We are a civil, donation-funded search and rescue organization. Founded in Berlin in 2015 and operating in the central Mediterranean since February 2016, we have been operating under the name SOS Humanity since 2022. Our vision is a world in which the human rights of all people are respected.
No one should drown while fleeing and everyone is treated with dignity. To date, the organization has rescued 36,587 people from distress at sea and from drowning. Supported by a broad, committed network, SOS Humanity mobilizes for humanitarian aid in the Mediterranean. We rescue, protect and change. For the work on land and in the harbor, we are looking for a

Supervisor (volunteer position)

Your Position

We are seeking a supervisor to join our pool of volunteer’s supervisors and take responsibility for the psychological support of the crew throughout 2025. Alongside your colleagues (psychologists and/or psychotherapists), you will provide psychological support to the crew on scheduled shifts, with a maximum of two rotations per year. Your role will involve providing psychological support in person before, during, and after each rotation. Specifically, your duties will include a combination of in-person and online interventions. The pair of supervisors will travel to the Humanity 1 ship to conduct both the psychological briefing (at the beginning of the rotation) and the psychological debriefing (at the end of the rotation). For the online component, you will be available for individual or group support sessions throughout the rotation and up to one month after its conclusion (only if needed, according to the needs of the crew).

Your tasks

• Provide psychological support to the crew.
• Conduct in-person psychological briefings and debriefings, both in group settings and individually.
• You are required to participate in at least one rotation in 2025. This involves one day of briefing and two days of debriefing (including travel).
• Plan the psychological support intervention, in collaboration with the pool referent, considering the events, the crew’s specific characteristics, and your expertise.
• Provide online psychological support for short individual or group interventions, if needed, during the rotation and after the operation at sea.
• You will be available for individual or group support sessions throughout the rotation (usually 5 weeks) and for up to 4 weeks after the rotation.
• Offer online follow-up support after the rotation (one meeting per person, within one month of the rotation’s conclusion).
• Make referrals to external professionals as necessary, based on psychological assessments and evaluations.
• Design and implement psychological interventions, adjusting them to the evolving needs of the crew and drawing on your own professional expertise, according to the pool referent.
• Ensure the intervention remains aligned with the team’s needs, adapting as necessary to maintain quality and effectiveness.
• Participate in regular team meetings (once a month) to discuss challenges and exchange ideas, with the other pool member and the pool referent.

Your Profile

• You are a psychologist and/or psychotherapist registered with the Italian National Order and actively practicing the profession.
• You have professional-level proficiency in English, enabling you to carry out psychological work with other professionals and crew members.
• You are currently based and live in Italy.
• You have expertise in group psychological work, and experience in conducting psychological briefings and debriefings in both emergency and non-emergency contexts.
• You are skilled in facilitating groups, conducting psychological activities, and implementing psychological first aid (PFA) interventions.
• You have direct experience in psychological supervision and intervision.
• You are an expert in teamwork, with a focus on quality and respect for others, as well as a creative and solution-oriented approach.
• You can professionally handle uncertainty, unpredictability, traumatic events, social injustice, and a diverse range of personalities, while respecting both your own and others’ psychological boundaries.
• You have knowledge and experience related to the Central Mediterranean migratory route and the demographic and psychological characteristics of people traveling this route.
• You are committed to supporting search and rescue (SAR) activities and recognize the critical role of psychological support for individuals in high-stress, traumatic environments.
• You align with the values and goals of SOS Humanity and are motivated to contribute to the continuous improvement of the psychological support unit.

We offer

• A meaningful and responsible role within a dynamic and impactful NGO.
• Coverage of travel, accommodation, and meals during your time onboard.
• A one-year (all the 2025) volunteer contract and the opportunity to be part of a significant and innovative project.
• The chance to collaborate in shaping and improving a psychological support program that will benefit directly at least 200 individuals throughout the year.
• An opportunity to build psychological awareness and contribute to a high-quality, team-based intervention, while respecting the personal and professional lives of all involved.

SOS Humanity values diversity and is committed to creating a fair and respectful working environment. We are eager to receive your application (CV, certificates, and other eventual supporting documents) in a single PDF document by January 31, 2025. Please send your application to l.ciarlariello@sos-humanity.org and CC h.fusban@sos-humanity.org. Use the subject line “Psychological Support Unit.” We reserve the right to contact candidates before the deadline.

The HUMANITY 1 sails under German flag, therefore we are bound to European citizenship in certain positions. However, it is very important to us that our crew is as international and diverse as possible. In particular, we encourage FLINTA¹+ persons to apply.

[1] Female, Lesbian, Intersexual, Non-Binary, Transgender and Agender people