Position: Counsellor, Vocational Training (ECHO REACT Project)
Term: Full-time (100% workload)
Location: Syunik (1), Voyats Dzor (1); Ararat (1) ; Armavir (1) ; Kotayk (1)
Starting date: September 2021
Duration: 12 months with the possibility of extension
About the company: People in Need (PIN) is the Czech Republic based NGO working in relief and development sectors. See more at www.peopleinneed.cz. Present in Armenia since 2003, PIN has been focusing on issues of illegal migration, repatriation assistance to returnees and prevention of child trafficking, and more recently, job creation and support to small businesses and tourism. In 2020 PIN launched an EU-funded program aiming to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 and to contribute to the longer-term socio-economic resilience of vulnerable groups in Eastern Europe, including Armenia. PIN has activated an emergency response for Armenia in the early days of the conflict mobilizing its HQ surge team and releasing private funding to launch immediate relief interventions in Syunik, Ararat, Armavir and Tavush, focusing on distributing essential hygiene items including COVID-19 prevention items and messaging, launching a child-friendly space in Goris (Syunik region) as well as conducting a joint assessment Alliance2015 partner ACTED and REACH. PIN continues with the response and prepares for the scale up of the response. PIN has offices in Yerevan, Goris and Gyumri.
General position summary:
Reporting to the Senior Counsellor, Vocational Training based in Yerevan, and with technical guidance from PINs Knowledge amp; Learning Department and the TVET Project Manager, the Counsellors will implement the project component relating to economic integration of up to 1000 eligible beneficiaries. This will be achieved by providing counselling/guidance on appropriate career paths to follow and enrolment in relevant Vocational Training Courses paid for under this program. This initiative will provide eligible beneficiaries with the opportunity to find a long-term career path that will generate regular income and assist the family to achieve economic stability, improve their living conditions and provide a pathway for gradual transition to early recovery.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
- Participate in regular coordination meetings organized by the Senior Counsellor;
- Identify eligible beneficiaries for this program using established selection criteria and methodology for implementation;
- In liaison with the Senior Counsellor, ensure information about the project vocational component is clearly stated and shared with all relevant stakeholders, including Employment agencies, municipalities, active CSOs, etc;
- Maintain proper documentation and database relating to eligible beneficiaries and project target for the Vocational Training Program
- Assist in conducting market research and Labor Gap Assessment to identify needed vocational skills that will most likely to lead to job opportunities for the beneficiaries;
- Provide on-going consultations / job counselling to beneficiaries on their most viable career path based on Needs Assessment and market research that will lead to steady sustainable employment;
- In liaison with the Senior Counsellor, identify the Vocational Training Courses (up to 3 months duration) that are preferred by the eligible beneficiaries;
- Under the guidance of the Senior Counsellor, cooperate with TVETS and other Training Institutions for development of courses and enrolment of PIN beneficiaries;
- Ensure all needed documentation including contracts with beneficiaries and training institutions are prepared prior to start of the trainings and all terms amp; conditions clearly communicated with all parties;
- Conduct regular ad-hoc visits to trainings to ensure they are organized in accordance with the agreed schedule and curriculum;
- Proactively collect feedback both from the trainers and trainees to be sure both parties are satisfied with the quality of the training;
- Assist in identifying the types of livelihood kits and their contents that will be required for graduates on successful completion of their chosen course. (i.e. mechanics tools, carpenter’s tools, agricultural seeds/tools, sewing machine etc.);
- Organize necessary internal ‘soft skills’ training and/or career counselling for beneficiaries that will be taught by the Vocational Counsellors to ensure that beneficiaries have these skills requirements for their career path;
- Prepare reports on project implementation status, statistics etc. as required or upon the request of the Senior Counsellor;
- In consultation with the Senior Counsellor and the Mamp;E Department, regula