Technical Advisor for Universities and Career Centers

Position Description

Location West Bank and Jerusalem

Position Status Full-time, Regular

Salary Level 6D

Current Team Member N/A

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program

Positive Youth Engagement (PYE) is a seven-year multi-sectoral Youth Activity designed to address the core issues of Palestinian youth development. The PYE activity will reach vulnerable and marginalized youth aged 10-24 at risk of social marginalization in deprived areas and private universities where they live by improving education, health, employment, community involvement (reintegration), and other needs as identified through drivers' assessments. The activity’s goal is to transform vulnerable youth into productive, contributing citizens who are connected to their communities by increasing opportunities for Palestinian youth to realize their potential and to effectively contribute to social and economic development. The following are the main themes of the PYE:

• Core programming that supports, protects, prepares, and engages youth in safe spaces located within a strong network of more than 80 CBOs throughout the West Bank. 
• Tailored packages of activities, resources, and referrals that will set youth on individually selected pathways building on the core curriculum to increase opportunities for youth to effectively contribute to social and economic development.
• Opportunities for sustained community engagement and leadership through youth-led pathways and councils, community and social media campaigns, and mentorship of subsequent cohorts as part of sustainable community youth networks.
• Improve opportunities for learning and individual empowerment for youth in grades 7-12 through the network of safe spaces.
• Expand safe spaces through 11 local university career centers to reach youth ages 19-24 and offer the PYE core interventions including the Profound Stress and Attunement (PSA) approach and healthy well-being for youth, parents, and adult caretakers; learning activities (including the Passport To Success (PTS) and I:SERVE), youth pathways; and youth-led small-scale initiatives in addition to technology and innovation-driven learning programs with a focus on STEAM, green solutions, and entrepreneurship.

General Position Summary

The Technical Advisor for Career Centers in Private Universities will lead efforts in the career centers across selected 11 private universities under the PYE program. The Advisor will work under the supervision of the Chief of Party (CoP), and closely with the Senior Technical Expert (STE), Youth Pathways and Wellbeing Managers, and the MEL team. Further, He/She will manage relations with the identified partner(s) in universities with experience in technology-driven solutions, green solutions, environment, entrepreneurship, and the STE to ensure mainstreaming of related learning and youth-led efforts in the universities. A Specialist, Officer, and Coordinator will report to the Advisor under this component. The focus of this position would be to:

·        Design and manage the implementation of the interventions and activities at the career centers across selected private universities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

·        Develop the framework to identify service providers on technology driven solutions, environment, green solutions, and entrepreneurship and engage them in the selected career centers.

·        Engage with the STE to mainstream the learning activities (PTS, I:Serve, youth-led initiatives) across target career centers in line with other ongoing programs.

·        Manage the pool of experts and service providers to implement activities in the universities across all themes based on indicators and targets set.

• Contribute to related MEL studies on knowledge linked to career readiness and work placement opportunities.

·        Manage the establishment of labs (e.g., media, green solutions, technology driven solutions) across selected private universities.

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Strategize, set technical priorities in collaboration with the Chief of Party (CoP), lead implementation, and review technical progress related to activities in the career centers across 11 private universities.
• Lead assessment of the private universities that will be part of the PYE program including assets of the career centers, capacities, and areas of specialty based on the needs and priorities of target university students.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the universities and the partners on subjects’ matter, students and alumni, and potential employers on a local, regional, national, and international scale.
• Manage the on-campus learning programs, recruitment, and interviewing processes of university students selected for the programs as well as manage referrals and job-listing services for target students as well as alumni.
• Manage the professional development activities and training for staff at the career centers (e.g. professional development programs, workshops, seminars, and conferences).
• Closely coordinates communication with deans, department chairs, and other faculty to ensure that the PYE interventions are meeting the needs and desires of the specific university, career centers, and related departments.

• Constantly monitor, analyze, and evaluate the current scope of services offered through career centers, plans, implementation, and direct new programs under the supervision of the staff at the career centers.
• Manage career advising expertise to students and alumni regarding the job-search process, interviewing, resume, and letter writing, and all other facets of career planning.

• Oversee the performance of partners implementing programs and activities in the selected private universities.
• Finalize objectives, intermediate results, and indicators for this component in collaboration with the MEL team; improve data processing and reporting.
• Contribute to weekly, quarterly, and annual reporting on this component in English.
• Manage consultation and collaboration meetings with the PYE partner organizations in communities for insights and recommendations on efforts exerted in the universities.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the CoP.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging program participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

The Career Centers in Universities Technical Advisor will directly manage the component’s team including a Senior Specialist, Officer, and Coordinator. Additionally, the Advisor will be working closely with other technical advisors within the PYE team, the MEL team, and Safe Spaces Specialist, in addition to the PYE partner organization and safe spaces.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: PYE Chief of Party

Works Directly With: DcoP, Technical Advisors, STE, Finance, compliance, and Operations teams, Partner Organizations in universities, career centers, MercyCorps Regional and Global Teams mainly the Technical Support Unit.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA degree in business, educational administration, employment, career development and planning, or other human development themes. A master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in human-centered design approaches development, university career services, and/or corporate recruitment management experience.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in career planning and training and learning linked to employment work. 
• Experience in program development, supervision and evaluation, and technology-driven solutions.
• Thorough understanding of and commitment to the goals and responsibilities of the centralized career centers services concept.
• Nationwide professional contacts in both the university and employment sectors.
• Effective organizational and management skills.
• Demonstrated abilities to create linkages, and collaboration efforts that will be used on behalf of the PYE program for better opportunities for selected private universities at large and career centers specifically.
• Experience working within the Palestinian context with key Palestinian stakeholders is strongly preferred.
• Fluent verbal and written communication skills in Arabic and excellent verbal and written English is required.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem-solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about changing norms that lead to greater opportunities for economic growth at household, community, and institutional levels. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem-solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Ramallah, Palestine, and requires constant movement between West Bank cities. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs, and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Qualified people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online HERE no later than 12:00 PM Wednesday 6 December 2023.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.