Youth Development Officer

Position Location: Lofa County

Project Name: USAID Youth Advance

Anticipated Start Date: As soon as possible

EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

EDC is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms. Established in 1958, EDC designs delivers and evaluates innovative programs to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic opportunity. Our services include research, training, educational materials, and strategy, with activities ranging from seed projects to large-scale national and international initiatives.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

USAID Youth Advance is a USAID Liberia funded five-year activity aimed at increasing the economic self-reliance and resilience of 21,000 youths between the ages 15-35 years in Grand Bassa, Lofa, and Montserrado counties. EDC, in collaboration with Plan International and Resonance Global, will partner with Youth Serving Local Organizations (YSLOs) in the three counties of Grand Bassa, Lofa and Montserrado to roll out a set of adapted modular curriculum – EDC Work Ready Now (WRN!), Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) to cohorts of youth categorized under Pathway 1, 2, and 3.

Position Description

The Youth Development Officer will assist in the technical implementation of the USAID Youth Advance Activity at the county, district, community level. The Youth Development Officer will provide support to the Activity’s implementing partners (YSLOs) by conducting monitoring and capacity building activities/coaching to YSLO technical staff and trainers to ensure timely and quality delivery of in class trainings and post-training transitional support package to youth. The Youth Development Officer will work with the USAID Youth Advance technical team to conduct program assessments, liaise with and support YSLOs to conduct health fairs, private sector engagement and create linkages for youth work-based learning, job placements and business sourcing opportunities. The Youth Development Officer is expected to support YSLOs to deliver the GROW livelihoods for youth who venture in businesses, or micro-enterprise start-ups.

This position reports to the YSLOs/Local Partners Manager and is based in Lofa County.

Essential functions include, but are not limited to:

• Liaise with YSLOs Partners Manager, Youth Development Coordinator, Training Manager and M&E team to develop and implement monitoring, quality assurance, and YSLO field-level support plan
• Support YSLOs with ensuring adherence to protocols and compliance regarding youth enrollment and training, and training sites vetting
• Conduct regular on-site classroom observations and, in close collaboration with YSLO technical staff, provide support to trainers in a timely manner
• In collaboration with YSLO technical staff, identify and troubleshoot gaps, and report to supervisors for support/decision-making
• Liaise with the Youth Development Coordinator, technical team and M&E team to track youth learners’ participation, assessment and transitional and GROW youth activities
• Coordinate and support YSLOs with private sector engagement efforts, including mapping and building relationships with companies for potentials partnership, linking youth to work-based learning and employment opportunities
• Coordinate and support YSLOs towards successful post-training accompaniment activities
• Liaise with EDC Health team and YSLOs to support with youth health fairs at the community level
• Liaise with Plan International to ensure VSLAs are rolled out and are part of the youth livelihoods plan
• In collaboration with YSLO technical staff, support and foster a community of practices and cross-learning amongst USAID Youth Advance local partners at county and district level
• Assist in the rollout of the Youth Development Alliances, which is the project sustainability mechanism for the market-driven youth workforce development
• Liaise with the Youth Development Coordinator to support YSLOs in actively creating and strengthening key partnerships with local stakeholders that are part of the Liberian employment and entrepreneurship ecosystem, such as private sector companies, financial institutions, entrepreneurs’ associations, and networks, chambers of commerce, accelerators, incubators, startups, and similar
• Assist technical team in administering field level assessments and surveys, i.e. local labor market assessments
• Participate in quarterly/monthly/weekly Activity plans
• With the support of the Communications point of contact, identify and draft success stories to feature in Activity reporting
• Assist in the distribution of materials and tools to YSLOs, track records and reports
• Develop and submit a monthly activity report to the YSLO Manager

Job requirements: The candidate for the position of Youth Development officer shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Community Development, Social Sciences, Project Management, or other relevant degree program and 2 to 3 years of progressively responsible and directly relevant experience.

Skills and Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience supporting the implementation of projects with a focus on youth workforce development, entrepreneurship, and skills development;
• Experience working with INGO implemented projects, either in coordination, quality assurance and/or monitoring and evaluation;
• Prior work in a relevant area such as community and youth development or mobilization
• Practical experience in the education and youth sectors desired
• Background in Positive Youth Development and gender inclusion
• Demonstrated experience in private sector engagement preferred
• Preferably residing in Lofa.

Language:

Fluency in English is required.

VACANCY CLOSING DATE: April 29, 2024

Application Instructions:

To apply, Applicants are encouraged to visit: https://smrtr.io/k5TT5

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified.

No phone calls, please.

EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.