Program Officer, Youth Care (Girl's home)

Who we are

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. We started our humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of our first Village in Mekelle, Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, we have expanded our programs to different regions where there are significant needs for intervention and where we believe we can work in partnership with all relevant actors to bring sustainable positive outcomes for children’s and young people.

Today, we have grown significantly to meet the persistent challenges that confront Ethiopian children who have lost parental care and those that are at risk of losing their parental care. Working in close collaboration with international donors, local government and community based organizations across seven program locations; we aspire that every child grows up with love, respect and security.

Why we need you?

We are looking  for a Program Officer Youth Care who will be responsible for guiding the SOS CV youth according to SOS CVE policies and procedures towards independence, so that when they leave the care of SOS CVE they shall be self-sufficient contributing members of society.

What we provide?

An amazing work environment that promotes personal growth through providing professional space to grow and advance your career!

Your role?

While working with us a…..you will be in charge of the following,

Administrative and clerical duties 

• Managing the paperwork and administration for the youth facility

• Helping in budget preparation and administration

• Producing good quality regular and ad-hoc reports in line with requirements from his/her manager and/or the national office 

• Collecting and sharing youth care good practices

Guiding Personal Developments of youths

• Leading the Individual Development Plan (IDP) of the youth

• Creating a safe environment for the youth to live in and promoting a supportive environment

• Enabling the youths to take responsibility for their own development and supports them in learning the required personal and practical skills needed to live an independent life

Creating opportunities for contact with the youths family of origin, SOS family and the community 

• Helping the youths in developing and maintaining good relationships with their wider families and communities

• Supporting the youths to have regular and on-going contact with their families of origin, facilitating specific opportunities for them to visit where possible  

• Encouraging them to gain understanding of their social, religious and cultural background

Supporting Education and Career Development of the Youth

• Motivating the youths to play an active part, both academically and socially, in the school/education facility and Helping them identify their individual strengths and weaknesses and encourages them to be responsible for their own development

• Maintaining close contact and links with the schools/educational facilities to ensure a good understanding of each youth’s educational abilities and needs 

• Attending school meetings where required

• Guiding the youths towards finding suitable employment

• Assisting the youths in gaining the financial skills and responsibility needed to lead a secure and independent life outside of the youth facility

Supporting the SOS Mothers and village life

• Ensuring the SOS mothers remain involved in the important discussion and decisions affecting the youths in the youth facility

• When required, meeting with SOS mothers or head of SFC to discuss each youths progress

• Encouraging the youths to continue as an active and supportive member of the SOS village community, attending events and supporting the SOS mothers in their family lives and homes

• Maintaining good working relationships with the SOS mothers and all other co-workers within the village

Child Safeguarding

• Responsible to ensure that all beneficiaries are receiving ongoing, age-appropriate verbal or written information in relevant languages about SOS Children’s Villages Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct.

  • Ensuring that all support is provided on the best interest of the child.

  • Responsible to take part in raise awareness raising sessions and capacity building trainings in relation to CS and Code of Conduct and to prevent and protect children and young people from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence and discrimination

  • Supporting children and young people to make them understand the CS risks and protection mechanisms

  • Responsible to report any CS suspicion, concern, allegation or incident immediately, following Child Safeguarding reporting procedures. CS reports should be made to the CS team at programme level and/or to the respective line manager

Job Requirements

Up for the challenge...

Then check out our criteria’s:

Must Criteria

• Education: A post-high school diploma/degree (university, higher colleges) in a relevant discipline (for example education/childcare or child and/or youth care, community/social work.

• Experience: : At least 3- 5 years’ previous experience in child/youth quality care

Competencies – Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Good knowledge of child, youth, family and community development

• Good knowledge of national child care legislation and child’s rights

• Strong and highly effective interpersonal, listening and communication skills, both written and verbal

• Demonstrate a high level of empathy/emotional intelligence particularly working with young people and adolescents

• Understanding and knowledge of subjects relating specifically to the care of adolescents (e.g. sexual health, HIV/Aids, relationships)

• Ability to work in a busy and pressurized environment

• High level of personal responsibility and integrity

• Good knowledge and understanding of the local and national culture and background

• ICT skills including working knowledge of Microsoft tools

• Ability to present professionally and effectively both on 1:1 and large groups basis

How to Apply

Excited to take on a new Challenge..

Then send us your application (application letter, detailed CV containing contact detail of there references) electronically through SOS Children Villages Application portal (ICIMS) CLICK HERE

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia holds strict child safeguarding principles and a zero-tolerance policy for conducts of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse in the workplace and other places where the organization’s activities are rendered.  Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing candidates value congruence and thorough background checks, police clearance reference check processes.

SOS Children's Villages Ethiopia provides equal employment opportunities to all co-workers & qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class.