POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking an exceptional leader passionate about youth workforce development (WFD) programming for young people to serve as the Senior Program Officer for Youth Employment. Many children and youth in our communities can’t envision a path out of poverty because they’ve never been given the tools or seen an example of success. Providing them the confidence and job skills to contribute to their local economy is crucial to helping youth picture a future where change is possible. Life-skills workshops, vocational classes and employment prep courses put the youth in our programs on track to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families. Our employment initiatives grow each year as youth become more involved in their communities and local employers see the positive impact of our programs.
This remote position will report to the Director of Global Programs and will influence our global portfolio of employability programs across 10 countries world-wide, partnering with country-level management and employability staff in this process.
The Program Officer position is responsible for providing collaboration and thought leadership on WFD (work force development) programs and initiatives, including but not limited to supporting local execution of relevant vocational and technical school strategies, design and support local partnership and job insertion tactics to increase the number of youth with a formal job. This person will also provide oversight and technical support on the portfolio of employability programs globally, especially related to design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of these programs. This person will need to know how to access external technical assistance as needed related to building and strengthening our employment strategy, programs, and adherence to best practices.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide technical support to a global employment team that seeks to develop and align CI employability programs with global best practices.
- Coach and participate in the development of country-specific employment strategies (including career readiness skills, entrepreneurial skills, and understanding of vocational technical courses), program plans and proposals, in coordination with regional and field office program staff.
- Develop global monitoring and evaluation plan to understand impact of employability program worldwide, and support country teams in the development of contextualized tools where needed.
- Conduct data analysis, systematize best practices globally to determine appropriate measures for program improvement, and to report on program achievements.
- Identify, establish, and support global, national and local partnerships that complement and increase CI global job insertion numbers and employment program results.
- Leverage and manage external resources to support the building and strengthening of our employment strategy, programs, evaluation, and adherence to best practices.
- Review multi-year work plans and annual implementation plans for CI employability programs, globally.
- Understand in country labor laws and stay up to date on current best practice research in the sector.
- Co-create cost effective and sustainable scale of programs to increase job placement.
- Collaborate with child and youth development program staff to design integration strategy on career readiness and awareness within the life span model for different life stages of the programs CI offers pre 18 years old.
- Serve as liaison with global philanthropy unit on key working group strategies to fundraise, provide key input for future grants and/or donor reports.
- Serve as subject matter expert at external conferences and forums as needed
- Perform other administrative duties as assigned, including composing non-routine correspondence, trip reports, financial reports, and assisting with annual budgets.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS & QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Prefer Master's degree in a field related to youth workforce development which could include business administration, international development, vocational or adult education, youth development, as examples.
Experience
- Five years of international work experience required, including on the ground developing country experience.
- Experience working with at-risk youth programming, youth employability program design, monitoring and evaluation, including quantitative data collection and analysis required.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and experience working with institutions and organizational alliances implementing international workforce development programs; and experience working with consultants.
Skills and Characteristics
- Excellent verbal and written English and Spanish communication skills required.
- Possess a passion for children and youth and be committed to making a difference in the world.
- Experience networking and collaborating with entities such as the ministries of labor, private sector, chambers of commerce, or other key workforce actors.
- Flexibility and sensitivity to work with multiple cultures and languages.
- Excellent interpersonal, relational and communication skills, with a history of inspiring collaboration across various functions.
- Results-oriented with demonstrated ability to achieve strategic objectives.
- Strong monitoring and evaluation skills for both program execution and outcome management.
- Strong coaching skills particularly around problem solving and support skills.
- Demonstrated ability to reach goals within established resources and work effectively in a flat organization.
- Strong attention to detail, accuracy and ability to juggle multiple priorities effectively.
- Exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity reflective of a leader within an outstanding organization.
- High level of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
- International travel up to 20% is required.
- Strictly observe confidentiality and strong ethics with respect to all beneficiary information/financial and other organizational data.
- Comply with and ensure adherence to the agency’s policies, safety and security protocols and child safeguarding norms and guidelines by self as well all stakeholders both internal and external.
- Promote diversity and inclusion, value other cultures, and demonstrate respect while relating with all organizational constituents irrespective of their race, color, faiths, gender, sexual orientation, age, caste, disabilities, experiences, beliefs, and ethnicity.
