Youth Project Officer

Job Title: Youth Project Officer

Duration: Temporary position for 12 months with possibility of extension subject to funding being secured.

Key Function: To support the implementation of all aspects of the Inclusive Accessible Multi Media (I AM) Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) including the development of a range of youth interventions focused on building leadership, developing employability and entrepreneurial skills, community arts and digital community, peace building and community development. The post will also contribute to broader community development activity within the area. This challenging role will require the successful engagement of young people most at risk and marginalised aged 16-25 years in an initial 12-month programme. This post has been supported under the Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP), funded by the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and managed by the Rural Development Council (RDC). The aim of PYDP is to help young people build and develop life skills that foster good relations, build confidence and resilience and make them more employable.

Key Duties

1. To play a positive and proactive role as a member of a small team to ensure the successful implementation of the ‘I AM’ project.
2. To design and deliver a range of youth programmes targeting young people.
3. To design and deliver programmes and initiatives which enhance young people’s active participation in the issues, services and decisions that impact on their lives.
4. To design and deliver programmes which provide opportunities for young people to raise their aspirations, confidence, self-esteem and their ability to learn and grow.
5. To design and deliver programmes which support young people to develop leadership qualities and skills.
6. Development of appropriate training materials and resources to assist in the delivery of the programme.
7. Identify and recruuit 15 young people who fit within the key target groups of programme across Mid Ulster.
8. To assist young people to develop tailored personal action plans and support them in making progress towards those various actions.
9. To assist with the promotion and dissemination of learning from 'I AM' with all the relevant stakeholders.
10. To provide evidenced based youth work intervention programmes, on both a 1:1 and group work basis.

11. To facilitate workshops with participants on relevant issues.

12. To engage with other statutory and voluntary sector organisations to enhance the quality and range of opportunities available to rural young people.

13. To lead on implementing all necessary policies and procedures to ensure that all youth based activities are compliant with all relevant legislation (e.g. health and safety, child protection etc).

14. To provide appropriate training to build the capacity of young people and other volunteers who have a role in supporting youth work activities.

15. To implement procedures for monitoring and evaluation to help articulate the impact of all interventions.

16. To report to funders and their managing agents on all issues related to the project as requested.

17. To report to the designated line manager with timely reports detailing progress, achievements and outstanding issues.

18. To attend committee meetings and provide a written report detailing progress and outstanding issues.

Other Duties

1. Participate and contribute to any meetings, forums and events as required by Glasgowbury, funder and managing agent.
2. Any other duties which contribute to a successful and positive programme for ‘I AM’ participants.
3. Work to strict deadlines and be available to work outside normal office hours as required.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Essential Criteria : 

It is essential that candidates possess the following:

Experience / Educational Attainments:

• A third level qualification in a relevant discipline (ie. Social Science, Community/Youth, Education, Arts, Creative Technologies).
• At least 2 years’ experience of working with young people in a youth setting or similar environment.
• Relevant experience of developing and delivering training with young people.

Skills/Abilities:

• Effective written and oral communication skills including report writing and presentation skills.
• Effective personal and interpersonal skills and ability to relate to young people particularly those who experience forms of marginalisation and social exclusion on a one to one and group basis.
• Effective and proven project management skills, including the ability to work on own initiative and within a team environment to meet tight deadlines.
• The ability to co-ordinate a range of activities within a local community.
• The ability to maintain effective administrative systems in line with the post’s organisational duties.
• Experience of managing budgets and compliance with funders requirements.
• The ability to establish and maintain effective links with other key statutory, community and voluntary sector agencies.
• The ability to manage and support volunteers.
• A full driver's licence & access to a form of transport which will enable the post holder to meet the requirements of the post in full.
• Competency in IT skills.
• Flexible approach to working hours evening and weekend work is a pre-requisite within this post.

Knowledge:

• Of current issues that affect young people living within disadvantaged communities.
• Of issues that continue to create division and segregation within local communities.
• Of innovative approaches to peacebuilding in Northern Ireland.
• Of the barriers that young people face to employment and/or further training.
• Of working to current standards of best practice in regards to working with young people.
• Of existing services, resources, agencies and organisations that can help further support the development of youth work programmes in the local community.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of working or volunteering with a community based youth programme.
• Experience of cross community, community relations and good relations work.
• Experience of facilitating and delivering accredited and/or non-accredited training.
• Planning, organisation and delivery of community development events and initiatives.

Note: Glasgowbury reserve the right to amend criteria if required to do so.