Ongoing recruitment at Skills Outside School Foundation

Job Title: Program Support Officer – Initiatives and Challenges

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Reporting Relationship: Senior Programs Manager
Employment Type: Part-time

Job Description

• The Initiatives and Challenges Program Support Officer manages the innovative process of the organization.
• (S)He will be tasked with identifying innovative potentialities and bringing them to fruition in order to best benefit the overall goals of the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Brainstorms with the creative team to discover alternative solutions and approaches to old problems.
• Plans effective new ideas and innovative strategies for product development, marketing, branding, or business opportunities.
• Recognizes promising ideas and introduces them into the organization’s plans and discards ideas that are ineffective, costly, or beyond the organization’s mission or abilities to develop.
• Strategizes with the team to transform general ideas into workable solutions.
• Analyzes existing practices to isolate areas ripe for improvement or enhancement.
• Encourages creative thinking in the team and nurtures innovative thinking across all areas of the organization.
• Follows target audience responses to new ideas, tracks and analyzes the success of new products or services, and responds to the target audience’s questions.
• Monitors research and development of other organizations to spot trends in innovation and supplement research findings in the organization’s industry.
• Allocates resources to maintain the organization’s existing agenda while accounting for new projects.
• Tests the progress of innovation and adjusts the pace or direction of new projects in accordance.
• Keeps all new projects in line with the company’s mission and maintains consistency with the organization’s message and brand.

Requirements
Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.
• Background in marketing, research, and development, product development, or strategy is recommended.
• Proven experience in the industry or working in a leadership role in a similar industry.
• Portfolio of past work.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must possess an inquisitive and creative mind.
• Must be independent and self-directed but able to work and lead a team of creative individuals.
• Superior research and analytical skills to track and predict trends.
• Must be able to work creatively within a budget and use innovation to find ways of more managing resources.
• Strong business knowledge, understanding of a variety of business practices, and familiarity with the company’s industry.
• Must be able to collaborate with executives, creative teams, research and development, and project management teams.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to persuasively sell ideas.
• Must be willing to take calculated risks and manage expectations.

Job Title: Admin / HR Assistant

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-time

Funtions
The Skills Outside School Foundation is seeking an Admin/ HR Assistant whose primary function are to:

• Populate employee competence catalog
• Update staff register
• Conduct remuneration Survey
• Update policies and procedures
• Administer Goal setting documents to staff and follow up on the submission
• Review, document Staff, volunteer, consultant, and trainers reports when submitted.
• Handle administrative and secretarial matters
• Pension Assessment
• Conduct cost comparison
• Prepare memos
• Support in the recruitment processes.

Qualifications
Education:

• Higher National Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, preferably in the social sciences with 1 – 2 years work experience.
• Additional qualifications in secretarial studies/ experience in secretarial and duties will be a plus.

Skills and Experience:

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Excellent Analytical and critical thinking Skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel
• Ability to use dropbox, google drive
• General understanding of documentation
• Creative self-starter who can work independently or on a team.

Salary

• N40,000 monthly.

Job Title: Grant Writer (Volunteer)

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Contract

Roles and Responsibilities

• The core role of the Grant Writer is to research and gather documentation that fulfills the requirements of various funding bodies both to develop robust proposals for both unrestricted operating revenue and restricted projects formally seeking funding support on behalf of the foundation. The grant writer will also manage a grant calendar.

Primary Responsibilities

• Research and source for individual donors and funding organizations.
• Keeping records to efficiently track the proposals.
• Developing relationships and collaborating with key stakeholders.
• Perform prospect research on foundations and corporations to test prospects for corporate and foundation grants and Identifying grant funding opportunities.
• Writing, submitting, and managing grant proposals.
• Furnishing prospective funders with supporting documents.
• Collaborating with Media and Comms Officer to send funders newsletters and reports.
• Work with finance to gather information necessary to report to corporate/foundation funders on current grant programs.
• Comply with all grant reporting as required by foundation/corporate donors.
• Maintain current records in the database and in paper files, including grant tracking and reporting.• Track statistics relevant to the development and provide the department with written materials necessary for donor stewardship.
• Assist with other fundraising projects as requested
• Maintaining records in hard copies and computer databases.

Reporting Relationship:

• Senior Program Manager and Programs Officers

Skills, Education, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing or related field.
• 2+ years of grant writing experience.
• Experience with proposal writing and institutional donors.
• Knowledge of basic fundraising techniques and strategies.
• Knowledge and familiarity with research techniques for fundraising prospect research.
• Proficient with MS Office Word and Excel.
• Excellent knowledge of fundraising information sources.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong peopleskills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines.

Job Title: Program Support Officer – Advocacy

Location: Virtual/ Abuja
Part-time: At least 24 hours per week.
Start date: Asap

Job Description

• The Advocacy PSO will develop, organize, and execute a wide range of activities to influence policy according to the scope of our programs, and specific results-oriented projects.
• S/he will build the policy capacity of our organization and advice on project implementation.
• S/he will carry out policy analysis and the writing of position statements of our organization.
• Together with the Media and Communications Officer and the Senior Programs Manager, s/he will play an active role in networking, lobbying, and representing the organization in a wide range of policy issues at events, conventions, and media opportunities.
• S/he will be able to integrate communication tools and channels in her/his work.

Main Responsibilities

• Facilitate and guide our institutional advocacy strategy.
• Facilitate the development of joint advocacy strategies with partners associated networks, partners, and other offices of our organization.
• Develop strategic partnerships with key actors to achieve our policy goals.
• Act as a spokesperson liaison to media, governments, and other actors.
• Work with the Media and Communications Officer in organizing media outreach; arranging all media contacts, press briefings, and interviews; providing talking points and other materials as needed for staff; responds to media inquiries quickly and effectively.
• Production of a diverse range of information products including audio/visual communications, when needed to achieve specific policy goals.
• Support and advise the team on how to carry out advocacy properly.
• Identify key opportunities in the short and long-term in which we can influence policy processes.
• Advice management for meaningful engagement with key actors and institutions.
• Support opportunities for fund-raising regarding policy interventions.
• Support and coordinate the relevant regional policy processes and activities of regional offices especially with regards to global/international policy processes and fora related to wetlands and other societal issues.
• Anticipate possible advocacy developments and outcomes and prepare contingency plans and strategy adjustments.

Profile of the Candidate

• The Advocacy officer has experience in formulating and implementing organizational policy strategies.
• S/he has demonstrated a commitment to the cause either through previous job experiences or any other activities related to our mission.
• S/he has a solid track record in representing organizations before.
• S/he is proactive, creative, outspoken, optimistic with interest in education, employability, and entrepreneurship and a passion for making a difference with a preference for achieving outcomes in collaboration with others.

Essential Skills and Experience
Essential:

• Bachelors’ Degree in a relevant field (e.g. Communications, Humanities, Education, International Relations, Law, Business Management, Public Administration).
• Proven working experience in policy analysis and advocacy in national, regional, and global dimensions.
• Demonstrable experience and achievements working in and advocating towards multi-stakeholder platforms and processes.
• Track record in policy analysis, writing and editing articles, website content, reports, and press releases.
• Experience working in an international environment is desirable.
• Ability to quickly understand and absorb new topics, issues, and disciplines and distill relevant advocacy strategies from them.
• Good understanding of political affairs and international institutions dynamics in Africa, and Nigeria especially.
• Experience in networking, stakeholder mapping and strategizing according to policy objectives of different projects.
• Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences.
• Excellent communication and project management skills; team player and facilitator.
• Excellent command of written and spoken the English Language.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Proficiency in cloud software applications (Skydrive, DropBox, Google Docs).

Recommended Prior Experience:

• Prior experience in the education or public sector.
• Prior experience providing advice to senior-level officials in the public, private or non-profit sectors;
• Reporting Relationship: Senior Programs Manager.

Job Title: Bridge Program Assistant

Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Profile

• The Program Assistant supports the Program Officer to oversee the coordination and administration of all aspects of the Skills Outside School Foundations ongoing Bridge Program and Professional Mentoring including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the program activities.
• The program assistant will assist to plan, execute, monitor and evaluate the Bridge Program and the Professional Mentoring opportunity.
• He/She will also manage the liaison with the professional mentors and ensure they are kept up-to-date via newsletters sent every quarter to be developed by the media and communications officer.

Qualifications / Experience

• University degree in Program Management, Education, Business Administration / Management or a related field of study.
• 2 Years of program management, Education, business management/administration, or other related discipline.
• Knowledge of program management.

Required Skills:
The Program Assistant should demonstrate competence in all of the following:

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behaviour and business practices, and ensure that own behaviour and the behaviour of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization particularly with current partners and sponsors; Command a professional image.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner including by phone with several stakeholders; Articulate the foundations mission, program objectives with existing partners – organisations and schools.
• Creativity / Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization; Proactively take actions necessary to produce results and able to work independently/with little guidance.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor the progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities; Strong time management skills.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and program management skills:demonstrated ability to take responsibility for a diverse number of programs and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision.

Abilities:

• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
• Proficiency in the use of computers for:
  • Word processing
  • Simple accounting
  • Databases
  • Spreadsheets
  • E-mail
  • Internet
  • Google Docs, Sky Drive, Drobox.

Job Title: Program Support Officer – SOS Careers

Location: Abuja (FCT)

Description

• SOS Careers – The SOS Careers program will offer preparatory support and guidance to students in tertiary institutions in accessing their chosen career interests.
• This will be through access to online courses, career simulation games/exercises, professional development training, networking events, CV and cover letter drafting skills, mock interview skills sessions and technical and soft skills training.
• This program will also aid in placing the participants in internships, shadowing opportunities and insight days in various industries to develop the participants’ commercial awareness and competence skills.

Roles and Responsibilities

• The Program Support Officer oversees the coordination and administration of all aspects of the Skills Outside School Foundations’ Careers Program including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the program activities.
• The PSO will primarily plan, execute, monitor and evaluate the Careers Program. The PSO will also manage the liaison with the relevant Stakeholders and ensure the smooth execution of the careers program in line with the framework
• The Program Support Officer will perform a wide range of duties as outlined below:

Plan the Program:

• Develop integrated program management plan – communication, stakeholder relation, personnel, budget, risk assessment, work plan etc.
• Plan the delivery of program components in accordance with the integrated program management plan.
• Develop a logical framework.
• Source trainers and relevant partner organizations.
• Populate program materials and documentation for deployment on the learning management system.
• Map out partner tertiary institutions for roll out.
• Conduct relevant research and feasibility studies as required to develop integrated program management plan and update assumptions

Research and Data Gathering:

• Researching education requirements for various careers and industries
• Aggregating sample curriculum vitae (CV), cover letters, application answers, motivational statements per industry/career
• Aggregating sample interview questions per industry/career and general interview and job search strategies and techniques
• Aggregating information on internships/insight days/work experience/IT provided by various organisations across various industries including the dates, timing, application cycle, application process etc.
• Identifying relevant qualifications to be pursued across various industries
• Identifying various workshops on career planning, development, skills development offered online and offline
• Collecting and collating career and labour market information

Organize the program:

• Provide reports to the Senior Programs Manager
• Create and maintain the program management calendar/schedule and file all program documents.
• Coordinate and manage the Workshops, events, programs, sessions as required.
• Maintain a relationship with the institutions, relevant government agencies, ministries and parastatals, corporate organizations, grant-making bodies.
• Secure relevant funding through interactions with donors, grant-making organizations, etc.

Market the Programs Services:

• Procure and recruit advisors and consultants as required.
• Maintain a grants calendar and complete grant applications as required.
• Update the program evaluation framework.

Control the Program:

• Monitor and approve all budgeted program expenditures.
• Work with Finance Officer to manage the disbursement of funds for all program activities and other general administrative functions of the Foundation.
• Submit relevant expenses memos e.g. for stipends etc. timely.

Manage procurement:

• Negotiate and Document High-Value contracts and manage contract deliverables

Qualifications/Experience

• University Degree in Program Management, Business Administration / Management or a related field of study.
• 0-2 years of program management, business management/administration, or otherwise exercise.
• Knowledge of program management.

Required Skills

The Program Officer should demonstrate competence in all of the following:

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behaviour and business practices, and ensure that own behaviour and the behaviour of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization particularly with current partners and sponsors; Command a professional image.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner including by phone with several stakeholders; Articulate the foundations’ mission, program objectives with existing partners – organisations and schools.
• Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization; Proactively take actions necessary to produce results and able to work independently/with little guidance.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor the progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities; Strong time management skills.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and program management skills: demonstrated ability to take responsibility for a diverse number of programs and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision.

Abilities:

• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

Proficiency in the use of computers for:

• Word processing
• Simple accounting
• Databases
• Spreadsheets
• E-mail
• Internet
• Google Docs, Sky Drive, DropBox