Job Description
MHPSS Officer (Technical & Program Lead)
Project: International Stress & Trauma Sensitive Healthcare Programme in Post-Conflict and Crisis Contexts (ISTHP) Project
Location: Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), with travel to other areas
Duration: 3 years and 7 months (contract is renewed every 6-month based on performance appraisal)
Publishing date: 17th May 2026
Deadline of submission: 1st June 2026
Start date: 15th of June 2026
Reporting to: Regional Director
About Us
The Lotus Flower is a non-governmental organization dedicated to empowering vulnerable women and girls to live in safety, access opportunities for learning, achieve financial independence, and lead change within their communities. The organization operates safe social spaces within refugee and IDP camps, delivering integrated programs that support recovery, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
The organization currently manages multiple women’s centers serving IDP, refugee, and host communities across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Its programming aligns with the priorities of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and is structured around four core pillars: Health and Safety, Education and Livelihoods, Peacebuilding and Human Rights, and Climate Change.
Through a community-based and survivor-centered approach, Lotus Flower delivers services including livelihood training, language and digital skills development, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), health and fitness activities, and awareness raising on gender-based violence and women’s rights. The organization prioritizes local ownership by employing and empowering women from within the communities it serves.
Background
The Lotus Flower is implementing the ISTHP project in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) in partnership with medica mondiale. The project is designed to strengthen trauma-informed Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) systems in response to the ongoing needs of conflict-affected and vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls. The ISTHP project adopts a multi-layered approach that combines capacity strengthening, systems strengthening, and advocacy. Key components include the delivery of specialized training for health professionals on survivor-centered and trauma-informed care, the strengthening and continuation of existing self-care working groups among partner organizations, and the promotion of coordinated in-country advocacy to enhance the integration and sustainability of MHPSS services. Operating within the complex humanitarian and development context of KRI, the project prioritizes localization, partnership, and institutional capacity strengthening. It aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of MHPSS services by working closely with government institutions, civil society actors, and local partners, while aligning with international standards and best practices. Through this intervention, Lotus Flower and medica mondiale seek to contribute to sustainable, system-level change by embedding trauma-informed approaches within health and psychosocial support structures across the region.
Position Purpose
The MHPSS Officer will serve as the technical and programmatic lead for the implementation of the ISTHP project in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, implemented by Lotus Flower in partnership with medica mondiale. The position is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of a comprehensive, trauma-informed MHPSS approach that strengthens both individual capacities and institutional systems.
The role will lead the design, adapt, and implement key project components, including capacity strengthening of health professionals on medica mondiale’s survivor-centered Stress and Trauma Sensitive Approach (STA®), facilitation and strengthening of existing staff-care working groups among partner organizations, and advancement of coordinated in-country advocacy efforts targeting relevant stakeholders and decision-makers.
The MHPSS Officer will ensure that all interventions are contextually relevant, gender-sensitive, and aligned with international standards for MHPSS and protection, while responding to the needs of conflict-affected and vulnerable populations in KRI. The role will also contribute to strengthening coordination between civil society, government actors, and technical stakeholders, promoting sustainable integration and institutionalization of trauma-informed practices within health and psychosocial support systems.
Through strong technical leadership and program oversight, the MHPSS Officer will ensure high-quality implementation, contribute to evidence-based programming, and support long-term systems strengthening outcomes under the ISTHP project.
Key Responsibilities
A. Technical Leadership
Provide strategic and technical leadership in the design, adaptation, and implementation of MHPSS interventions under the ISTHP project.
Ensure alignment of all interventions with global MHPSS standards, best practices, and medica mondiale technical approaches.
Provide ongoing technical guidance and supervision to trainers, facilitators, and partner organizations.
Oversee the development, contextualization, and delivery of training curricula and materials for health professionals.
B. Capacity Building
Lead the planning and implementation of structured capacity building initiatives for health professionals on trauma-informed, survivor-centered MHPSS approaches, in close coordination with Medica Mondiale and the Directorate of Health in Duhok Governorate.
Provide mentoring, coaching, and follow-up support to trainees to ensure effective application of knowledge and skills.
Strengthen the technical capacity of local partners and stakeholders to deliver quality MHPSS services.
C. Program Management
Lead the day-to-day implementation and coordination of project activities in close collaboration with internal teams and project partners.
Develop and manage detailed work plans, implementation schedules, and activity tracking systems.
Ensure timely, efficient, and high-quality delivery of project outputs in line with donor expectations and contractual obligations.
Monitor progress against targets and proactively adjust strategies to address emerging challenges and contextual changes.
D. Coordination and Partnerships
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with government authorities, NGOs, civil society actors, and relevant stakeholders across KRI.
Strengthen coordination mechanisms and foster collaboration among partners to enhance program coherence and impact.
Lead the facilitation and strengthening of staff-care working group, ensuring their functionality, relevance, and sustainability.
E. Advocacy and Representation
Lead and contribute to in-country advocacy initiatives on MHPSS, trauma-informed care, and survivor-centered approaches, in close coordination with organizational leadership.
Represent the organization in relevant coordination platforms, technical working groups, and stakeholder forums.
Support the development of high-quality advocacy materials, policy briefs, and key messaging.
Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of Steering Committee meetings in Duhok, ensuring the organization of high-quality meetings annually. This includes coordinating with internal departments and external stakeholders, ensuring active and meaningful participation of government and partners, and maintaining high standards of documentation, including minutes of meetings, action points, and follow-up tracking.
F. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
Collaborate closely with MEAL teams to track project indicators, outputs, and outcomes.
Contribute to the development and implementation of monitoring tools and learning frameworks.
Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories to inform adaptive programming and knowledge sharing.
Prepare high-quality technical inputs for internal and donor reports in a timely manner.
5. Qualifications and Experience
Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in MHPSS programming in humanitarian or development contexts.
Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering capacity building initiatives for health professionals.
Strong technical knowledge of trauma-informed care and survivor-centered approaches.
Proven experience working in multi-stakeholder environments, including collaboration with government entities and international partners.
6. Skills and Competencies
Strong leadership, coordination, and program management skills.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement abilities.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in complex environments.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
High level of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to humanitarian principles.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit their updated CV and a cover letter to careers@thelotusflower.org, clearly indicating “MHPSS Officer” in the subject line of the email.
CVs that are in the form of pictures, and screen-shots will not be accepted.
CVs that do not include the subject line will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Applications past the expiration date of the advertisement will not be considered.