Senior Advisor (Consultant) Mental Health Workforce Analysis, Ukraine

Led by NORC at the University of Chicago, the MHWA is a mixed-methods study consisting of a targeted desk review and stakeholder/systems mapping followed by primary data collection and secondary data analysis. To support these activities, NORC is seeking a Senior Advisor (Consultant) with a thorough understanding of the mental health landscape and/or workforce in Ukraine, including in-depth knowledge of mental health systems and stakeholders as well as familiarity with existing data/research relevant to tracking these issues on a national scale. In addition to ensuring the contextual soundness of all research products and deliverables, the Senior Advisor will:

• Support the development of a desk review methodology including establishing systematic search queries in English and Ukrainian aligned to the priority research questions;
• Review/provide technical inputs for the desk review report, mental health care systems map, and secondary data analysis plans;
• Review/provide technical inputs for the primary data collection methodology including sampling/outreach plans and qualitative data collection instruments (key informant interview and focus group discussion protocols);
• Contribute to writing the final report; and

Co-facilitate workshops to validate MHWA findings and building actionable recommendations for USAID and the broader community of practice.

USAID’s Mission to Ukraine develops programs that support the recovery of Ukraine, which includes fostering an economy where public and private entities can achieve their potential and provide evidence-based quality services and products to the nation and world. The mental health of Ukrainians is critical to this effort. To this end, USAID is commissioning a Mental Health Workforce Analysis (MHWA) to assess the competencies, skills gaps, education background, as well as workforce and employment dynamics of Ukraine’s mental health system as it transforms and undergoes deinstitutionalization. The MHWA will support better understanding of the most significant health workforce needs to ensure there is a sufficient, qualified workforce with the competencies and experiences required to provide integrated support.

INPRO was established in 2005, and works with government and other organizations throughout the world to strengthen the effectiveness of international development assistance via design and implementation of rigorous impact and performance evaluations, surveys, qualitative data collection, statistical and qualitative analysis, and a range of related research and assessment activities. Our research spans a range of sectors including education and training, child and youth well-being, land and resource governance, environment and climate, democracy and governance, agriculture and food security, water and sanitation, infrastructure, housing, finance, and health. Since its establishment INPRO has implemented projects in more than 100 countries.

• Evaluate the existing mental health workforce in Ukraine, including their qualifications, accreditations, and training, to understand the current capacity and distribution of mental health professionals;
• Identify the essential competencies required for mental health professionals, both during crisis response and long-term care;
• Identify barriers and enablers for entry into the mental health field;
• Examine demographic trends within the mental health workforce, including disparities in employment opportunities across different groups, such as veterans, internally displaced persons, women, the diaspora, pensioners, people living with disabilities, and youth).
• Assess barriers and facilitators related to quality of care provided by workforce and identify promising workforce models.

• Graduate degree in mental health field including clinical psychiatry, psychology, or social work.
• At least 15 years of research and/or policy experience in the mental health or related sector(s).
• In-depth knowledge of the mental health landscape and/or workforce in Ukraine, including understanding of current sector systems and stakeholders.
• Experience liaising with government officials and acquiring secondary data from national health and labor agencies/institutions.
• Facilitation experience with high-level government actors and donors.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Ukrainian.

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other legally protected characteristics.