Fab Lab Project Assistant

 Function: Project Manager Assistant

Job title:  Fabrication  Laboratory (Fab Lab) Project Assistant

Name and surname (Employee):

Terre des hommes Foundation

Location : Gaza (Palestine)

General conditions: National position based in Gaza- Beit- Lahyia

Reports to (Hierarchically): Fab Lab Manager

Work in daily and close collaboration    (Functionally): Tdh Head of Gaza Base, Tdh Admin, Finance & Security Specialist; Child Protection team of local partner BLDA, especially one facilitator who will work at part time in the Fab Lab center

Number of subordinates:

Direct: 0

Working Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 40 hours per week (100%), with a possibility of part-time

Starting date: 1st of August

General conditions: currently, budget is granted at least until April 2019 – contract renewal dependent on funding

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job description:

The FabLab Project Assistant will work closely with the Fab Lab Manager to ensure an accurate, proper, timely and high quality implementation of the Fab Lab project in Gaza North.

The three main tasks of this function are:

• Contribution to the Project Cycle Management;
• Support on the proper management of the Fab Lab, its resources and equipment;

Collaboration to develop and strength external and internal coordination

The FabLab Project Assistant, based in Gaza, reports to the FabLab Manager also based in Gaza.

As assistant of the FabLab center - set up in the Beit Laya Development Association (BLDA)’ center - s/he has a functional line with the Child Protection team, working in the Child Friendly Center run by BLDA.

Context:

Since 1973, date of opening Tdh delegation in Palestine, Tdh is providing concrete and efficient assistance to children, youth and their community through its interventions focused on four main objectives: (i) combatting child labor, (ii) providing justice for minors, (iii) implementing child protection systems and (iv) contributing to develop an inclusive education system.

With the goal of pursuing these 4 objectives through an innovative approach and on the strength of its expertise - based on the success of a first experience of implementing a humanitarian Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab) for the refugee population in Greece – Tdh is going to implement a Fab Lab in the Gaza strip.

Considering the specific context aforementioned, this Fab Lab will be designed especially for vulnerable and marginalized children, youth and young adults (12-24 years old), mainly victims of child labor, drop-out school children, and children in or at risk of being in contact with the law, with the aim of enhancing their vocational and educational skills.

The Fab Lab, being a space for digital fabrication, education and creativity, will increase youth and children future employability by allowing them to acquire IT and digital skills as well as creativity, innovative thinking and entrepreneurship within a protective environment where social protection and assistance activities will be also provided.

The first phase of the project is a one-year pilot starting from May 2018 with an expected opened time of the space in June 2018 and the aim to target 150 vulnerable children, youth and young adults. At first, the intervention aims at establishing the first friendly and protective Fab Lab in the Gaza Strip including an adequate, accessible and equipped physical space, furniture, tools, and machines as well as the required human resources including the Fab Lab Manager, an assistant and a facilitator (social worker already working in BLDA center).

KEY RESPONSABILITIES

Contribution to the Project Cycle Management

• Ensure that the weekly schedule of the activities – developed by the Fab Lab Manager - is cleary and easily accessible by all users of the Fab Lab Center;
• Actively support the Fab Lab Manager to maintain, store, and share with the Tdh’ Head of Office, a participants daily attendance list;
• Support the FabLab Manager in the creation of appropriate education and demonstration programs to train volunteers, beneficiaries, and staff;
• Ensure all the fabrication needs of users of the Fab Lab are met, including but not limited to managing the fabrication facilities and supporting educational experiences for the users of the lab;
• Assist users in the use of software for respective equipment, addressing technical questions or needs, troubleshooting user problems, diagnosing and correcting the problem or securing additional assistance to address issues;
• Providing technical support for Fab Lab hardware and software
• Assist in developing visibility and advocacy tools of the Fab Lab

Active support on the proper management of the center, its resources and equipmentIn order to minimize risks related to careless handling and improper use, a strict charter of use of premises and equipment will be developed by the FabLab Manager in collaboration with BLDA’ team, with the support from the Tdh Fab Lab team from Headquartersand under the suprevison of the Tdh’ Head of Gaza Office;

• The assistant is in charge to collect and store the code of conduct signed by all the users of the Fab Lab Center;
• Conduct instructional training sessions on use of equipment/related software and lab use policies and procedures;
• Ensures full adherence and respect of this charter by each users of the FabLab center;
• Regarding the material, s/he is in charge of the storage, maintenance and inventory of the material required in the FabLab;
• S/he is responsible of the proper secure and locked storage of material in an appropriate warehouse;
• On a monthly basis, s/he performes an inventory of the material following the Tdh processes, in conformity with the Tdh Logistic Manual;

Collaboration to develop and strength external and internal coordination

External Coordination

• At the FabLab project launching – and for each new phases of the project in the future - under the supervison of the Fab Lab Manager and in close collabortation with BLDA’ team, s/he contributes to organize, coordinate and conducte a kick off meetings involving key actors;
• For the final end of FabLab Project - or end of a specific phase of the project - under the supervison of the Fab Lab Manager and in close collabortation with BLDA’ team, s/he contributes to the organization, coordination and conducting of the closure workshops involving key actors.

Internal Coordination

• Under the lead of the Fab Lab Manager, participates as an active member in regular internal coordination meetings, in which s/he contributes to the detailed review of current achievements, challenges faced and options considered for the Fab Lab Project;
• Ensure the correct flow of the Fab Lab Project operational information to the Fab Lab project Manager;
• Under the supervision of the Fab Lab Manager and according the needs, s/he participates to the monthly quality follow-up of data; the monthly tracking of budgets; the reporting on the project success, as measured by expected outcomes and indicators; the preparation of narrative, statistical and financial reports for donors as required, in a timely manner.

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Profile

Background and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in IT with relevant specialization in digital fabrication is an advantage;
• Have a working knowledge of fabrication equipment such as a vinyl cutter and CNC mill
• Large knowledge and extensive experience of electronics and associated softwares;
• Previous relevant experience and excellent competencies in capacity building development, especially with children, youth and young adults will be an asset:
• Possess excellent oral communication skills and be able to teach a variety of ages and demographics;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Ability to deal with children, youth and teenagers
• Ability to communicate effectively in demonstrating skills, assigning responsibility, and collaborating on tasks associated with the Fab Lab

• Previous relevant experience in INGOs  and/or extensive knowledge of the relevant programs will be an asset:
• Child Protection in a longer-term approach/Gender based Violence/protracted crisis/resilience/Juvenile Justice;

Others personal abilities

Fluency in English and Arabic  

• Sound personal organisational skills, including time management, ability to meet deadlines, multi-tasking, prioritisation of tasks;
• Creative being and loving search inspiration and new innovative ideas;
• Resourceful who likes to address challenges and who is problem-solving;
• Communication of professional needs in a clear, concise and responsible manner;
• Flexibility and strong adaptation skills;
• Tolerance and acceptance of diversity;
• Positive attitude and sens of humour.

Qualified and interested candidates should send their CV along with a cover letter to [email protected] no later than July 4th. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applications received beyond this deadline, hand-delivered or mailed to the office, will not be considered. No additional information will be provided by phone or email.

Please write “Fab Lab Project Assistant” in the subject of your application email.

Due to high volume of applications only short listed candidates will be contacted. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis; interested candidates should apply as soon as possible.

Thank you for your interest in Terre des hommes.