Child Protection Specialist (MHPSS)

Provides technical leadership for UNICEF's psychosocial response to the Venezuela earthquake. The specialist designs, coordinates and monitors community-based support for affected children, strengthens partners and embeds behavioural insights, accountability and feedback across the emergency response.

Department: Child Protection Section

• Lead design, implementation and monitoring of community-based MHPSS interventions
• Coordinate government, civil-society, UN and humanitarian partners across the response
• Provide technical guidance for earthquake preparedness and child-protection response
• Strengthen partner capacity through training, field support and technical accompaniment
• Embed behavioural insights, participatory communication and accountability across sectors
• Use social listening, community feedback and programme data to guide decisions
• Document results, learning and operational recommendations for sustainable MHPSS systems

• Advanced university degree in social science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, communications, public health or a related field, or a first-level degree with two additional years of relevant experience
• Minimum five years of professional experience in child protection, community-based MHPSS, community engagement or related fields, including at least three years in humanitarian or emergency contexts
• Experience supporting emergency preparedness and response in natural-hazard or complex-crisis settings
• Experience implementing community-level MHPSS, behavioural insights, community engagement and participatory communication
• Experience working with government and civil-society partners
• Experience managing inter-agency coordination and supporting cross-sectoral teams
• Fluency in Spanish and English

• Temporary appointment for six months
• Position is classified as elevated risk for child safeguarding and requires additional vetting
• National Officer appointment does not include visa or work-authorisation facilitation