Job Description

The Post Graduate Support Officer (PGSO) will play a key role in the Young Africa program by connecting young people who would have enrolled for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with relevant work placement opportunities. The PGSO will be responsible for building relationships with local employers and identifying suitable placements, as well as providing support and guidance to both youth and employers. This role requires excellent communication (physical and digital) and relationship-building skills, as well as a passion for helping young people find meaningful work and reach their full potential. The PGSO should be familiar with the challenges and opportunities faced by young people in finding work and be able to support them in developing the skills and confidence they need to succeed so as to realise the program impact. The PGSO should be organized, efficient, and able to manage multiple tasks and priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide a personalised case management approach to advising students on career choices / pathways and actively progressing them through the relevant opportunities for training, internship and employment.
• Establish, develop, and maintain relationships with employers, industry groups, training providers and apprenticeship support services that will facilitate students’ transition from training to employment.
• Link students and their career expectations with industry needs through study visits to workplaces, inviting guest speakers from relevant industries on campus to speak to students and work readiness skills programs.
• Establish and manage a work experience program for students, including the sourcing of opportunities, preparing students for opportunities, monitoring students while on internship and job placement and keeping all related records.
• Assist in marketing initiatives including information sessions, collation of good news stories and development of other promotional content and communication strategies.
• Support the Young Africa enrolment and new student orientation process.
• Work with the programs team to provide updates on internship students’ progress and outcomes.
• In collaboration with the monitoring and evaluation team, record relevant student information, including contacts, behaviours, and student activities in the Young Africa student management system, and produce reports on progress.
• Keep industry information, including legislation relevant to the vocational training, apprenticeship, and employment.
• In collaboration with technical trainers, monitor students in internships and job placements, arranging visits where required and managing the preparation, collection and storage of monitoring and evaluation records and data as required by Young Africa.
• Support graduates with employment contract negotiation, wellness and safeguarding related issues.
• Support in continuous reviewing of curricula to match industry standards.
• Any other duties assigned by the supervisor

Qualifications and Experience

• University degree in Development Studies, or any other social science relevant degree.
• At least 3 years work experience in Youth Empowerment, life skills, entrepreneurship, TVET, ISALs and linking youths to industry to secure meaningful employment
• Possess a clear understanding of contemporary development issues and trends in marketing and youth placement.
• Knowledge and experience with work readiness and industrial learning programmes.
• Excellent IT, Digital marketing, data consolidation and reporting skills
• Clean driver’s license (class 4) a must.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
• Results oriented.
• Excellent communicator, influential with the ability to seek and secure opportunities.
• Proven ability to develop cooperative working relationships with broad range of internal and external stakeholders to achieve intended outputs and outcomes.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of working with vocational education pathways, particularly the non-formal vocational education program.
• Strong understanding of the local labor market, the skills required by employers, and how to match students with appropriate placements.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send one-page motivational letter including expected salary, and a detailed CV, not more than 3 pages to [email protected] by Tuesday 20 February 2024.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.