Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Response Officer, Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) (P)

Job Identification (Reference Number): 18513
Position Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Response Officer, Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) (P)
Duty Station City: Washington D.C.
Duty Station Country: United States of America
Grade: P-3
Contract Type: Special Short Term Graded (Up to nine months with possibility of extension)
Recruiting Type: Professional
Vacancy Type: Special Vacancy Notice
Initial duration: Nine months with possibility of extension
Closing date: 05 February 2026

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally, while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. Read more about IOM's workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process. For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates
2. Candidates from the following non-represented member states: 
   Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.

Organizational Context and Scope

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) is one of the core areas of IOM expertise, and a field in which the organization has over 40 years of experience. IOM USA works with the US Department of State to provide eligible beneficiaries, both in the United States and in third countries, with their access to assisted voluntary return to their countries of origin or of legal status in a safe and dignified manner. In addition to travel arrangements, IOM’s assistance may include counselling of voluntary returnees, acquisition of travel documents, provision of medical or other escorts, departure, transit and arrival assistance. 

The PRM funded-Global Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) Program proposal aims to provide migrants with irregular status in the United States, and third countries access to assisted voluntary return to their countries of origin or legal status in a safe and dignified manner. 

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Program Advisor, the direct supervision of the Return and Reintegration Coordinator, and the technical supervision of the Senior Migration Health Advisor in Washington DC and the Head of the global MHPSS-CI Unit in HQ, and in coordination with the Protection Response Coordinator,  and the Chief of Mission in the country of deployment, the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Response Officer, Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) will have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Provide context-specific life-saving psychological first aid and urgent and basic psychological support interventions for migrants and returnees, in line with international standards and IOM internal guidance; this includes:

• Provide anamnesis and specialized assessment on the individual situation of migrants and returnees, 
• Coordinate the assessment of migrants’ capacity to make informed decisions, if needed.
• Conduct individual, and when relevant, group psychological sessions/psychotherapy to support migrants and returnees.
• Provide support in the context of suicide-prevention activities and suicide watch 
• Based on individual assessments, refer migrants and returnees to specialized services, as needed and available. 
• Facilitate referrals to licensed medical professionals for any situation that requires emergency medical procedures, psychiatric assessment, lifesaving care, fitness to fly assessment or other r