Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for better lives for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls. 

In Ethiopia, Plan has more than 25 years of experience in implementing its program. Currently PIE mainly operates in seven geographical areas; Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, Gambella, Benishangul Gumuz, Afar, and Addis Ababa City Administration on different projects funded by different donors including sponsorship.

The position holder will be responsible for implementation and realization DANIDA Project in Skills & Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurships (SOYEE), working closely with Gambella Polytechnic College, Industries, Municipal Water Supply Services and other private sectors. He/she is also responsible for leadership, capacity building accountable to donor engagements, partnership networking, financial management, etc., delivering high quality activities, outputs, outcomes and impact in accordance with DANIDA Project Design and Plan’s Program quality standards and frameworks. 

Key Relationships

Internal: The job holder has a close working relationship internally with the following departments and/or functions:

• DANIDA Project Coordinator : Day to day matrix line management relationship to ensure the Project Implementation, deliverables progress and quality
• Program Area Manager: Day to day management relationship to ensure the project implementation, management quality and behavioral standards
• The PA MEARL Coordinator and the Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist: Different issues of monitoring, reporting, donor related, etc.
• The project team: Discussion with technical team/ supervisee on project performances, inquiries, scheduled tasks,

External: The job holder has a close working relationship externally with the following departments and/or functions:

• Gambella Polytechnic College
• Industries and other private investors in the garment industry
• Municipal Water Supply Services and the private sector
• The government line Bureaus and BOFED
• Level of contact with children
• Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction
• Physical Environment
• The positions will be secondment to Gambella Openo Polytechnic Colleges
• The position is typical office environment with 30% travel in PIE’s programming areas.

Accountabilities and MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Program management and Implementation (60%)

• Engagement in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of DANID SOYEE project activities; deliver the outputs, outcomes and impact of the project interventions and activities.
• Work closely with the relevant technical specialist, coordinators and project manager(s) to ensure that the implementation of relevant activities are planned and implemented in a phased and prioritised manner in full consultation and co-ordination with all relevant agencies and governmental organization.
• Management of the Business Development Centre
• Increase youth’s access to employment opportunities in the two sectors (Water & Textile) by

1. Establishing networks in both the public and private sector,
2. Developing a job database and
3. Linking youth, particularly women, to on-job trainings, apprenticeships and jobs.

Assist trainees/graduates with acquiring of

1. Life skills e.g. communication, social skills, problem solving etc.
2. Job-readiness skills e.g. employability assessments, job application letter and interview trainings, beneficiary tracking, market scans etc. and
3. Entrepreneurial skills e.g. business strategy, innovation, creativity etc.

• Reach out to jobseekers, particularly to women and youth to motivate them to use the BDCs (e.g. through campaigns, noticeboards, cultural events, exchange visits, awarding best performing youth etc.).
• Provides regular updates to Project coordinator on new developments , priorities and constraints – verbally/ in writing on an agreed frequency;
• Develop in-depth knowledge about business development practices, marketing activities, prospective clients and industry trends.
• Organize various kinds of career guidance events involving graduates/trainees and stakeholders.
• Regularly maintaining the cleanliness, connection and standards of the BDC established at the Polytechnic.
• Contribute to development of business plans and work with Partners and Practice Group heads to execute business development initiatives.
• Facilitates the implementation of DANIDA SOYEE project interventions that focus on soft & hard skill trainings, reducing migration and promoting job creation liaising with employers, achieving employment & entrepreneurship.

Budget management (10%)

• Work closely with project coordinator and finance teams to ensure efficient management of financial resources, including preparation ToRs, attendance and forecasting of monthly budget; review and monitoring of monthly/quarterly/annual budget versus expenditure.
• Deliver technical accountability with particular attention to program quality and timely utilization of budgets in line with quarterly, biannually and annual plans, project plans and donor requirements.

Partnership development & strengthening (15%)

• Build strong relationships with Openo Polytechnic Colleges and relevant government, academic institutions, private sectors and NGOs in the PA for the project implementation efficiency and effectiveness. 
• Develop and strengthen the capacity Openo Polytechnic Colleges staff in the project technical aspects and implementation.

Policy influence & networking (15%)

• Serve as principal representative at the PA level for DANIDA SOYEE Project networks, platforms, clusters and other institutional spaces.
• Engage with partners and stakeholders and other entities to ensure effective and quality program implementation through collaborative partnerships and alliances, and to positively influence policy debates and policy makers. 

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that all staff in the unit/function/department are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.
• Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Leadership and BUSINESS management COMPETENCIES

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• Set and communicate ambitious but realistic work goals and priorities, explaining how these contribute to the Project purpose.
• Set high standards for self and others' behavior, inside and outside work. Championing our values and commitment to rights, gender equality and safeguarding. Supporting the health, well-being and both physical and psychological safety of our staff, including their safety to speak out.
• Hold self and others to account for what we have agreed, dealing with poor performance quickly, firmly and constructively.
• Create a positive team spirit, helping people work well together, to reflect and continuously improve the efficiency and quality of what we do.
• Collaborate with team members, colleagues and partners in finding creative solutions to problems by sharing information, experience and ideas and actively seeking their input.
• Motivate and developing others by taking an interest, giving constructive feedback and praise, ensuring they are properly trained and helping them develop their potential.
• Positive about change and support others in adjusting to it, helping them understand.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

• Can succinctly articulate the purpose, values, and global strategy to a range of audiences. Can explain how Plan International will deliver on its objectives through the theory of change and communicates the implications for their team.
• Understands the purpose, lines of accountability and decision-making capacity for each structural element of the organization. Helps their team to understand where they sit within the organizational structure.
• Supports their team to understand the local operating environment and to consider the implications for work activities. Adjusts work activities and practices to reflect the political, financial, social and cultural context.
• Manages risk in accordance with the local and global appetites and tolerances.
• Understands the procurement cycle and supply chain, including the importance of good procurement planning.
• Schedules and manages resource aligned to donor and organizational requirements and individual capacity.
• Manages the project in accordance with the project management and MERL principles.
• Manages performance by providing clear objectives, access to developmental tools and opportunities for coaching and mentoring. 
• Cascades knowledge throughout the organization by sharing key messages, having team meetings and working collaboratively with other teams or departments.  

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Social work or equivalent.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience out of which 2 years with NGO
• Demonstrated experience in managing youth empowerment/employment or Economic Empowerment projects.
• Experience in Capacity building, training & facilitation in soft & hard skills and job creation
• Experience in working with vocational training centers, liaising and networking with stakeholders, and private sectors.
• Clear understanding of relevant government’s policies, strategies, programs and priorities related to youth employment and entrepreneurship.
• Understanding government private sector policies and programs in vocational/skill training and job placement

Qualifications/ experience desirable:

• Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development.

Languages required

• Fluency in English language is essential, in addition to Amharic, Knowledge of Local Languages is a desirable

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Youth employability and skills: working with training providers on life skills and personal skill development to build employability, including self-employability; knowledge & understanding of T-VET providers and work-based learning; understanding labor markets and identifying business opportunities for youth-led businesses; improving career guidance.

Entrepreneurship and enterprise development: supporting young people to develop enterprises and linking them with funding opportunities.

Financial inclusion: Including marginalized and excluded people, and particularly girls and women, in the financial systems, including banking and digital finance products for vulnerable groups and use of savings groups. 

Private sector engagement: An emerging specialism involving identifying business opportunities for vulnerable and excluded young people; engagement with the private sector (garment, WASH business, micro SMEs and/or major private sector employers) to provide work-based learning and work, improving employment conditions for youth and young women, and consideration of companies to work with and recruit young people, especially young women.

How to Apply

The closing date for the application in August 08, 2021. Qualified candidates should submit the application through Ethiojobs.

This position is only open to Ethiopian Nationals, who must be eligible to live and work in Ethiopia.  

More information about Plan International can be found on http://plan-international.org  

References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all persons meeting the skills and experience required.

As an international child centered community development organization, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realization of children's rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we as an organization, do everything we can to keep children safe. We must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.