Youth and Volunteer Programs Specialist- Africa at Habitat for Humanity | April 2024

Reporting to the Director, Program Operations in the Africa Area Office, with the matrix supervision by the Volunteer and Institutional Engagement Division, Volunteer Programs Specialist (AFR) is responsible for the strategic development and strengthening of volunteer programs and services in the region. The position provides management, coordination and guidance in the development, implementation, and evaluation of volunteer programs in alignment with the overall vision, mission and program framework of Habitat for Humanity International.

NOTE: Deadline for applications is on 19th April 2024.

Roles and Responsibilities.

Global Village Program Implementation and Coordination.

• Manage and coordinate teams participating in the Global Village, including but not limited to program/project administration, training, budget planning and risk management.
• Support every aspect of volunteer journey (e.g. Global Village resource creation/update) in close collaboration with colleagues in programs, advocacy, communications and resource development to strengthen volunteer mobilization.
• Ensure close collaboration between Habitat Africa network and other regional and global teams in support of Africa volunteer programs strategy, including active participation in the Global Village remodel.
• Coordinate and provide emergency support to volunteer teams and country programs during a time of crisis.
• Support other types of build opportunities taking place in the region in coordination with Resource Development or Tithe or other relevant departments, ensuring the implementation of Habitat’s volunteer duty of care.

Program Management (Youth and National Volunteering).

• Collaborate with regional and global teams to support the development and implementation of Habitat’s strategy for youth engagement in the region, aligning closely with the organization’s overarching goals and objectives.
• Engage in extensive consultation with relevant departments to underscore the significance of youth volunteerism, leveraging both new product development and existing initiatives from national organizations to amplify awareness and participation.
• Partner with regional teams to integrate and advance youth engagement across all facets of Habitat’s programs and projects, ensuring it becomes a fundamental component of our organizational approach.
• Liaise closely with area office teams to establish a robust pipeline aimed at maximizing funding opportunities, thereby fostering the sustainability of youth and national volunteering initiatives. Additionally, collaborate with external partners to expand Habitat’s influence and impact in the realm of youth engagement, in alignment with our strategic priorities.

Monitoring and Evaluation.

• Review volunteer evaluations and feedback pre, during and post-engagement, compile reports and recommend necessary changes and improvement for maintaining or strengthening standards and program quality.
• Monitor and ensure implementation of minimum standards and relevant policies by national organizations involving volunteers.
• Work with other teams and national organizations to create awareness about Global Village and other volunteer programs results and direct and indirect impact.

Capacity Development and Partnerships.

• Lead in the design and delivery of training opportunities to upgrade staff skills in volunteer management, program development, volunteer fundraising and events, and collaborate with other departments and offices in providing holistic support to national organizations.
• Provide thought leadership and related guidance to improve the capacity of the network in managing volunteer programs (beyond Global Village) and understanding volunteering in development.
• Facilitate in creating sustainable partnerships that will drive innovations and growth through volunteering.
• Build the knowledge and experience in volunteer program management and development of tools and resources.

Other Specialized Support.

• Consolidate qualitative and quantitative reporting of all volunteer programs, projects and initiatives, manage and document volunteer data including financial return on investment (ROI) analysis.
• Liaise with global and other Area Office teams in all aspects of volunteer engagement and next generation programming for and on behalf of the Africa region.
• Support the Resource Development team in cultivating volunteer interest and tapping volunteer skills into other Resource Development channels to fund the mission.
• Support youth initiatives and engagements in the Africa Region including but not limited to volunteerism.

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in development, political science or a related field Working experience in NGO sector and international development.

Years of Related Experience:

Minimum 5 years of volunteer mobilization and management and/or volunteer programming in peace and development settings

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Affinity and interest in volunteering, advocacy, and active citizenship
• Good overview of formal and informal volunteer engagement organisations, networks, and programs, preferably in Africa
• Manage multiple tasks at the same time, able to prioritize and manage deadline.
• Deep knowledge of program operational work in coordination with multiple stakeholders in different time zones;
• Ability to work independently but also a team player (both intra- and inter-department);
• Open and agile mindset to drive change and improvements.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken),
• Strong organizational and problem solving skills;
• Excellent writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Professional use of social media, to reach youth target groups, is highly preferred.
• Computer proficient and demonstrated experience in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and online systems
• Excellent people skills with ability to communicate cross-culturally and cross-functionally
• Training and mentoring skills;
• Understanding of the Africa region and cultural sensitivity issues;

Preferred Requirements (in addition to minimum):

• Professional use of social media, to reach target groups, is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of other foreign language spoken in the region will be an added advantage.