Job Description

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Specialist Jobs in Nigeria – INTERSOS

Company: INTERSOS
Position: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Specialist
Location: Nigeria
Job Type: Full-Time
Sector: NGO / Humanitarian / Protection & Mental Health Services
Industry: Humanitarian Assistance, Protection, Psychosocial Support, Community Development
Application Deadline: 27th Dec 2026, 12:00 PM

INTERSOS is recruiting an experienced Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Specialist to strengthen humanitarian protection programming in conflict-affected communities across Nigeria. This opportunity is ideal for professionals with expertise in mental health, psychosocial support, humanitarian response, child protection, GBV response, and community-based interventions.

The role offers a chance to support vulnerable populations impacted by displacement, conflict, trauma, food insecurity, and gender-based violence while contributing to sustainable community mental health systems, psychosocial wellbeing, and humanitarian protection services.

Candidates searching for NGO jobs in Nigeria, psychology jobs, mental health jobs, humanitarian careers, protection specialist vacancies, and community development jobs are encouraged to apply.

Job seekers interested in exploring more employment opportunities across humanitarian, NGO, public health, and development sectors can visit job vacancies in Nigeria for updated vacancies and career opportunities.

Job Overview

The MHPSS Specialist will work closely with the Protection Coordinator and program teams to design, implement, supervise, and strengthen mental health and psychosocial support interventions across INTERSOS operations.

The role involves developing MHPSS frameworks, supervising psychologists and protection teams, supporting safeguarding initiatives, strengthening referral systems, and ensuring interventions are aligned with global humanitarian standards and community needs.

This position requires strong leadership, technical expertise in psychosocial programming, and experience supporting vulnerable groups including internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, children, GBV survivors, and at-risk populations.

Key Job Responsibilities

MHPSS Strategy & Program Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive MHPSS response framework and strategy aligned with mission priorities and global humanitarian standards.
• Conduct assessments to identify key mental health concerns affecting children, women, men, and vulnerable populations.
• Design prevention and mitigation interventions for psychosocial distress and trauma recovery.
• Ensure mental health programming aligns with community culture, traditions, and existing coping mechanisms.
• Strengthen community-based psychosocial support approaches in line with international MHPSS guidelines.

Community Mental Health & Protection Support

• Design awareness materials and mental health messaging for community sensitization.
• Support psychosocial care integration into child protection (CP) and gender-based violence (GBV) programming.
• Work with protection and health teams to strengthen referral pathways and continuity of care.
• Ensure vulnerable individuals receive timely referrals and appropriate psychosocial services.
• Support emotional wellbeing activities and group psychosocial sessions.

Professionals interested in broader regional NGO opportunities may also browse job vacancies in Ghana for social development, mental health, public health, and humanitarian careers.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Develop monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to measure psychosocial distress and program outcomes.
• Conduct trend analysis on protection concerns and mental health needs.
• Maintain service mapping of available referral and psychosocial services.
• Prepare technical reports, impact assessments, and program updates.
• Ensure ethical handling of sensitive protection and mental health data.

Staff Supervision & Capacity Building

• Supervise psychologists, case workers, and protection staff.
• Mentor teams on psychological first aid (PFA), psychosocial support, case management, safeguarding, confidentiality, and trauma-informed care.
• Conduct training workshops for protection and non-protection staff.
• Support staff care systems and mental health awareness for humanitarian workers.

Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent INTERSOS in MHPSS technical working groups and protection clusters.
• Maintain relationships with humanitarian partners, health providers, and service organizations.
• Coordinate with government and NGO stakeholders to improve psychosocial support systems.
• Share best practices, lessons learned, and emerging humanitarian trends.

Candidates exploring additional international job opportunities can also review job vacancies in Kenya for NGO jobs, health sector careers, humanitarian vacancies, and psychosocial support positions.

Education Requirements

Applicants should possess:

• Bachelor’s Degree in:
  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Social Sciences
  • Human Rights
  • International Humanitarian Law
  • Community Development or related fields

Preferred Qualification:

• Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline will be an added advantage.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 4 years of professional experience in MHPSS, humanitarian protection, or psychosocial programming.
• Proven experience designing and supervising community-based mental health programs.
• Experience working with GBV survivors, vulnerable children, displaced communities, and protection case management.
• Prior experience in an INGO or humanitarian environment is highly preferred.

Required Skills & Competencies

Successful candidates should demonstrate:

• Strong technical knowledge of MHPSS global standards and protection frameworks
• Experience in program design, proposal writing, and psychosocial interventions
• Excellent leadership, mentoring, and staff supervision abilities
• Strong analytical, reporting, and documentation skills
• Ability to work under pressure in emergency settings
• Excellent communication and stakeholder coordination skills
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and reporting systems

Language Requirements

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Knowledge of Hausa and Kanuri languages is considered an advantage.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary: Competitive and based on INTERSOS salary scale and professional experience.
• Humanitarian and psychosocial technical training opportunities.
• Professional growth within an international humanitarian organization.
• Exposure to emergency response and protection programming.
• Opportunity to contribute to life-saving humanitarian interventions.

Training & Career Development

INTERSOS supports staff growth through:

• Mental health and psychosocial support training
• Safeguarding and protection workshops
• Leadership and supervision mentoring
• Humanitarian coordination and emergency response learning
• Continuous professional development opportunities

Why Join INTERSOS?

Joining INTERSOS gives professionals the opportunity to contribute to impactful mental health programs, psychosocial support systems, humanitarian protection