Psychosocial Risk Management Expert Advisors (Consultant), Bonn

Result of ServiceDevelopment and implementation of a scalable Psychosocial Risk Management (PRM) framework tailored for the United Nations system. This PRM framework will be used to: • Assess mental health risks to UN personnel across diverse duty stations and operational contexts. • Prevent psychosocial risks more effectively through proactive strategies. • Evaluates the return on investment of mitigation measures to ensure cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Work LocationHomebased Expected duration6 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: The UN System Workplace Mental Health and Well-being Strategy for 2024 and beyond was approved and launched in late 2023. The Strategy emphasizes a preventive and systemic approach to mental health. The Strategy presents a comprehensive framework aimed at: • Preventing mental health risks in the workplace • Promoting well-being and safeguarding mental health • Supporting staff experiencing mental health conditions To drive accountability and measure progress, the Strategy introduces clear success indicators for each of its three pillars. A scorecard has been developed, featuring three indicators per pillar, and UN organizations are expected to report annually on their progress. The first indicator under the Prevention pillar is Risk Assessment, which calls on organizations to evaluate psychosocial risks and implement practical mitigation plans to address identified concerns. Psychosocial risk management directly supports this by identifying and mitigating workplace factors such as excessive workloads, poor leadership, or lack of support that can lead to psychological distress. Psychosocial risk assessments generate valuable data that can be linked to staffing metrics, enabling predictive insights and informed interventions, aligning with the strategy’s goal of continuous improvement. By proactively managing psychosocial risks, organizations can reduce absenteeism, improve productivity, and enhance staff morale, key outcomes that support the strategy’s broader goals of organizational resilience and operational efficiency. There is currently no standardized methodology across the UN system for assessing psychosocial risks, and existing data highlights the need for stronger preventive measures. In response, the development of a unified psychosocial risk management model aims to ensure consistency in approach while allowing for contextual adaptation across the UN system. This model reinforces the Strategy’s core principles of collaboration, shared responsibility, and system-wide alignment, enabling organizations to proactively identify and mitigate risks while fostering a culture of well-being. In alignment with this commitment, Psychosocial Risk Management Expert Advisors are required to support the implementation of the Mental Health & Well-being Strategy with the specific task of developing and implementing a Psychosocial Risk Management framework that can be scaled and utilized across the UN system to assess mental health risks to personnel, prevent risks more effectively, and assess the return on investment of mitigation measures. The duties and responsibilities of the Consultant-Psychosocial Risk Management Expert Advisors: This consultancy engages senior-level expert advisors to lead the strategic design and implementation of a comprehensive psychosocial risk management framework across the UN system. Operating at the intersection of organizational development, data analytics, and staff well-being, the consultants will provide high-level technical leadership to assess existing practices, co-develop an innovative risk management tool, and build institutional capacity for sustainable psychosocial risk management. The assignment will contribute to a broader organizational transformation agenda by generating actionable insights, fostering evidence-based decision-making, and embedding a culture of psychological safety and resilience. The consultants’ work will directly inform policy development, operational strategies, and cross-agency learning, with the potential for system-wide impact. Task 1: Strategic Assessment of Psychosocial Risk Landscape Provide expert analysis and strategic guidance through a comprehensive review of organizational practices related to psychosocial risk. • Conduct a high-level diagnostic of HR policies, case management systems, and internal psychosocial risk data. • Synthesize findings from historical staff surveys to identify systemic trends and organizational vulnerabilities. • Benchmark internal practices against global standards and peer UN agencies to inform strategic alignment and policy coherence. • Deliver a technical report with actionable recommendations to inform organizational decision-making and future interventions. Task 2: Design, Development, and Pilot of the Psychosocial Risk Management (PRSM) Tool Lead the conceptualization and technical development of a scalable, data-driven tool to assess and manage psychosocial risks across complex organizational structures. • Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with steering committees and technical working groups to co-develop the tool’s framework and operational parameters. • Design and pilot a robust survey instrument to capture psychosocial risk indicators across diverse contexts. • Apply advanced analytics, including machine learning, to identify risk patterns and predictive insights. • Develop a dynamic visualization platform with risk stratification (Red, Amber, Green) and evidence-based intervention pathways at unit, country, and organizational levels. • Produce a technical paper detailing the tool’s methodology, validation, and application for internal and inter-agency reference. Task 3: Development of Implementation Toolkit and Capacity Building Framework Ensure sustainable adoption and institutionalization of the PRSM tool through strategic guidance, knowledge transfer, and capacity development. • Develop a comprehensive implementation toolkit, including user manuals, operational guidance, and role-specific protocols for staff, managers, and support personnel. • Design and deliver targeted training modules to build organizational competencies in psychosocial risk management. • Provide expert advisory support to integrate the tool into broader organizational well-being strategies and governance frameworks. • Deliver a final report summarizing lessons learned, stakeholder feedback, and recommendations for scale-up and continuous improvement. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced university degree (PhD) in Occupational Health Psychology, Occupational Psychology, Organizational Psychology, or Management is required. A minimum of 15 years of combined experience in psychosocial risk management, machine learning, and data analytics is required. Experience leading and implementing multiagency psychosocial risk management projects with international organizations is required. Experience advising senior leadership and contributing to organizational policy and strategy is required. Experience in complex data analysis, including survey design, statistical interpretation, and data visualization is required. Experience drafting high-level technical reports, policy briefs, and strategic documents for diverse audiences, including senior leadership, inter-agency stakeholders, and external partners is required. Prior experience working with the UN system or other international organizations is desirable. Authorship or co-authorship of a minimum of two publications in the field of psychosocial risk management, machine learning, and data analytics is desirable. Active membership with a recognized professional body or relevant licensure/certification in Organizational Psychology, Occupational Psychology, or Management is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.