Career Guidance Officer

Career Guidance Officer – DICE Project

Position: Career Guidance Officer
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reporting to: Project Officer – DICE Project
Duration: Full-time, Project-based

About Finn Church Aid

Finn Church Aid (FCA) is the largest Finnish development cooperation organisation and the second largest provider of humanitarian assistance. We operate in 15 countries, where the needs are most dire. We work with the poorest people, regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnic background or political convictions.

FCA is implementing the DICE (Digital & Creative Economies) Hub Project in Ethiopia. It is a skills-development and labour transition project aimed at providing 330 youth (refugee and host communities) from TVET institutions with specialised technical and entrepreneurship skills, knowledge, resources, and access to networks necessary to tap into economic opportunities in Ethiopia’s growing creative industry and digital economy.

Position Overview

The Career Guidance Officer is responsible for empowering target youth with career navigation, work-readiness skills, and job transition support. This role involves delivering continuous career guidance and counselling, coordinating life-skills coaching, and connecting youth with employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. Additionally, the Career Guidance Officer will oversee the operations of the FCA Creators Hub ensure the hub serves as a vibrant space for youth engagement, learning, career and enterprise support. The Career Guidance Officer will facilitate industry-relevant, facilitate resources for work-based learning, and support young entrepreneurs in the digital and creative sectors. Specific Responsibilities

1. Career Guidance and Counselling

• Provide personalized career counselling sessions to help youth identify career pathways in the digital and creative sectors.
• Develop and deliver career guidance materials, workshops, and activities to enhance participants’ job readiness.
• Facilitate life-skills coaching, focusing on personal development, workplace etiquette, and resilience-building.
• Organizes and coordinates the Hub’s schedule and event Calander.
• Tracking activities and organizing documentation
• Maintain and enforce the Hub’s policies and protocols
• Collaborate with other project teams to ensure hub’s output aligns with project goals
• Ensuring the hub maintains a clean and organized workspace
• Supervise the hub users, providing guidance and support as required
• Oversee the maintenance of the hub’s equipment and facilities, arranging for repairs and upgrades as necessary

2. Resource and Facilities Coordination

• Procure, maintain, and upgrade tools and equipment relevant to the digital and creative sectors.
• Ensure access to high-speed internet, co-working spaces, and other facilities that support creative and entrepreneurial activities.
• Monitor and report on the usage of resources and ensure cost-effective management of facilities.
• Managing inventory and ordering supplies as needed

3. Program Development and Coordination

• Organize workshops, masterclasses, and events to support creative and entrepreneurial skills development for hub users.
• Coordinate work-based learning activities, including private sector-driven online job simulations.
• Develop and promote programs that encourage networking and collaboration among hub users.
• Prepare the annual, quarterly and activity plan.
• Schedule studio bookings and coordinate with staff and hub users for all sessions

4. Enterprise Support

• Provide young entrepreneurs and freelancers with access to hub services, including mentorship, training, and networking opportunities.
• Facilitate entrepreneurship masterclasses and peer-learning sessions for digital and creative sector workers.
• Support freelancers and entrepreneurs in establishing and managing a cooperative to enhance business opportunities and member welfare.

5. Community Engagement and Networking

• Build and nurture a vibrant community of creative professionals, entrepreneurs, and freelancers using the hub.
• Foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the hub.
• Develop partnerships with local and international organizations to enhance hub offerings.
• Overseeing hub user relationship management’
• provide access to online Mentors on starting and managing a cooperative

6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Track hub usage, program participation, and outcomes to assess the impact of hub activities.
• Collect feedback from users to improve hub services and programming.
• Prepare periodic reports on hub performance, challenges, and success stories.

7. Youth Coaching and Mentorship

• Develop and implement a structured coaching program focused on entrepreneurship and work readiness.
• Identify and connect youth with mentors and role models in the digital and creative sectors.
• Facilitate peer-to-peer learning sessions to share experiences and best practices.

8. Monitoring and Reporting

• Track progress of youth in career transitions, including employment rates, income generation, and entrepreneurial activities.
• Maintain detailed records of youth engagements, coaching sessions, and outcomes.
• Prepare periodic reports highlighting career guidance outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in , Education, Social Sciences, or a related field. A master’s degree is an advantage
• At least 4 years of experience in career counselling, employment services, or workforce development.
• Experience in supporting entrepreneurs or freelancers, particularly in the digital and creative sectors.
• Strong background in facility management and program coordination.
• Familiarity with Ethiopia’s creative and digital economy landscape.
• personable and empathetic, enabling them to establish strong relationships with members, hub users and beneficiaries
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
• A digital marketing skill and prior experience in a plus.