and establishing effective referral pathways. This role prioritizes culturally sensitive interventions to address the psychosocial needs of vulnerable individuals and communities. Additionally, the Psychologist will deliver MHPSS activities for caregivers and parents, contributing to the overall wellbeing and resilience of target populations.

Major Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and implement structured MHPSS interventions tailored to the needs of target populations.
• Facilitate psychosocial support sessions for individuals, families, and groups to promote emotional wellbeing and resilience.
• Deliver Psychological First Aid training for health facility staff and community workers to enhance emergency response capacity.
• Develop and implement mental health awareness campaigns to promote understanding and reduce stigma.
• Contribute to project’s awareness campaign and messaging on the importance of MHPSS to help deliver MHPSS and integrated health services.
• Advocate for mental health promotion through engagement with community leaders and stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain referral pathways to ensure timely access to specialized mental health care.
• Coordinate with protection teams, healthcare providers, and stakeholders to deliver integrated and sustainable MHPSS services.
• Monitor, review, and document the impact of interventions to ensure continuous learning and improvement.
• Prepare detailed progress and impact reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Mentor and supervise staff to build capacity in delivering high-quality MHPSS services in the integrated services project.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: District Manager(Direct) Project manager (Operationally)

Position closely coordinates with: Health, Education & Protection Teams

Position Directly Supervises: None

Job Requirements

Education: Master’s degree in psychology.

Work Experience: Minimum 3-5 years of experience implementing MHPSS programs, case management, and counseling services. Experience working directly with women, girls, and children in field settings.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Strong knowledge of designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating GBV, MHPSS, and protection programs. In depth understanding of MHPSS core principles, GBV guiding principles, counseling, gender issues in Baluchistan and KP, protection and child protection risks. Excellent report writing, communication, and interpersonal skills. Experience in case management and providing individualized support to high-risk individuals.

Language Skills: Proficiency in spoken and written English, Urdu, and local languages.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and rebuild.

We are trusted for our ability to reach people in the toughest places, put our clients at the center of everything we do, and - as an evidence-based organization - to relentlessly improve the impact we deliver for those we serve.

The IRC Way, our code of conduct, is founded upon our core values of Integrity, Accountability, Service and Equality. These values unite IRC staff around the world and keep our programs firmly directed towards the well-being of our clients while meeting the expectations of our donors as responsible stewards of their resources.