Youth Skills Development Specialist

Youth Skills Development Specialist

Kosovo Up to Youth Project

World Learning is a leading international non-profit organization focused on creating a more peaceful and just world through education, development, and exchange. We are seeking an experienced Youth Skills Development Specialist for an anticipated youth activity in Kosovo, focused on empowering at-risk youth in targeted municipalities to increase civic participation and economic self-empowerment, and strengthen youth resilience against radicalization to violence for resilient, peaceful communities. The Youth Skills Development Specialist will design, develop, manage, and implement youth workforce development and entrepreneurship activities.

Responsibilities

· Design and lead activities targeting soft skills development, youth workforce development, and entrepreneurship in Kosovo;

· Oversee activities that create links between Kosovo’s youth and private sector partners;

· Support life and soft skills trainings on topics related to critical thinking, social media literacy, issue advocacy, problem solving, decision-making, leadership, self-motivation, active listening, self-control, positive self-concept, empathy, negotiation, and tolerance;

· Provide strategic technical guidance on market-driven workforce development methodologies, private sector partnerships, access to credit, entrepreneurship, etc. to key personnel, project staff, government ministries, and project partners and stakeholders;

· Facilitate the development of mechanisms for coordination, collaboration, consensus and trust building among key local actors including the government, private businesses, civil society organizations, women, media, citizens, youth, and other stakeholders;

· Design and lead activities that will decrease barriers to youth access to post-secondary training and/or market-driven workforce development programs leading to employment or self-employment;

· Ensure understanding of labor market needs by the program teams and work with staff to develop curricula and training programs that are demonstrably linked to growth areas, opportunities for start-up capital, and apprenticeships;

· Provide technical advice and training to community stakeholders to develop strategic locally-led approaches to build consensus around and address vulnerabilities;

· Discover and engage with available networks of youth support systems, networks and organizations in Kosovo for the planning and implementation of project activities;

· In conjunction with the Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, develop and assist in the measurement of youth skills development indicators, and support efforts to increase the impact of program activities;

· Working closely with the program team and the MEL Specialist, develop and implement a learning agenda that promotes collaboration, learning and adaption of the Positive Youth Development (PYD) approaches, activities within our program.

Requirements

· Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, social sciences, international development, policy, or a related field;

· A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in life and soft skills development or workforce development, including supporting positive youth development and social and emotional skills trainings and programming, creating private sector linkages, coordinating internships and apprenticeships, job matching services, and youth entrepreneurship promotion;

· Strong understanding of issues faced by women and youth populations related to education, employment, human resource development, skills training, entrepreneurship; and job creation;

· History of positive working relationships with Kosovar government institutions, civil society, international organizations, and donors; and knowledge of Kosovar counterparts, individuals, and organizations active or interested in youth development, employment, and resiliency are highly desirable;

· Demonstrated understanding and technical capacity in the development, coordination, implementation of complex and diverse sets of interventions that produce expected outcomes;

· Demonstrated knowledge of USAID rules, regulations, and reporting requirements desired;

· Strong understanding of USAID Collaboration, Learning and Adaption approach, experience with implementing CLA is desired;

· Previous resident work experience in Kosovo and/or the Balkans strongly preferred;

· Proficiency in written and oral Albanian and English required;

· Commitment to the principles of inclusive approaches to programming that encourages full participation of individuals regardless of gender, disability status, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or other marginalized status.

World Learning is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action/veterans/ADA employer, committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce.

Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project. Interested candidates should submit their CV or resume and cover letter (in English) to: recruitment@worldlearning.org. Please include “Kosovo – Youth Skills Development Specialist” on the subject line as well as a note explaining your qualifications for the position. Due to the volume of applications received, please note that only finalist candidates will be contacted. No telephone inquiries please. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and qualified candidates should apply as soon as possible.