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General Information

Position Title
National Workplace Counsellor
Job Category
Support Services
Duty Station(s)
Kyiv
Seniority Level
Mid Level
ICS Level
ICS 10
Contract Type
ICA - LICA - Specialist - Retainer
Contract Level
LICA 10
Posting Start Date
28-Jan-2026
Posting End Date
11-Feb-2026
Duration
ongoing

Job Highlight

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the well-being of UNOPS personnel in a high-impact environment. The position offers the chance to utilize counselling skills, promote mental health awareness, and make a tangible difference in the lives of colleagues. The role provides exposure to a diverse and multicultural workforce, professional development opportunities in workplace counselling, and the chance to work within a supportive and collaborative team.

About the Region

The Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR), based in Geneva, is responsible for the effective management, coordination and oversight of UNOPS operations across the region. The ECR region spans the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Türkiye, where UNOPS works with partners to achieve sustainable impact in health, education, environmental management, housing, rule of law, good governance, economic development, and social inclusion. With a wealth of experience in procurement, infrastructure, project and grant management, UNOPS in the region directly implements projects, provides technical advisory services and capacity building to advance the Sustainable Development Goals in support of national governments.

About the Group

The UNOPS Ukraine and Eastern Europe MCO (UEMCO) operates in Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland, supporting urgent humanitarian needs while building pathways for recovery and development. In Ukraine, UEMCO delivers large-scale infrastructure, energy, housing, education, and mine action projects in partnership with UN agencies, international financial institutions, the European Union, and bilateral donors. Its agile portfolio responds to fast-evolving needs with strong procurement and implementation capacity. In Moldova, UEMCO supports justice sector reform and is exploring opportunities to expand its role across public sector modernization and infrastructure. In Poland, UEMCO works with government and private sector actors to strengthen ties with UN procurement and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, leveraging Poland’s EU experience to support Ukraine’s future accession and integration.

Job Specific Context

The National Workplace Counsellor will provide essential mental health and well-being support to UNOPS personnel in a challenging operational environment. This role involves delivering individual stress counselling sessions, facilitating team-building activities, and providing emergency stress support to ensure the psychological safety and resilience of personnel. The position requires a proactive approach to identifying and addressing workplace stressors, promoting a healthy work environment, and contributing to the overall well-being of the UNOPS team.

Role Purpose

The National Workplace Counsellor will provide comprehensive counselling and support services to UNOPS personnel, focusing on stress management, team building, and emergency stress support. The role aims to enhance the psychological well-being and resilience of staff, contributing to a positive and productive work environment.

Functions / Key Results Expected

1. Individual Counselling Services

  • Provide confidential individual counselling sessions to UNOPS personnel experiencing work-related stress, personal challenges, or other mental health concerns.
  • Conduct assessments to identify the needs of individuals and develop appropriate counselling plans.

  • Utilize evidence-based counselling techniques to support individuals in managing stress, improving coping mechanisms, and enhancing overall well-being.

  • Maintain accurate and confidential records of counselling sessions, ensuring compliance with ethical and professional standards.

2. Team Building and Group Support

  • Design and facilitate team-building activities to promote cohesion, communication, and collaboration among UNOPS teams.

  • Conduct group counselling sessions to address common workplace stressors and promote a supportive team environment.

  • Develop and deliver workshops on topics such as stress management, conflict resolution, and resilience.

  • Provide guidance and support to managers in addressing team-related challenges and promoting a positive work culture.

3. Emergency Stress Support

  • Provide immediate psychological support to personnel during and after emergency situations, such as security incidents or critical events.

  • Conduct crisis intervention sessions to help individuals cope with trauma and manage acute stress reactions.

  • Coordinate with external mental health professionals to ensure comprehensive support for affected personnel.

  • Develop and implement emergency preparedness plans to address the psychological needs of staff during crises.

4. Mental Health Awareness and Training

  • Develop and deliver training programs to raise awareness about mental health issues and promote a culture of well-being within UNOPS.

  • Provide education on topics such as stress management, burnout prevention, and recognizing signs of mental health distress.

  • Promote the use of available mental health resources and services, both within and outside of UNOPS.

  • Collaborate with HR and other relevant departments to integrate mental health considerations into organizational policies and practices.

5. Reporting and Documentation

  • Prepare regular reports on counselling activities, including the number of sessions conducted, types of issues addressed, and outcomes achieved.

  • Maintain accurate records of training programs and awareness campaigns, including attendance and feedback.

  • Contribute to the development of organizational policies and procedures related to mental health and well-being.

  • Ensure compliance with all relevant reporting requirements and ethical standards.

Skills

Counseling Psychology, Employee Wellness, Health Psychology, Psychological Assessment
Strategic Perspective
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.
Respect
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Collaboration
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Partnerships
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Excellence
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Adaptability
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Decision-making
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Communication
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field with 7 years of relevant experience. 

  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Master's degree or equivalent in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field with 5 years of relevant experience is required


Desired

  • Certification in Crisis Intervention or Trauma Counselling.

Experience Requirements

Required

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience providing individual and group counselling services.

  • Experience in designing and facilitating team-building activities and training programs.

  • Experience in providing emergency stress support and crisis intervention.


Desired

  • Experience working in an international organization or humanitarian setting.

  • Experience in developing and implementing mental health awareness campaigns.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirement
EnglishIntermediateRequired
UkrainianFluentRequired

Additional Information

  • Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
  • Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
  • Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
  • Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
  • UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
  • Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
  • We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
 
Terms and Conditions
 
  • For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
  • For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here
  • For more details about the contract types, please click here.
  • All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
  • It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.