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Programme Manager, Youth Affairs Division (2 Posts)

YAD’s two Programme Managers, reporting to the Head of Programmes, will contribute to the development of the YAD programme strategy, and play key roles in the design, implementation and management of pan-Commonwealth youth programming, including supervision of two Programme Assistants each. They will also liaise and collaborate with the Research and Policy team, the four Regional Focal Points, and the YAD Operations Officer.
Deadline:        January 2, 2014
Location:        London, UK
Organization:  The Commonwealth
Programmatic work includes:
  • Design of strong, evidence-based, youth-centred programmes, focused on
  • Enabling environments for youth development and empowerment (advocating and working with member governments to develop youth-centric policies & frameworks, and for the professionalisation of youth work); and
  • Engaging and empowering young people (supporting development of national, regional and pan-Commonwealth youth-led networks and governance structures, and building the capacity of youth development mechanisms and institutions)
  • Building the capacity and profile of Youth Ministries, Youth Workers & Youth Leaders, including through provision of technical assistance, and building and supporting networks and platforms for their engagement;
  • Mainstreaming youth across the Secretariat, and supporting member governments to do likewise.
  • Connecting and convening experts and key stakeholders to collaborate and share knowledge on youth development; and
  • Developing and demonstrating innovative youth development products and thinking.
The Programme Managers are also required to manage the administrative aspects of their programmes, including budgets and finance.

Qualifications and Experience Required

  • A degree in a relevant discipline, such as social sciences, youth development, international development, or the humanities. Relevant post graduate qualifications highly desirable.
  • Professional qualifications and/or experience in a field such as youth work, community or international development, or social or public administration.
  • 5+ years’ experience of working in a government or non-government organisation in a programme management capacity, including evidenced-based programme design, delivery and evaluation, and fiscal management.
  • 5+ years’ experience of stakeholder engagement; experience partnering with Governments and international NGOs highly desirable.
  • 2+ years’ experience in a field such as youth work, community development, social development.
  • Experience of working in developing countries.
  • High personal standards of excellence
  • Strong knowledge of and interest in international affairs, and international and/or youth development theory and practice
  • Strong: 
      • Verbal and written communication skills
      • Interpersonal skills
      • Strategic thinking and operational planning capabilities
      • Administrative and organisational abilities, including an eye for detail
  • Numerically literate
  • Technologically savvy
  • Ability to work autonomously and in teams
  • Can-do attitude

About the Youth Affairs Division

Young people constitute more than 60 per cent of the population of the Commonwealth. The wellbeing and development of this 1.2 billion youth cohort are essential to the success of the Commonwealth and its 53 member states. The Youth Affairs Division (YAD) of the Commonwealth Secretariat, established in 1973 and known internationally as the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), works with Commonwealth member governments, youth leaders and youth professionals on the development and implementation of policy and programmes for the empowerment of young people aged 15–29.
The Youth Affairs Division operates from a pan-Commonwealth international office at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London, aiming to support member governments, youth leaders and youth professionals to create the optimum enabling environment for young people to participate as equal partners in development and democracy. As well as stand-alone initiatives, YAD partners with other Commonwealth Secretariat divisions to integrate a youth perspective across all key facets of the Commonwealth (economic, political, human rights etc). YAD also facilitates and supports representative youth leaders to build networks and have a voice in the Commonwealth.

Further Information