The International Youth Foundation (IYF®) is a global nonprofit organization that focuses solely on helping young people succeed. Working with an extensive Global Partner Network, IYF develops scalable and sustainable locally relevant programming for youth that will endure, help them earn a livelihood and become an engaged citizen. The Technical Director is responsible for programs or functions that support this mission. For more information on IYF please consult www.iyfnet.org.
IYF seeks a Technical Director who will provide technical oversight for an anticipated USAID-funded, five-year, multi-million-dollar project that will focus on creating improved skills and economic opportunities for young women and men in Niger and Burkina Faso. The anticipated project will equip vulnerable young women and men with technical and life skills, networks, and capital for increased strategic economic opportunities. In Niger, the project will operate in the Tillaberi region, and potentially in Maradi, Zinder and Diffa. In Burkina Faso, the project will operate tentatively in the regions of Sahel, Est, and Centre-Nord, security-permitting.
Nigerien and Burkinabe nationals are strongly encouraged to apply. Hiring for this position will be contingent upon IYF securing funding from USAID.
· In collaboration with project leadership and Chief of Party, provide overall technical oversight, leadership, vision and focus for the project
· Design and implement interventions that are grounded in Positive Youth Development theories and approaches, which emphasize holistic skill building for youth, participatory and youth-led activities, and social and community connectivity and bonding
· Design and implement interventions that are grounded in gender and socially inclusive (GESI) theories and approaches, which emphasize the assessment and reduction of barriers to meaningful access and participation by women, girls and other groups facing exclusion
· Design and implement interventions that are based on evidence and best practices in youth skill development (technical and soft skills), youth workforce development, youth mixed-livelihoods development, and other approaches related to improved economic opportunity
· In collaboration with project leadership and Chief of Party, develop and maintain the project’s overarching work-plan and annual implementation plans consistent with project goals, objectives and deliverables
· In collaboration with project leadership and Chief of Party, develop and implement capacity building and training activities focused on improving the technical capacity of young people, youth networks, commune leadership, and local government; creation of tools and guides to facilitate knowledge transfer; and creation of other technical training and support methods.
· Ensure activities are designed and implemented with multi-stakeholder input and buy in, including USAID, the Governments of Niger and Burkina Faso at national and local levels, young people and youth groups, community leaders, and other key stakeholders.
· Build and maintain relationships with the public sector, private sector, civil society, community-based organizations, local communities including parents, local government, and donors.
· In collaboration with project leadership, Chief of Party and MERL staff, support continuous program learning and ensure integration of monitoring and evaluation data into management decision-making and policy advocacy.
· Produce effective written reports and oral presentations on the project, including preparing periodic reports, providing updates on challenges facing the project, and articulating the project’s success in meeting deliverables.
· Represent the project at local, national and regional meetings, workshops and conferences and promote the project at the national level.
· Manage the project’s team of technical specialists. Directly supervise staff as assigned, including providing regular professional support and coaching to supervisees, assessing their performance and recommending improvements they can make to achieve their annual objectives and the project’s goal in general.
· Perform other duties as requested.
· A graduate degree in a relevant field such as education, international development, or non-profit management.
· Eight years of relevant experience leading programs focused on youth services, economic empowerment, livelihoods, access to finance, and/or private sector development.
· Previous experience working with youth in conflict settings or countering violent extremism (CVE) programming, preferably with experience in both Niger and Burkina Faso.
· Strong understanding of the economic, educational, and youth contexts in Niger and/or Burkina Faso, with a network of relevant contacts in the countries.
· Technical leadership experience on complex youth development programs funded by USAID or other donors.
· Strong understanding of best practices in youth programming, including Positive Youth Development, and familiarity with USAID’s Youth in Development Policy.
· Experience cultivating relationships and collaborating with a variety of stakeholders including youth, government ministries and officials, NGOs, donors, the private sector, and community-based institutions, preferably in Niger or Burkina Faso.
· Experience developing and implementing effective capacity building methods for organizations and individuals, including capacity building among low literacy populations.
· Knowledge of social and emotional learning and soft skills acquisition, and their integration into comprehensive skill building programs for youth.
· Experience supervising teams of diverse staff.
· Strong presentation, reporting, and communication skills.
· Spoken and written fluency in English and French required; fluency in local languages a plus.
· Excellent computer skills using MS Office products including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
Director
Niamey, Niger (or potentially Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso)
This vacancy is archived.