Psychologist Jobs in Nigeria | NGO Mental Health Jobs

Company: INTERSOS
Location: Nigeria (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and North-West intervention areas)
Job Type: Full-Time
Sector: Humanitarian / NGO / Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) / Protection
Salary: Competitive NGO Salary Package (Based on Qualifications, Experience, and Organizational Scale)
Application Deadline: Friday, 29 December 2026 by 12:00 PM

INTERSOS, an independent humanitarian organization committed to supporting victims of conflict, disasters, and exclusion, is recruiting a qualified Psychologist / Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer to strengthen psychosocial support interventions in Nigeria. The organization works based on humanitarian principles of solidarity, justice, dignity, equality, inclusion, and protection of vulnerable populations.

This role is particularly important in humanitarian settings where internally displaced persons (IDPs), survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), children at risk, and conflict-affected populations require professional psychological support and trauma-informed care.

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Background and Project Context

Nigeria continues to face a prolonged humanitarian crisis, particularly in the North-East (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States) and North-West regions. Conflict, forced displacement, food insecurity, inflation, disease outbreaks, and limited access to healthcare have significantly affected millions of people.

Women, children, and vulnerable populations face increased exposure to psychosocial distress, trauma, and protection risks including GBV, family separation, and displacement-related mental health challenges. As part of its humanitarian response, INTERSOS provides Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services to ensure survivors and vulnerable individuals receive adequate emotional and psychological care.

Job Purpose

The Psychologist / MHPSS Officer will provide specialized mental health and psychological support services to individuals experiencing moderate to severe emotional, behavioral, or mental health conditions. The role includes delivering evidence-based counselling, psychosocial interventions, referral support, and staff mentoring to ensure high-quality protection and psychosocial programming.

The successful candidate will also support technical capacity building for protection teams to strengthen psychosocial support activities for adults and children.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

• Collaborate with the Protection Project Referent and MHPSS Specialist to develop and strengthen psychosocial support activities.
• Conduct case-by-case psychological assessments to diagnose emotional or mental health concerns.
• Develop individual care and treatment plans based on INTERSOS MHPSS guidelines and Psychological Case Management SOPs.
• Provide individual and group psychological counselling sessions using evidence-based counselling approaches.
• Deliver psychosocial support interventions for vulnerable groups including GBV survivors, displaced persons, and children at risk.
• Conduct Focused Group Interventions (FGIs) based on approved psychosocial curricula.
• Implement structured psychosocial support activities tailored to identified community needs.
• Coordinate with healthcare teams to ensure appropriate treatment and case management for clients experiencing psychological distress.

Safe Spaces and Community Support

• Support safe space readiness activities to ensure psychosocial environments remain secure and survivor-centered.
• Strengthen community-based psychosocial support systems and peer support groups through mapping and capacity building.
• Establish and strengthen referral pathways for mental health and protection services.
• Ensure help desks operate effectively across intervention sites.

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Training and Technical Support

• Facilitate internal staff training on basic psychosocial counselling and Psychological First Aid (PFA).
• Train protection teams and communities to identify individuals experiencing psychological distress.
• Coach field staff to improve delivery and standardization of MHPSS services across project locations.
• Identify staff training needs and recommend psychosocial capacity-building initiatives.

Documentation, Reporting and Compliance

• Maintain confidential case documentation while ensuring compliance with data protection and confidentiality standards.
• Prepare case updates, anonymized reports, and psychosocial progress reports.
• Participate in case management meetings and escalate urgent protection or psychological concerns to supervisors.
• Adhere strictly to humanitarian protection principles including:
  • Do No Harm
  • Confidentiality
  • Non-discrimination
  • Accountability
  • Need-to-Know principles

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with Protection Coordinators, Medical Teams, GBV/CPS Specialists, and MHPSS technical staff to strengthen integrated mental health programming.
• Establish and maintain effective partnerships with humanitarian actors, local organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Participate in coordination meetings and working groups as assigned by management.

Education and Qualifications

Candidates should possess:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology preferred) from a recognized university.
• Master’s Degree in Psychology, Mental Health, or Counseling will be an added advantage.
• Professional psychologist certification or practice license is highly desirable.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in psychology, psychosocial support, counselling, or mental health programming.
• At least 1 year of experience in an International NGO (INGO) or humanitarian setting.
• Proven experience providing individual psychological counselling and group psychosocial interventions.
• Experience working with vulnerable groups including GBV survivors, internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, and children at risk.
• Prior experience in humanitarian emergencies or conflict settings is an advantage.

Required Skills and Competencies

Successful candidates should demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of psychological assessment, diagnosis, and counselling techniques.
• Ability to conduct evidence-based individual and group counselling.
• Strong understanding of psychosocial programming and referral systems.
• Excellent documentation, reporting, and analytical skills.
• Good computer literacy including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work professionally with highly vulnerable populations in stressful environments.

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Language Requirements

• Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory.
• Knowledge of Hausa and Kanuri languages is considered a strong advantage.

Training and Professional Development

INTERSOS supports staff capacity development through:

• Training in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) methodologies.
• Psychological First Aid (PFA) and trauma-informed care training.
• Protection and safeguarding workshops.
• GBV, Child Protection, and case management training.
• Humanitarian principles and emergency response orientation.
• Continuous technical mentoring and coaching.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary: Competitive and based on NGO salary structures, experience, and qualifications.
• Professional development opportunities within international humanitarian programming.
• Exposure to emergency mental health and protection interventions.
• Supportive multicultural working environment.
• Opportunities for technical growth in psychosocial and protection programming.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should complete the required application form and submit an updated CV and Cover Letter using the following naming format:

“Surname_Position Applied For”

Application Deadline: Friday, 29 December 2026 by 12:00 PM

Please note that only candidates whose competencies and experience meet the position requirements will be contacted for further recruitment stages.