Job Description:              YouthPower IQC: Knowledge Exchange and Learning Specialist

Reports to:                        Patricia Langan, Vice-President

Status:                               Full-time

Location:                            Washington, DC

Project Overview

Making Cents seeks a dynamic and experienced Knowledge Exchange and Learning Specialist in anticipation of the USAID Global YouthPower Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC), Evidence and Evaluation (E&E). This expected YouthPower IQC will promote positive youth development through 1) the creation of a website to allow donors and practitioners to collaborate around cross-sectoral youth issues; 2) the development of a cross-sectoral network of practitioners interested in youth issues; 3) the establishment of a set of indicators against which USAID can measure progress toward youth inclusion goals; 4) a research activity examining single-sector vs.cross-sectoral youth programming; and 5) other research and monitoring and evaluation activities to be determined . The YouthPower IQC is intended to provide a platform for integrated youth programming for more sustainable desired youth outcomes and to strengthen the evidence base for cross-sectoral and sector-specific approaches in positive youth development.

Company Background

Making Cents International is a social enterprise that seeks to improve economic opportunities for young people through the delivery of high quality technical services and by facilitating the exchange and application of knowledge among practitioners and donors. Our implementation experience covers more than 50 countries, where our training, technical assistance, and knowledge management activities have enabled young people to launch and grow businesses, participate in profitable value chains, access finance, and obtain meaningful work. Our services are based on an appreciation of client assets and market needs, local capacity building, and a desire to achieve greater sustainable results.  Our knowledge exchange activities are informed by our implementation activities, and include the annual Global Youth Economic Opportunities’ conference, widely recognized as the “go-to” event for youth practitioners; and the youtheconomicopportunities.org website, that allows practitioners to engage with one another around year-round around conference topics that include enterprise development, workforce development, gender, and monitoring and evaluation.  

Responsibilities

Making Cents is looking for an experienced knowledge management specialist to implement Task Order 1 under the USAID Global YouthPower IQC. Under Task Order 1, the holder of the IQC will maintain a cross-sectoral youth learning network for IQC holders and key project stakeholders and oversee the design and management of a YouthPower web-based knowledge management portal for Youth IQC stakeholders. The Knowledge Management Specialist position is for the duration of five (5) years contingent upon award.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Oversee design and creation of a website that describes the goals and successes of YouthPower and informs key stakeholders of the YouthPower initiative
• Coordinate, develop, and/or manage learning and knowledge resources and events including webcasts, videos, and other interactive media that support and promote cross-sectoral positive youth development
• Establish channels for collaboration and communication  between YouthPower IQC implementing and evaluating partners
• Organize and facilitate ongoing learning events, seminars, workshops, and semi-annual stakeholder meetings
• Compile, edit, and publish research, evaluations, case studies and learning products
• Oversee communications to promote knowledge management and learning events and engage the Youth IQC consortium and key stakeholders

Qualifications and Skills

• At least five (5) years of experience in knowledge management and learning activities, preferably including work with USAID
• Master’s degree in international development, communications, marketing, international relations or related fields
• At least two (2) years’ overseas international development field experience
• Strong client orientation
• Extensive experience working within the youth development sector
• Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with partner organizations, local governments, and/or international agencies
• Excellent written communication and interpersonal skills, and strong capacity to facilitate dialogue across multiple sectors and cultural environments
• Fluency in English required, foreign language abilities highly desired
• Valid US work permit required

To Apply: Please submit your resume and letter of interest by 31 July 2013 through Making Cents’ career website: http://tbe.taleo.net/CH01/ats/careers/jobSearch.jsp?org=MAKINGCENTS...