Training / Placement Officer - ERD

Background/IRC Summary

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at Albert Einstein's request, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to affected people. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home. IRC has been working in Pakistan for approximately 40 years, leading and delivering large, sophisticated programs to meet the needs in health, education, safeguarding, environmental health, and livelihoods for displaced, poor, and disaster-affected communities. IRC works in partnership with local government and non-governmental organizations and is currently working across the country. 

Job Overview/Summary

The Integrated Protection Services for Communities in Pakistan project aims to enhance the safety, dignity, and well-being of Afghan refugees and host communities in the intervention areas of the IRC Protection program across Pakistan. It focuses on multi-sectoral integrated program delivery, providing quality protection, GBV, SRH, and MHPSS services alongside climate-resilient, livelihoods, youth engagement, and social cohesion initiatives. The project adopts a participatory, inclusive approach to address vulnerabilities and promote sustainable development. Under the supervision of Project Manager, the Training and Placement Officer (ERD) will lead the implementation of training and placement activities for targeted communities. The role involves supporting youth in connecting with job opportunities, internships, and skills development initiatives. The incumbent will work closely with employers, industries, and training institutes to establish strong linkages and ensure that trainees are well-equipped and positioned for decent work opportunities. The position is to further ensure close coordination with technical team and relevant government at field level so that key stakeholders remain informed. The Training and Placement Officer will contribute to the integrated protection services by ensuring vulnerable youth, including Afghan refugees and host community members, gain access to decent work opportunities, aligning with the project's broader social cohesion and economic empowerment goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Implementation and Coordination:

• The Placement Officer (ERD) supervises the implementation of all ERD activities in the Killa Saifullah and Pishin districts, ensuring the smooth execution of project interventions.
• S/he will oversee ERD-related intervention, with a focus on improving economic opportunities for refugees and host communities.
• Provide technical support to IRC staff, vocational skill center trainers, and community-based trainers.
• Support the team during the participant selection process, prioritizing the involvement of women, refugees, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, with a target of at least 50% female and refugee participants.
• Develop and maintain a database of trainees for tracking and placement in target markets.
• Coordinate with protection and MHPSS teams to ensure referred clients are included in employability pathways, especially those from vulnerable and at-risk backgrounds.
• Establish and maintain a database of potential employers and institutions for linkages.
• Conduct regular market surveys to identify new job trends and opportunities.
• Build networks and linkages with private-sector MSMEs for Job Placements, Apprenticeships, Internships opportunities.
• Deliver capacity-building training on marketing, entrepreneurship, and business development.
• Assist beneficiaries in developing tailored business plans.
• Create and disseminate IEC materials for product promotion and job placement.
• Organize and facilitate employability skills workshops, job fairs, and roadshows.
• Ensure that events include outreach to both refugee and host communities, promoting inclusive access to economic opportunities.
• Maintain and update MIS database with trainees’ profiles and placement information.

Capacity Building and Career Development:

• Conduct mock interviews, and employability sessions for trainees.
• Provide career counseling and guidance on work readiness, internships, and placements.

Stakeholder Engagement and Promotion:

• Coordinate and strengthen relationships with relevant stakeholders, including government institutions, NAVTTC, BTEVTA, TTB, NGOs, and local community leaders, to ensure successful implementation of project activities in the field.
• Build networks with local industries to identify job opportunities and align placement strategies with market demands and evolving employment trends.
• Build networks with local industries (to identify job opportunities.
• Represent IRC at promotional events, job fairs, and networking platforms.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with employers to ensure consistent trainee placement opportunities.
• Develop and publish success stories to promote IRC’s impact.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Administration:

• Regularly monitor the progress of trainees and document outcomes.
• Prepare and submit high-quality weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, as well as reports on training and placement activities.
• Ensure accurate documentation of training sessions, attendance, and feedback.
• Maintain compliance with IRC’s policies and donor requirements in all activities.
• Support integration of feedback mechanisms to assess the relevance and accessibility of ERD services to diverse community groups, including women and persons with disabilities.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Project Manager
• Technical Reporting to: Livelihoods & Skills Development Manager
• Supervises: N/A
• Work Closely With: Local government representatives, training institutes, ERD and MEAL teams.

Job Requirements:

A. Education

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Education, Business Administration, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.

B. Work Experience

• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience in training and placement programs.
• Proven ability to engage with stakeholders, including employers and training institutes.
• Experience with vulnerable communities or displaced populations is an advantage.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies  

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Familiarity with the local labor market and cultural sensitivity.

Languages Skills

Fluency in Urdu, English and Pashto is mandatory.

Travel

Willingness to travel frequently to field sites within the district. 

The IRC Core Values and Commitments.

The IRC and its workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way—Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Workplace Harassment prevention, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, and Combating Trafficking in Persons. IRC is committed to ensuring that IRC staff are suitable to work with children and have the knowledge to uphold and abide by the IRC’s Child Safeguarding Policy. IRC ensures that its staff actively practice roles and responsibilities related to client responsiveness and accountability to people in affected communities. Staff must also have competencies to solicit and listen to feedback and other people’s perspectives, respond to feedback with maturity and sensitivity, and make appropriate decisions and changes to behavior or actions in response to feedback. IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to achieving our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to promoting gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures, and actions demonstrate this commitment.  

Women candidates, minorities and persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply.