Senior Program Officer – Complementary Pathways

Position Title: Senior Program Officer – Complementary Pathways
Position Location: Nairobi, WUSC Kenya office
Time Allocation: Full time equivalent
Reports to: Senior Program Officer based in Canada
WUSC Kenya Senior Operations Manager (HRM)
Contract term: 12 month contract – renewable

Introduction
World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian non-profit organization that works to create opportunities for education, employment and empowerment for underprivileged youth and women worldwide. WUSC’s approach is based on over 6 decades of experience of working in multi-sectoral partnerships to improve the lives and means of subsistence of marginalized persons in developing countries. WUSC works with and through its partners from the South – in government, civil society and the private sector – to foster an environment favourable to the aspirations and full participation of youth.

Complementary Pathways programs, WUSC Kenya
WUSC Kenya is implementing several projects that support young refugees to access education and employment, including several ‘complementary pathways’ programs that offer an alternative to traditional UNHCR-referred resettlement. This currently includes the Student Refugee Program (SRP) and HIRES (Hospitality Industry welcomes refugee employment-linked sponsorship) and other new initiatives are anticipated to be launched in the coming year.

The Student Refugee Program (SRP) is WUSC’s flagship complementary pathways program that has been operating for more than 40 years. The SRP combines resettlement with opportunities for higher education in Canada. Globally, the SRP sponsors over 150 refugee students per year through active partnerships with over 100 Canadian university, college, and CEGEP campuses.

The HIRES project is a newer initiative, having launched in 2020. HIRES is based on the model of the SRP, combining resettlement with employment in the Tourism and Hospitality sector. To date, HIRES has sponsored a total of 29 refugees with plans to expand this number in the coming years.

Specific Roles and responsibilities
The Senior Program Officer will primarily be focused on the HIRES project, with some support to the SRP as and when needed. The SPO is a matrix-managed position, with task management relating to the HIRES project activities provided by the Senior Program Officer based in Canada, and general HR management by Kenya Senior Operations Manager.

The HIRES Senior Project Officer will be responsible for the following:

Project implementation

• Lead on coordinating the HIRES selection process, including liaising with UNHCR and local authorities for final verifications for the current cohort; and launching the call for applications, shortlisting, coordinating interviews and selection for future cohorts;
• Travel to Kakuma and/or Dadaab refugee camp during the HIRES or SRP selection process and to provide follow-up support to the selected cohort;
• Provide direct support to selected HIRES candidates with the completion of Canadian immigration forms and preparation for the employment matching process;
• Organize logistics for various project activities including convening selected HIRES candidates for group and individual activities (i.e. pre-departure training program in Kenya and pre-departure orientation sessions for HIRES candidates with WUSC Canada)
• Organize travel logistics for WUSC Kenya and WUSC Ottawa staff members;
• Respond to project beneficiary communications and community leader inquiries; and
• Coordinate planning with project stakeholders in various locations including Nairobi, and Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps;
• Participate in regular meetings with WUSC Kenya and WUSC Ottawa team as and when needed;
• Provide input to budget development and ensure the tracking and reporting of project expenditures, in collaboration with the WUSC Kenya finance officer; and all other related tasks, as required.

External representation:

• Lead on communication with relevant authorities and high-level partners in Kenya on matters related to current project implementation and initiation of new projects (i.e. UNHCR, Canadian and American Embassies, etc.),
• Lead on representing WUSC Kenya at relevant forum related to complementary pathways programs, and providing information and updates on the WUSC’s complementary pathways programs to other stakeholders.

Experience and competencies:

• Degree completion in a related field
• Knowledge of the refugee context in Kenya
• 5-7 years of professional experience ideally in the NGO sector, humanitarian sector, refugee sector, including resettlement and complementary pathways
• Strong communication, administrative and organizational skills
• Excellent skills in information technology, spreadsheets and PDF programs in particular
• Logistics and meeting planning experience
• Complete fluency, oral, and written in English is essential
• Willingness to travel within Kenya to various locations including Kakuma and/or Dadaab refugee camp
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality