Program Officer (Youth Capacity Building)

Position Title: Program Officer (Youth Capacity Building)                 
Location:Gaza Office
Duration: One Year with possibility of extension.
Department:Economic Development

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps is a non-profit, non-governmental international humanitarian and development organization, registered in the United States and Scotland with offices in more than 40 countries around the world, including the West Bank and Gaza, where the organization has been active in implementing relief and development programs for over a decade. 
Mercy Corps ‘West Bank and Gaza’ has staff based in East Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza City offices that implement programs throughout the Palestinian territories.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has implemented ICT sector development programs in Palestinian Occupied Territories since 2006, with an overall goal to contribute to the expansion and development of the knowledge-based economy in Palestine. The program is implemented in the Gaza Strip through and in cooperation with local partners that have relevant experience in economic and private sector development, education, e-content and ICT Software development.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
1-Develop capacity building and training work plans for youth in the field of ICT and other sectors, and follow-up on implementation of the activities.
2-Assure the proper implementation of internship and career counseling activities in accordance with implementation plans.
3-Ensure the quality of career promotion guide web portal, through monitoring local partner implementation for web portal development.
4-Foster Arabic e-content development through providing interns for the e-content development.
5-Reinforce open source innovation as viable IT solutions through providing internship opportunities for those trained by the open source innovation center.
6-Provide SME program with well-trained interns to improve the quality of services offered by the Palestinian ICT Companies.
7-Support Mercy Corps Economic Development staff in other youth capacity building and training programs.
8-Lead the coordination of all activities with the partner NGOs, business associations, education and TVET institutions.
9-Ensure all program activities are implemented in accordance with technical and budgetary requirements including compliance with Mercy Corps and donor requirements.
10-Ensure timely implementation of the programs to the high standards delivering the highest possible quality.
11-Work cooperatively with Mercy Corps staff, local community, partner NGOs and other parties.
12-Conduct regular field visits to the educational institutions, and ensure regular coordination meetings with the partners.
13-Ensure that accurate and up-to date programmatic documentation is maintained.
14-In cooperation with the Design, Monitoring and Evaluation (DME) department, ensure that relevant evaluation strategies are implemented in a timely and high quality manner, and that all outcomes of activities are met.
15-Issue regular reports on project implementation/ progress to the ICT specialist, and prepare draft reports and other project documentation required by donors. 
16-Generate verbal and written translations of project documentation as needed/required.
17-Performance of work beyond normal office hours as required, without additional compensation.
18-Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
19-Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: The Program Officer will supervise a small number of Project Coordinators as applicable.

ACCOUNTABILITY
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: ICT Specialist.
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program Director, Senior Program Manager, Economic Development team members, Admin, Finance and Procurement staff, DME department.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
1-University degree in business administration, Economic development, business development, ICT engineering, or any related field.
2-At least 3 years’ proved experience in working with international funded projects and/or INGOs, preferably in youth development programs.
3-Understanding of the social, political, and economic context of the Palestinian territories, especially in the Gaza Strip.
4-Excellent writing skills in English and Arabic.
5-High proficiency in computer, internet, and MS office literacy.

SUCCESS FACTORS:
1-Excellent communication and coordination skills.
2-Excellent planning and administration skills. 
3-Initiative, self-reliant and cooperative. 
4-Excellent time and organizational management skills.
5-Excellent ability to work under pressure and carry out multiple tasks.
 

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a one page cover letter and their CV by e-mail to”

no later than Saturday, May 21, 2011.
   
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Please indicate in the email subject; Program Officer (Youth Capacity Building).
No application will be accepted if the email subject is not mentioned in the email subject line.
Please apply separate application for each position you are interested in.