Program Officer for Youth Leadership

POSITION DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Program Officer for Youth Leadership

REPORTS TO: Senior Youth Leadership Development Specialist

SUPERVISES: Assistant Program Officer

SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) program aims to strengthen youth participation in democratic governance. It promotes youth leadership as an important element of representative democracy and the youth sector as a core actor and concern in vibrant and resilient democracies. The program will advance youth leadership and youth sector political engagement in the Philippines through three interrelated components: increasing the leadership capacity of youth; strengthening networks for youth participation in governance; and translating civil education into civic engagement.

The Program Officer (PO) for Youth Leadership Component of the YouthLed program will play a vital role in implementing YouthLed. The focus of the role will be managing activities with a select set of YouthLed partners, either covering a geographic focus area, or a thematic focus area.

The PO is expected to have strong project implementation experience, and previous exposure for the delivery of technical assistance to the youth sector, partner government agencies, civil society and other stakeholders. Experience in curriculum and module development, leadership training and evaluation, are required.

The PO will operate in compliance with the ethics, procedures and policies of The Asia Foundation, and with USAID rules and regulations.

Internal

Daily interaction with Youth-Led’s Chief of Party (COP), its Senior Youth Leadership Development Specialist (SYLDS), and project team on various activities. Regular interaction with the Finance, Administration, and Grants Unit of the Foundation.

External

Regular contact/coordination with YouthLed implementing partner organizations, consultants, subgrantees and subcontractors, and other national and international institutions.

REQUIREMENTS

Experience:

• Minimum of four (4) years of professional experience in successfully contributing to participatory governance or similar work in the Philippines is preferred.
• Advance level of knowledge and experience in curriculum and module development, leadership training and evaluation.
• Advanced level of knowledge and familiarity with the youth sector, local and national government agencies, academe, business industry, and civil society in the Philippines desirable.
• Candidates with advanced and demonstrated experience in the development, implementation, monitoring, and reporting for similar-sized USAID or other international donor-supported programs preferred.

Education: Must have an Undergraduate degree in a field relevant for YouthLed.

Competencies/Dimensions:

• Implement activities and monitors activities of subgrantees/subcontractors
• Monitors budget activities and expenditures
• May include some human resources responsibilities for direct reports such as coaching, mentoring, control and corrective measures
• Provide inputs and support to enable the COP and SYLDS to make decisions
• Work and draft reports are reviewed by the Supervisor
• Interaction with current and potential partners of the Foundation, internal and external auditors

Skills/Other:

• Ability to work constructively with persons of diverse religious, cultural, and social backgrounds;
• Must have strong-track record of working independently and in a diverse team environment;
• Strong attention to details and ability to multi-task, highly organized and efficient;
• Demonstrated time management and organizational skills;
• Computer literate in use of MS Office;
• Ability to manage information systems for project management;
• Superior spoken and written English.
• Ability to communicate effectively in Filipino and other local languages is desired (written, verbal – both 1:1 and in large team meetings)

JOB FUNCTIONS

• Assist the COP and SYLDS in the design and implementation of activities on youth leadership.
• Lead the implementation and monitoring of activities under the Youth Leadership program component
• Monitor program data, coordinate with program partners, and report progress of activities based on approved workplan
• Manage partner coordination and ensure that all deliverables assigned to the partner are accomplished
• Exhibit technical knowledge on program implementation
• Manage the administration and logistics requirements of the program
• Provide timely and quality reports on all activities and milestones under the component as required by YouthLed reporting guidelines
• Forge collaborative and trusting professional relationships with all partners;
• Contribute to project budgeting and financial management. Track project expenditures and targets for select portions of the project.
• Provide assistance to partners/grantees as they implement program activities;
• Supervise the monitoring of project activities in coordination with the COP, other team members and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning support. Undertake monitoring visits to project partners to assess and ensure that activities are conducted as planned;
• Draft Letters of Grant, Letters of Amendment, Letters of Contract, and correspondence related to the Project.
• Draft request letters for USAID approval of subgrants and subcontracts, with supervision, in coordination with potential project partners
• Conduct due diligence on subgrantees and subcontractors pursuant to USAID conditions and regulations
• Implement and ensure compliance with the project’s Branding & Marking Plan
• Coordinate extensively with youth leaders, youth organizations, and youth coalitions to ensure timely and full implementation of project activities
• Represent the Foundation’s activities as directed by the COP or SYLDS
• Assist the COP and SYLDS to ensure that the project activities are implemented in accordance with TAF and USAID rules and regulations.
• Perform other tasks as maybe assigned from time to time.