Field-Based Mental Health Lead

Global Mental Health Alliance is a Christian organisation committed to promoting mental health, psychosocial wellbeing, resilience, and community transformation among vulnerable populations. Through evidence-informed and faith-inspired programming, we work alongside communities, local leaders, and development partners to strengthen mental health systems and improve the quality of life of individuals and families.

As part of our commitment to strengthening field-based programme delivery, we are seeking to recruit a highly competent and experienced Field-Based Mental Health Lead to provide strategic leadership and management of our mental health programme in Lamwo, Kitgum, Amuru, Gulu City and Acholi Quarter

The Field-Based Mental Health Lead will serve as the strategic and operational anchor for all mental health-related programming within the organization's field operations.

The position is responsible for translating organizational strategy into practical, high-quality programme implementation while ensuring that all interventions remain evidence-informed, culturally responsive, trauma-sensitive, and grounded in Christian values.

As a member of the senior leadership team, the successful candidate will oversee programme quality, staff performance, partnerships, learning, accountability, innovation, and sustainable growth of the organization's mental health portfolio.

The Field-Based Mental Health Lead will provide overall leadership, coordination, technical oversight, monitoring, and operational management of mental health and psychosocial support programmes implemented at field level. The position is essentially intended to strengthen decentralized programme leadership closer to the communities we serve.

The successful candidate will be based in Palabek/Okidi and will lead programme implementation, quality assurance, stakeholder engagement, team development, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic growth of field operations in Lamwo, Kitgum, Amuru, Gulu City and Acholi Quarter.

1. Strategic Programme Leadership and Management

• Provide overall strategic leadership, direction, and oversight of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programmes in Field offices and surrounding operational areas.
• Lead the operationalization of the organization's strategic plan, mental health agenda, and programme priorities.
• Coordinate programme planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
• Develop annual work plans, implementation strategies, budgets, and performance targets.
• Ensure programmes achieve agreed objectives, outcomes, quality standards, and donor commitments.
• Promote innovation, sustainability, accountability, and continuous programme improvement.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, donor requirements, safeguarding standards, and professional ethical guidelines.

2. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Technical Leadership

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of mental health and psychosocial support interventions.
• Ensure all MHPSS programmes are evidence-based, culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and faith-sensitive.
• Promote innovative approaches to trauma recovery, psychosocial wellbeing, resilience building, and community mental health.
• Champion holistic models of care that integrate emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual wellbeing.
• Provide technical guidance and support to programme staff and stakeholders on mental health programming and best practices.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning and Knowledge Management (MEAL)

• Strengthen programme monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning, and knowledge management systems.
• Analyze programme performance data and generate actionable recommendations for programme improvement.
• Lead programme reviews, quality assurance assessments, and impact evaluations.
• Promote evidence-based decision-making, adaptive management, and organizational learning.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality reporting of programme achievements, outcomes, lessons learnt, and challenges.

4. Team Leadership and Capacity Development

• Lead, mentor, supervise, coach, and support programme staff and consultants.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, accountable, and high-performing organizational culture.
• Strengthen staff capacities in trauma-informed care, psychosocial support, safeguarding, programme management, and leadership.
• Conduct regular field visits, technical support sessions, performance reviews, and quality assurance assessments.
• Promote teamwork, staff wellbeing, professional development, and adherence to organizational values.

5. Community, Stakeholder and Partnership Engagement

• Build and maintain effective relationships with district authorities, health facilities, churches, community leaders, implementing partners, humanitarian actors, and development stakeholders.
• Represent the organisation in district, regional, national, and sector coordination forums.
• Strengthen community participation, ownership, and accountability in programme design and implementation.
• Promote collaboration with government, faith-based institutions, academic institutions, research organisations, NGOs, and INGOs.
• Support advocacy initiatives aimed at improving access to quality mental health and psychosocial services.

6. Resource Mobilization and Partnership Development

• Contribute to fundraising strategies, proposal development, donor engagement, and resource mobilization efforts.
• Support the development of sustainable programme models and innovative funding opportunities.
• Identify and nurture strategic partnerships that strengthen programme effectiveness, visibility, learning, and sustainability.
• Contribute to organizational growth and long-term impact.

7. Financial and Operational Oversight

• Support budget development, monitoring, forecasting, and efficient utilization of resources.
• Ensure sound financial stewardship and accountability for programme resources.
• Oversee effective management of programme assets, logistics, and operational systems.
• Strengthen field operational procedures and systems to improve efficiency and programme delivery.
• Ensure compliance with financial, procurement, and operational policies and procedures.

8. Policy, Advocacy and Systems Strengthening

• Support policy dialogue and systems-strengthening initiatives that improve access to mental health services.
• Promote integration of mental health and psychosocial support within broader health, humanitarian, and development programmes.
• Contribute technical expertise to sector-wide learning, policy discussions, and best practice development.
• Support generation and dissemination of evidence that informs policy and practice.

9. Safeguarding, Ethics and Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with safeguarding, child protection, PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), and Do No Harm principles.
• Uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, confidentiality, and accountability.
• Promote a culture of safety, dignity, inclusion, and respect for all programme participants and staff.
• Ensure ethical and responsible programme implementation in line with organizational values and standards.

Education

• Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry, Public Health, Social Work, Nursing in Mental Health, Development Studies, Project Management, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience managing humanitarian or development programmes, preferably in mental health and psychosocial support.
• Demonstrated experience in programme design, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and reporting.
• Proven knowledge and practical experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL/M&E).
• Experience working with district local governments, community structures, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Strong leadership, supervision, coaching, and people management skills.
• Experience in resource mobilization, partnership development, and donor engagement will be an added advantage.

Core Competencies

• Strong strategic leadership and programme management skills.
• Maturity, integrity, emotional intelligence, and a high sense of responsibility.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong report writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Effective planning, organizational, and coordination skills.
• Strong interpersonal, networking, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to foster teamwork and collaborate effectively with peer managers across GMHA.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and resilience in field-based environments.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while maintaining accountability.
• Commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and professional excellence.

As a Christian organisation, we seek a candidate who:

• Demonstrates an authentic and active Christian faith.
• Exhibits Christian values in personal and professional conduct.
• Supports and promotes the organization's Christian identity, mission, and vision.
• Understands that Christian commitment extends beyond church attendance and is reflected in daily life, leadership, service, and relationships with others.
• Demonstrates compassion, integrity, humility, and servant leadership consistent with Christian principles.