Psycho-Social Support (PSS)/Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Background

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, governance, and post-crisis stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.  

Summary

Creative Associates seeks a PSS/SEL Officer for the USAID-funded West Bank and Gaza (WBG) Basic Education Activity, which will strengthen education services for Palestinian children of KG 1 through Grade 6 that enable them to thrive and reach their full developmental potential. Under the Basic Education Activity, USAID seeks to work with the private sector, non-formal, non-governmental, community-based, and civil society partners to strengthen early childhood and primary educational opportunities through high-quality early childhood education services and supplemental support structures to strengthen foundational pre-primary and primary education for children in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Specific areas of focus include strengthening foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, social-emotional learning (SEL)/soft skills, building teacher and student resilience capabilities and assets, and strengthening pathways between non-formal to formal education.

**Please note this is a local recruitment and only citizens from Palestine will be considered**

Reporting & Supervision: The PSS/SEL Officer will report to the PSS/SEL Specialist in Ramallah field office.

Responsibilities:

The PSS/SEL Officer will be responsible for carrying out the following responsibilities and duties:

• Participate in the assessment of the needs for psychosocial support and social-emotional learning. This assessment will be used to review PSS/SEL toolkits and, if necessary, generate new tools.
• Support the review and contextualization of the developed PSS/SEL interventions, such as the PSS/SEL toolkits which will be provided in temporary learning shelters. This will be done in collaboration with the early childhood officer, primary education officer, and PSS/SEL specialist in the field office in Ramallah.
• Support in conducting mapping for the available PSS referral pathways.
• Support the implementation of successful PSS/SEL interventions and ensure that all activities and sessions adhere to safe learning principles.
• Ensure that PSS/SEL activities are positively integrated into educational components for children in kindergarten, first grade, through sixth grade.
• Conduct field visits to ensure the quality of the related activities' implementation.
  Ensure that all assessments, follow-ups, and weekly and progress reports are completed in a timely manner.
• Maintain quality up-to-date documentation for all related activities and work. 
• Collaborate closely with Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning MEL team to monitor the quality of implementing PSS/SEL activities.
• Collaborate with the roll out of PSS/SEL manuals and guidance, as well as the training and distribution of PSS/SEL and Kits in participating communities.
• Support facilitator training in PSS/SEL approaches and support in conducting training as needed.
• Participate in facilitating parent PSS/SEL introductory meetings.
• The PSS/SEL Officer will work from the project office in Gaza.

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Qualifications:

• BA degree from an accredited university in education psychology, counseling, child psychology, or another related field.
• Minimum 4 years of general work experience and at least 2 years of working experience in the field of early childhood/primary education, counseling, and/or social-emotional learning/psychosocial support strategies.
• Experience in mental health, psychosocial support, social-emotional learning, life skills, knowledge of mental health standards, local and global social-emotional learning.
• Experience in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Psychological First Aid (PFA) is preferred.
• Solid experience in assessing and analyzing results, designing, implementing, and following evidence-based interventions.
• Experience working with national and international organizations within the Education sector.
• Experience integrating social-emotional learning practices in the development of teaching and learning strategies.
• Experience in using assessment and measurement tools and developing materials for measuring PSS/SEL outcomes.
• Ability to develop positive and professional relations with technical staff, local counterparts, and other stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Fluency in Arabic and working proficiency in English.

Please submit your CV and Cover Letter indicating the position title in the subject line to: [email protected] The deadline for receiving the applications is Saturday 30 March 2024 by 4:00 pm (Ramallah Time).

Only finalists will be contacted.  No phone calls, please.

Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran.