Background
A just and equitable world where communities and ecosystems can thrive is possible. But social injustice, democratic backsliding, and the climate crisis threaten us all. The courageous people and communities daring to speak out face attacks and reprisals from powerful vested interests. Many pay the ultimate price.
Open Briefing is a vital part of the response. We build resistance and resilience among the people and communities challenging power. And we are answering more calls for assistance across more countries than ever before. Last year, our international team provided nearly 6,000 hours of direct support to activists and advocates under threat of physical, digital, and psychological harm across 68 countries.
Alongside this local support, we provide consultancy and advisory to help nonprofits and foundations supporting and resourcing grassroots change to take the right risks. We ensure that these international partners are equipped and empowered by enhancing their security risk management, information security and data protection, and staff care and wellbeing.
Our team protects many high-profile activists and well-known organisations. But much of our work is behind the scenes, with ordinary people and communities who are targeted for challenging power. For 12 years, we have worked together towards a better future. And we are just getting started. We are expanding our diverse, inspired, and purpose-driven team; will you join us as one of our new counsellors or psychologists?
Role description
You will play a key role in helping to build emotional and mental resilience and to strengthen the wellbeing of organisations and activists fighting for a just and equitable world. You will directly support these truth-tellers, changemakers, and risk takers by helping them resist and recover from the threats to their wellbeing that they face.
Depending on your skills and experience, your primary responsibilities will include providing the following to human rights defenders and other activists at risk referred through our pro bono programme or to employees of our nonprofit and foundation clients:
- Wellbeing needs assessments.
- Remote counselling and psychological support (including psychological first aid after critical incidents)
- Group sessions and remote training or webinars on wellbeing management, and other key wellbeing concerns and strategies.
- Staff care and organisational wellbeing consultancy and advisory.
- Individual wellbeing and resilience plans.
Person specification
Essential
- You will be a qualified, experienced, accredited, and insured mental health professional.
- You will be familiar with the data protection requirements of your professional body.
- You will have a proven track record of working in wellbeing and mental health roles.
- You will usually be available to take on new assignments by agreement within 2-3 working days.
- You will be sensitive to the progressive and rights-based missions and diverse profiles of our clients and other stakeholders.
- You will have excellent written and spoken Dari, Pashto or Burmese.
- You will have excellent written and spoken English.
Desirable
- You may have a proven track record of working with nonprofits and activists.
Terms and remuneration
We are a remote-first organisation, and this is a home-working consultancy role. We are looking for professionals who want to become part of our close-knit team and develop a long-term working relationship with us and our clients.
It is a challenging and rewarding role. It requires consultants to work across various countries, civil society actors, and rights and justice issues. You will be appropriately onboarded and continually supported by empowering leaders and highly experienced colleagues.
We welcome applications from established consultants with various backgrounds, experiences, and profiles and from anywhere in the world. The hours can vary from month to month, depending on demand and your availability, and the role may require occasional remote meetings outside of regular office hours, depending on your location. Please note that this role is not suitable for those in full-time employment or currently searching for full-time employment.
You will receive £73.50 per hour for counselling and £52.50 per hour for consultancy, ongoing mentoring and training, and a package of wellbeing and mental health support, including an Employee Assistance Programme.
You will need to have or obtain your professional indemnity insurance, including cover for remote work worldwide.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Open Briefing values diversity. We are committed to being equitable and inclusive and a place where all can be their authentic selves. Therefore, we encourage applications from all who may meet the person specification, particularly from candidates from historically-marginalised groups that are underrecognised in our team. This currently includes Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour; people from countries in the global majority; and women and non-binary people. Please read our diversity, equity, and inclusion policy for more information.
Open Briefing is neuroinclusive, positive about mental health, and a Disability Confident Employer. We welcome applications from all candidates who meet the person specification. Please let us know in your cover letter how we can be the recruiter and employer you need.
We follow the gender pay gap reporting guidance from the UK government. This reveals that women currently have a higher mean (average) pay than men in our organisation. We have also checked the text of this advert using the Gender Decoder tool.
How to apply
To apply, please email your CV and cover letter to our office manager, Lauren Smith, at [email protected] with the subject “Dari, Pashto or Burmese speaking counsellors and psychologists”. Please also include a cover letter of no more than two pages setting out:
- What excites you about Open Briefing and the role of counsellor/psychologist.
- How you meet the advertised person specification.
- A project or case in which you supported the wellbeing and resilience of human rights defenders or civil society organisations at high risk of attacks and reprisals.
We will conduct interviews on a rolling basis until we recruit suitable candidates. If you are interested in this role, please submit your application as early as possible.
