Position Title: Portfolio Manager/advisor, Youth Empowerment
Employer: SOS Childrens Villages
Employment: Full-Time | Permanent
Place of Work: Addis Abeba - Ethiopia
Salary: As per the organization's salary scale
Posted date: 1 month ago
Deadline: Submission date is over
Join Our Mission
We are looking for a Portfolio Manager / Advisor - Youth Empowerment to be responsible for the design, development, coordination, and implementation of youth empowerment programmes within SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia, ensuring programmes are evidence-based, locally relevant, outcome-focused, and fully compliant with standards, donor agreements, and national regulations.
Key Responsibilities:
Programme Design and Fund Development
- Lead the design, development, and strategic direction of youth empowerment programmes in collaboration with other departments.
- Conduct thorough research and analysis of political, social, and economic contexts to inform programme design.
- Provide inputs for proposals, concept notes, and funding applications.
- Ensure all programme development aligns with SOS CVE regulations, national laws, and international standards.
- Identify innovative programme elements, tools, or systems to improve effectiveness.
- Serve as the primary focal point for youth empowerment programmes across SOS CVE.
- Collaborate with fundraising and business development teams to secure diverse funding sources
Strategic and Programme Implementation
- Lead the preparation and implementation of startup/coordination plans for youth empowerment interventions.
- Oversee all youth-focused projects within SOS CVE to ensure timely, high-quality, and outcome-focused implementation.
- Guide LPDs, location programme managers, and coordinators on planning, budgeting, and reporting.
- Monitor outcome-level progress, not just activity completion, and initiate improvements in approaches and strategies.
- Ensure timely government signatory approvals where required.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Quality Assurance
- Lead quality assurance exercises for youth-focused projects and activities, ensuring adherence to SOS CVE standards and donor requirements.
- Support establishment/revision of processes, procedures, and systems to maintain high-quality service delivery.
- Capacitate staff at all levels on monitoring, evaluation, and quality assurance practices.
- Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality reporting to donors and government authorities.
- Analyze programme data to illustrate impact and disseminate evidence of good practices.
- Collaborate with the MEAL team to conduct audits, evaluations, and technical support in the youth empowerment portfolio.
- Promote the use of programme data and ICT systems (PDB2, ProDIGI, Compass) for decision-making.
Knowledge Management and Advisory Services
- Identify and document lessons learned, good practices, and innovations in youth empowerment programming.
- Promote cross-functional learning across departments and locations.
- Provide advisory services to management, facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building in youth empowerment.
- Actively participate in relevant national, regional, and continental forums, campaigns, and advocacy initiatives.
Collaboration and Partnership Building
- Identify and build strategic partnerships with organizations, government authorities, and other stakeholders to strengthen youth empowerment programme implementation.
- Overcome barriers to collaboration and ensure integrated approaches across the portfolio.
- Represent SOS CVE in youth empowerment networks and forums
Managing People and Resources
- Provide leadership, technical guidance, and performance management for staff under supervision.
- Define roles and responsibilities, support professional development, and coordinate team efforts toward organizational goals.
- Ensure budget compliance and efficient use of resources according to approved procedures and donor requirements.
Essential Requirements (Must-Have) Education
- Master's Degree or equivalent in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Pedagogical Science, Economics, Business Administration, Development Studies or related discipline
- With at least 5 years of working experience in children, youth and family development.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Pedagogical Science, Economics, Business administration, Development Studies or related discipline
- With above 7 years of working experience in children, youth and family development.
Desired Assets (Nice-to-Have)
- Experiences in working with hosting institutions for internship, job shadowing and employment.
- Experience on implementation and management of green job initiatives.
- Experiences in working with the target group, i.e., vulnerable children, youth, families and community
- Demonstrable expertise in youth empowerment in donor-funded projects
- Good command of English, written and spoken
Competencies Lead Competency
- Role model Act as a role model for the organization, living our values and inspiring and learning from others
- Collaboration: Remove barriers to participation, share decision-making and build partnerships
- Empowerment: Promote inclusion and equitable sharing of power
- Strategic Thinking Live the values and mission, setting realistic goals and translating them into actionable plans
Core Competency
- Kindness Act with empathy towards everyone he/she works with.
- Continuous Learning Make an effort to learn, understand and grow as a person, admitting your own mistakes.
- Inclusiveness In any actions, show respect and care for others.
- Initiative: speak up when things are not right, do not hesitate to act, and adapt to change when necessary.
- Results Orientation look for solutions and focus on desired results.
