PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
The Youth Livelihoods Development Specialist will lead the youth civic engagement and workforce development components of a proposed five-year multi-million program to support formal and non-formal secondary education, vocational training, and economic opportunity for youth in Liberia. The non-formal and youth engagement component aims to increase job placements, salaries/wages and self-employment opportunities for Liberian youth through the provision of market-driven skills training, business training and linkages to credit, business development support and job placement services.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
• The Youth Livelihoods Development Specialist will oversee the livelihood and workforce development component of the project and is responsible for coordinating all aspects involved in providing ―post-program options for youth, which could include transition to formal schooling, workforce or vocational skills training, self-employment and formal employment, and tracking their progress/status in their placements.
• The Youth Livelihoods Development Specialist will establish relationships with providers/public sector/private sector institutions and organizations that are willing to engage students in mentoring, apprenticeships, internships, and other pre-employment and employment opportunities.
• S/he will support the Chief of Party in identifying, forging, and managing alliances with private sector organizations providing technical leadership and guidance in the implementation of programs, generating programmatic and technical data and reports, and managing relations with funding and implementing partners.
• The Youth Livelihood Development Specialist is responsible for conducting labor market assessments and training project staff in the field to conduct on-going market assessments to ensure that skills training is demand driven and the youth strategy is on course.
• This key personnel will ensure that the livelihood component, including those aspects supported through public-private alliances, provides technically sound and culturally appropriate responses that best address key challenges of the targeted youth population.
• In collaboration with the technical team, s/he will provide input into the work readiness curriculum as well as the service learning aspect of the project.
• S/he will undertake regular and rigorous monitoring of activities and ensure effective and accurate financial and program performance reporting.
• The Youth Livelihoods Development Specialist will oversee staff in selected zones and travel as needed within Liberia.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Design, implement and evaluate a variety of activities, programs and events for young people utilizing existing and potential resources.
• Deliver technical assistance to the targeted workforce development in Liberia;
• Take the lead in mobilizing and managing potential short-term technical assistants (including international consultants), including drafting Scopes of Work, etc.
• Actively lead consultations with young people in order to seek their opinions, ideas and issues and to keep abreast of emerging needs of young people.
• Develop programs, activities and initiatives for young people in areas of identified need, utilizing existing and potential resources.
• Advocate for the rights and needs of young people and build their capacity through personal and professional development;
• Ensure that young people are consulted and participate in the development of youth activities, programs and events.
• Collaborate and network with key local authorities, agencies and organizations across the eastern region so that limited resources may be most effectively used for the benefit of young people.
• Use community development approaches aimed at enabling individuals or groups to help themselves.
• Develop mechanisms to evaluate the outcomes of the youth activities, programs and services provided.
• Provide technical expertise to field staff in program design, implementation strategies, and work planning.
• Monitor field program results and ensure cross-learning of best practices among field programs.
• Develop innovative ways of strengthening strategic linkages among TVET with public and private players;
• Performance any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.
Organizational Learning
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve – we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
Direct supervision of civic engagement and economic empowerment team members.
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Chief of Party, Other program technical leads including M&E, as well as operation staff in the country and field offices.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
• Minimum of a Master’s degree in education, international development, or related field experience;
• 5 years of progressively increasing experience in implementing and managing programs in youth and adult education, continuous education, vocational technical education and workplace competencies and workforce development skills training.
• Experience in working directly with and training youth, technical expertise in workforce development, and knowledge of youth employment issues including experience with the private sector and market assessments.
• Demonstrated experience with the private sector, preferably in developing public-private relationships.
• Knowledge of, vocational training techniques, business and life skills concepts, enterprise development and refugee livelihoods.
• Willingness to work in remote field settings under challenging conditions.
• Experience in building and effectively supervising a substantially diverse team of employees spread across an expansive region.
o Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills, proactive and creative problem solving and ethical management.
o Prior experience in working with international donors and knowledge of USAID’s policies and procedures.
o Demonstrated exemplary diplomatic, communication, and interpersonal skills;
o Organizational acumen and cultural sensitivity;
o Excellent oral and written English language ability.
o Previous experience in Africa preferable.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful Youth Livelihoods Development Specialist will possess in-depth expertise in the youth development sector, both for increasing young people’s engagement with their communities and improving economic opportunities. S/he will have strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate tactfully with high-level officials regarding their capacity needs. S/he will have demonstrated skills working in challenging environments. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The Youth Livelihoods Development Specialist will be based in Monrovia, and manage activities throughout the country. Liberia is recovering from 14 years of war and instability. Security has improved and Mercy Corps staff travel throughout the country to program sites. Monrovia and towns in outlying areas are generally safe though nighttime travel and activities should be considered carefully as armed robbery incidents are rising. Life in Monrovia is still basic but supermarkets are full of western goods at western prices. This is an accompanied post, with an American school catering for most grades.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.
How to apply:
Apply online at our website:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo…
Closing date: 10 Jan 2012