Project Assistant

Position Description

Location Grand Bassa, Buchanan/Montserrado

Position Status Full-time/Regular

Salary Level 3-D

Current Team Member N/A

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global humanitarian agency saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest

places. With a network of experienced professionals in more than 40 countries, we partner with local

communities to put bold ideas into action to help people recover overcome hardship and build better lives now, and for the future. In these places, Mercy Corps listen to local voices to prioritize people’s most urgent needs, taking a long-term view and promoting innovative solutions that drive true change.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps started operations in Liberia in 2002 in response to the humanitarian crisis brought on by the two Liberian civil wars which took place from 1989-1997and 1999-2003. Since then, Mercy Corps’

interventions have evolved based on the context and needs of Liberian people. Based on the changing needs, Mercy Corps Liberia has implemented programs in renewable energy, food security, agricultural

Livelihoods, financial inclusion, nutrition, water and sanitation, infrastructure, and in youth economic

empowerment.

General Position Summary

The project Assistant will be based out of one of the LEEP Youth Opportunity Centers, and will be

responsible for conducting outreach (to businesses, mobilize community, create awareness for

participation), administration related to Employment, Entrepreneurship and Life skills activities. The

Assistant will lead field monitoring, support, and mentoring of project activities.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program Management

Business outreach and relationship management

• Conducting outreach to the business community (international and national businesses) and identify
• areas for collaboration for trainings or apprenticeships
• Conduct apprenticeship recruitment activities in partnership with host businesses. Register
• business and life skills trainees at the community level
• Follow-up and evaluate progress of partnerships in collaboration with business
• Conduct assessment to inform program design and implementation
• Conduction community mobilization and sensitization on employment and Life skills opportunities
• Work with partner organizations to monitor project activities

Apprentice monitoring

• Monitor apprentice attendance at jobsites
• Conduct M&E with host businesses and apprentices, to understand outcomes
• Provide report and feedback to supervisor as required
• Submit quarterly monitoring report and compile success stories

Youth Investment Fund monitoring/mentoring

• Conduct field-monitoring visits to entrepreneurs who have received grants
• Provide mentoring and advice on business planning and management
• Follow-up with difficult cases
• Provide reports quarterly on monitoring and beneficiary progress to supervisor
• Contribute to strategy of Youth Investment Fund

Administration of Employment and Entrepreneurship Activities

• Develop and publish catalogues of apprenticeship opportunities
• Shortlist apprenticeship applicants
• Organize apprenticeship interviews administer timely payments of apprenticeship and Youth Investment Fund payments
• Organize Youth Investment Fund assessment panels Youth Outreach
• Conduct outreach to youth in communities and youth organizations
• Contribute to youth outreach strategy Support to mentoring and coaching
• As required, support coaching and mentoring activities in Youth Opportunity Centers, around business planning, CV development, and others.
• As required, manage Youth Opportunity Center reception

Any other tasks requested by the Youth Opportunity Center Coordinator

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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 toward 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.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Youth Coordinator-MYOC/BYOC

Works Directly With: Program team and other departments

Knowledge and Experience

• A university degree in Business Administration, Social Work, Economics or related field
• Minimum of one year working in youth livelihoods, microenterprise, or entrepreneurship in an NGO, or in the private sector
• Strong administrative skills
• Professional demeanor
• Demonstrated ability to interact with business owners and managers
• Ability to use basic Microsoft Office programs (including Microsoft Excel)
• Demonstrated experience being proactive and taking initiative in a work setting
• Excellent skills in spoken English and written English
• Ability to ride motorcycle a plus

Success Factors

• Good knowledge of business skills and management
• Excellent organizational skills