Cluster Level BDS and Work Placement Officer (2 Positions)

Background

Youth Network for Sustainable Development (YNSD) is a non-governmental, non-profit making indigenous organization that was founded in 2003 by four school clubs and fifteen youth associations. Currently, YNSD is an umbrella network of more than 160 youth organizations and associations operating at national level.YNSD strive for sustainable development through promoting partnership, networking and building the capacity of its member organizations.www.ynsdethiopia.org.et

Youth Network for Sustainable Development (YNSD) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation implements Community Service Project in Addis Ababa, Sodo and Wolo. This Project envisions “equal opportunity for young people to learn and prosper, access to dignified and fulfilling work and contribute to their country’s overall development.”  The Community Service as Pathway to Work (CSPW) initiative aims to contribute to this vision by engaging young people (18 to 34 years) in a structured program of community service, training and by providing linkages to a comprehensive local network of public, private, and civic sector agencies that provide work-related placements and resources. The project will make every opportunity available to engage differently-abled youth as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) which are directly impacted by the conflict and other vulnerable groups in the community. Multiple positions are announced below for hiring program team at Dessie and Sodo clusters who will be working at YNSD for the program implemented in the two clusters 

Job Summary:

Youth Network for Sustainable Development/YNSD/ is looking for a cluster level BDS and Work placement officer to engage in empowering young people to have experience in world of work through work placement and facilitates the creation of linkage with potential recruiters/employers; coach MSEs and provide business development services to enhance entrepreneurship and employability. Which aims to reduce unemployment of youth (women, vulnerable and those from conflict affected area) through the provision of access to (self-) employment in pathway to work/CSPW/ program areas of intervention. Cluster level BDS and Work placement officer will design, develop, manage, and implement youth workforce development and entrepreneurship and provide BDS activities.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

• Cluster level BDS and Work placement officer will specifically perform the following duties and responsibilities.
• Identify and screen out youth to be engaged in dignified and fulfilling work through establishing SMEs, being employed in private and public institutions;
• Provides consumer support and skills training to prepare participating youth for future employment;
• Mobilizes and collaborates with multiple stakeholders such as in Agriculture, Energy, Waste Management, Circular Economy, and Digital themes relevant to employment and entrepreneurship;
• Develops and maintains strong partnerships with employers, training providers and relevant organizations to generate employment opportunities and skills development;
• Facilitates the development of mechanisms for coordination, collaboration, consensus and trust building among key local actors including the government, private businesses, civil society organizations, women, media, citizens, youth, and other stakeholders;
• Undertake BDS marketing, promotion activities, and conduct orientation training for potential BDS users;
• Identifies market opportunity assessments and the grouping of service recipients, based upon their interests and motivation for (self-) employment in selected sectors/thematic areas;
• Recruit new participants per the plan;
• Conduct business assessment and draft action plan as per the priorities identified by the assessment;
• Sequentially implement the action plan [Trainings, coaching, or expert advisory services);
• Plan and organize BDS events such as Expert led workshops, experience sharing &networking, women producers’ networking;
• Identify challenges, capacity gaps and other business-related issues in the process of implementation of the CSPW program in relation to youth participation in community services and transitioning to economic empowerment works that meets their interest and fulfills their livelihood needs;
• Capacitate and train YNSD and partners teams in coaching of MSE groups/individuals to address the day-to-day challenges of the business operators;
• Work closely with Business Government institutions NGOs, CSO’s and other private companies in strengthening started MSEs in;
• Discovers and engages with available networks of youth support systems, networks and organizations in the project location for the planning and implementation of project activities;
• Ensures required paperwork and documentation is up to date and maintained according to the organizations guidelines for record keeping and reporting purposes;
• Perform other similar duties as assigned by the cluster managers;

Reports To:  Cluster manager

Number of Positions:  2 (one for Dessie and one for Sodo)

Location:  For Dessie and Sodo Cluster

Required qualification, skill, knowledge and competencies    

• BA degree in economics, development studies, business administration, Entrepreneurship or related disciplines with 2 years relevant experience;
• Experience in supporting business establishment or start-ups in the form of business advises, counselling, market research and management;
• Excellent communication and partnership management skills ;
• Both verbal and written fluency in English;
• Team player and competent in using computers;
• Experience as a trainer and/or expertise;