Job description
Each adolescent friendly space (AFS) will have one dedicated Project Officer (PO). Each PO will be responsible for supporting the development of strategic, impactful, and high-quality programming in Erbil in consultation with community based partners, the Directorate of Education, Mercy Corps and community. The PO will be responsible for working with AFS staff and team members to develop a portfolio of programming that meets the needs of conflict- affected youth and is based on Mercy Corps’ best practices. The PO will contribute to training CBO partners, community members, coaches and youth leaders on best practices and strategies for youth engagement. The PO will be responsible for recruitment of youth and organizing a range of engaging events and activities all of which will target boys and girls in the community. The PO will be responsible for ensuring that the AFS is an active and safe space for young people – safety being a key priority. The PO will ensure this by managing logistical and operational duties within the space and managing ongoing monitoring and evaluation of AFS activities. The PO should have experience working with young people and demonstrate enthusiasm and creativity. The PO will report to the Project Manager and work collaboratively with fellow officers in other sites and report to the Program Manager.
Essential job functions
- Overall ensure youth center is an active and safe space for young people to gather and learn
- Above all consider and support the physical, social and emotional development of conflict-affected youth
- Work in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Local organizations and Mercy Corps’ local partners
- Serve as point person for all logistical and programmatic needs for local CBO partner to ensure quality project implementation
- In partnership with CBO recruit and develop a community-based advisory committee to ensure security and sustainability of youth center
- Provide oversight and management of local needs assessment in partnership with CBOs
- In partnership with CBOs and Project Manager develop a portfolio of programs and activities informed by needs assessment
- Organize and oversee regular trainings to develop the capacity of CBO partners
- Recruit, select and train male or female coaches, youth leaders and CBO staff
- Provide mentorship and support to coaches and youth leaders and CBO staf
- With support from Project Manager and GNC officer (Grants and Compliance) ensure finance and operational needs of community partners
- Coordinate with Mercy Corps’ finance and operations systems to ensure compliance
- Provide ongoing guidance and support to CBO M&E team to develop and provide clear and timely monitoring documentation.
- Provide M&E documentation to M&E officer to monitoring activities and program attendance
- Organize and manage regular field trips for youth participants
- Monitor weekly sessions led by coaches and staff
- Ensure documentation of activities both through visual media and written
- Manage all paperwork related to activities
- With support from Project Manager ensure light renovations of community center sites (based on needs assessment)
- Attend all regular team meetings and track tasks
- Provide regular inputs for quarterly donor reports
- Capture lessons learned to share with M&E officer and program team
- Collaborate regularly with peer officers
- Be creative and solution-oriented to address challenges and identify opportunities
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 development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Qualifications & Preferred Skills
- BA/S in relevant field such as education, communications, youth development or other similar field; MA/MS/MBA or equivalent preferred.
- At least 2 years of experience working with adolescent youth (ages 10-18) or work with local community-based organizations, non-government organizations or similar background
- Preferred at least 2 year2 of experience organizing trainings, youth activities or youth events
- At least 1 years of experience in development, implementation, administration and compliance; general program management experience required
- Experience working in child friendly spaces, adolescent friendly spaces or the education system a plus.
- Experience with monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts.
- Experience addressing gender-specific cultural barriers to participation in youth activities
- Experience conducting rapid needs assessments.
- Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local and international government officials, local civil society organizations, other international organizations, the media and the public.
- Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Experience with social media and other multi-media tools preferred
Succes factor
- S/he demonstrates the skill, professional maturity and finesse required to work as team in complex environments
- S/he is a problem solver, who is adept in successfully dealing with issues of complexity.
- S/he demonstrates the ability to serve as a mentor for the AFS staff, Coaches, Youth leaders and youth team member
- S/he is a skilled communicator, able to develop and utilize strong relationships with staff, partners and donors.
- S/he will coordinate with his/her supervisor, the Youth Technical Advisor, Director of Programs and other staff
- S/he will work with country teams to ensure that we learn from experience, thoroughly research and analyze context and develop high impact strategies.
- S/he will harness the expertise, experience and ideas of Mercy Corps’ diverse program support team
- S/he will is creative and looks for solutions to challenges
- S/he sees the power and potential of the future in youth and is excited to support them on their journey
- S/he is an active listener and contributor, working to create a strong team share ideas and learn
