UNC Project Malawi

@UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases

VACANCY

Friday 17 April 2026

UNC Project, a biomedical research, training and service organization based in Lilongwe, invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced individuals to fill the following position:

PSYCHOSOCIAL/HTS COUNSELOR

Job Summary

The Psychosocial/HTS Counselor based at the RuSH Clinic, Lilongwe, is responsible for providing psychosocial support to survivors presenting to the One Stop Center following acts of gender-based violence. The Psychosocial/HTS Counselor administers adult and child-centered trauma-based counseling and support for families of survivors of gender-based violence. This includes parents, guardians, partners, and/or siblings who may have also been impacted by the experience.

Specific Duties/Responsibilities

Management of Clients

• Endeavor to understand subjects’ views/problems
• Ensure that subjects are given detailed information about the process before commencement of any intervention arrangements
• Responsible for case management and follow-up services through communications with stakeholders including Police, Social Welfare, Legal Representatives, and Physical Healthcare Providers
• Ensure survivors have received proper care
• Generate referrals to stakeholders to access required services, ensuring the survivors understand what next steps they should take
• Coordinate stakeholders to make follow-up care as easy as possible for referred survivors
• Where appropriate, administer HIV, STI and Hepatitis testing services

Counselling Services

• Conduct informed consent process; ensure that participants are given detailed information about the process before the commencement of any procedures
• Familiarize oneself with depression: depression assessment and depression treatment
• Provide voluntary counseling prior to providing HIV/Hepatitis/STI testing services

Professional Development

• Attend study trainings as required
• Ensure adherence to Good Clinical Practices

Data Management

• Ensure the collection of accurate and legible data
• Document all required information on data collection forms and ensure collection of accurate data
• Maintain survivors’ confidentiality at all costs
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting
• Utilize existing protocols and national, local and site policies, regulations, SOPs developed by MOH, UNC, and stakeholders

General

• Ensure quality control of reagents
• Seek out and respond accordingly to feedback and supervision from the supervisor on a routine basis in order to improve and maintain effective and efficient service delivery
• Conduct sensitization meetings when appropriate
• Attend weekly, monthly, internal and network meetings
• Maintain frequent contact with other team members and counselors working directly under the supervisor
• Perform any other duties as assigned

Required Skills

• Advanced counseling skills
• Problem solving skills
• Communication skills in both oral and written form
• Good judgment skills to select appropriate and applicable guidelines in counseling and testing services
• Flexibility and confidence in decision making when determining the best practices and procedures necessary to support clients
• Good leadership skills

Knowledge Required

• Thorough knowledge of HIV/AIDS and STI related issues and concerns
• Excellent knowledge of provision of Voluntary Counseling and Testing following HTC policies, standards and guidelines developed by MOH

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychosocial Counselling or other relevant field
• HTC Certificate according to the MoH guidelines
• In-service training on HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis/STIs guidelines
• At least 2 years relevant work experience

How to Apply

Please send your applications via email to:

The Country Director
UNC Project
Lilongwe

📧 Email: administration@unclilongwe.org

⏰ Deadline for receiving applications:
Thursday, April 23, 2026

📌 Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.