Title: Youth Economic Opportunities Lead

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Division: Communities & Governance

Reports To: Deputy Chief of Party  

DEADLINE: February 17, 2022   

ABOUT IREX        

IREX is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world by empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions, and extending access to quality education and information. Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of over $90 million, offices in 20 countries, and a global staff of 400. We work in more than 100 countries worldwide. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

IREX in Ukraine is seeking a qualified Youth Economic Opportunities Lead for the Ukraine National Identity Through Youth (UNITY) program. This five-year activity is designed to foster vested ownership among Ukrainian youth in their country’s democratic, European future by further mobilizing youth leadership around a values-based conception of Ukrainian identity grounded in innovation, engagement, and pluralism.   

Under the supervision of the Deputy Chief of Party, the Youth Economic Opportunities Lead will manage programming under Objective 1 of the UNITY program: expanding economic opportunities through youth innovation, entrepreneurship, and career preparedness in growth industries. He or she will provide technical and project management expertise and be responsible for effective coordination among multiple program partners and stakeholders to design and implement project activities and track results. The Youth Economic Opportunities Lead will be supported by a Program Coordinator. He/she needs to have strong project management skills and experience and provide oversight to UNITY subgrantees as they implement their projects. 

 DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Design, lead the implementation and ensure quality control of in-person and online program activities that create economic opportunities and proper career orientation for diverse youth.
• Provide technical expertise on economic development and entrepreneurship programs.
• Prepare and manage relevant program budgets projecting expenses, tracking costs and allocating project resources in cost efficient manner
• Involved in the selection of subgrantees, providing technical leadership and oversight to select grantees
• Identify, select and manage external consultants working on career orientation, economic development for youth and other relevant field.
• Work closely with the Senior Partnerships Manager to map, establish, and maintain effective working relationships with businesses, local governments, civil society, youth groups, opinion leaders, educational institutions, and other program stakeholders.
• Coordinate with UNITY partners to implement program Objective 1, ensuring progress towards key results on time and within budget.
• Support UNITY partners in adapting international best practices and solutions to the Ukrainian context and the needs of Ukrainian youth.
• Understand and act on lessons learned and develop recommendations for activities that strengthen collaboration between educational and other relevant public institutions (youth centers, municipal employment centers), and the private sector to match the supply and demand within local job markets and help better prepare youth to enter the workforce.
• Work closely with the Youth Centers Manager to ensure that UNITY training is embedded into youth centers’ work and youth center staff are appropriately trained and mentored.
• Advocate for the inclusion of new working solutions (courses, activities, approaches, services for youth) to school and university programs and services.
• Identify and showcase local, regional, and national level economic opportunities for youth through toolkits, networking, and resource hubs.
• Collect success stories and lessons learned to profile successful youth entrepreneurs and provide input to entrepreneurship-themed awareness campaigns.
• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of program activities, and ensure that training curricula and approaches are tailored based on evaluation results and data.
• Draft program reports, updates, and other and reports on to program activities.
• Supervise assigned staff and ensure that adequate support, mentoring, and coaching is available.
• Other duties as assigned.
  

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

• Strong project management skills and ability to design, plan, and oversee activities and interventions that lead to achieving program goals;
• Strong problem solving skills and ability to work with minimum supervision
• Degree in economics, finance, international development, business administration, public administration, education, management, or another relevant field is preferred.
• At least five years of experience in economic development programs or in relevant field such as setting up career orientation programs.
• Portfolio of successfully implemented projects or interventions that created economic opportunities for youth.
• Experience developing economic and entrepreneurship curricula would be an asset.
• Experience of programmatic oversight of grants is desirable.
• Knowledge of economic environment in Ukraine as it relates to youth—needs, challenges, stakeholders, resources, and institutions.
• Strong leadership and partner coordination skills.
• Experience working with youth on career and workforce development would be an advantage.
• Demonstrated success in maintaining excellent cooperation with partner organizations, and the ability to establish productive relationships with businesses, government officials, and opinion leaders at the local and national levels.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate dialogue and work constructively with a diverse range of actors.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong command of spoken and written English, Ukrainian and Russian.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and complete tasks and projects in accordance with stated deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and in a team and the ability to take initiative, meet deadlines, and be flexible.
• Willingness to travel when health, safety, and epidemiologic conditions allow.
• Ukrainian citizenship or residency with work authorization is required. 

TO APPLY 

Please send your cover letter and resume as an attachment in an email with “Youth Economic Opportunities Lead” in the subject line to [email protected]. Only complete applications will be considered. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. Application Deadline: February 17, 2022. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.  

IREX conducts anti- terrorism database clearances on candidates who accept employment offers. IREX is also an E-Verify Employer.   

IREX is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and inclusive hiring practice. IREX is an equal opportunity employer.