Field Officer FO1 X5 (Makululu Area) & Field Officer FO1 (Katondo Area) X5

Job description

ABOUT CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL

Children International Zambia, herein referred to as CIZ, is an affiliate of Children International (CI), a global nonprofit that delivers child and youth development programming to break the cycle of generational poverty, headquartered in Kansas City, USA

Children International serves 220,000 young people in 10 countries around the world for the first two decades of their lives. By providing access to resources that include health care, education, and life and job skills, we are equipping them to eventually become sustainably employed adults, as we empower young people to transform their lives, we also are strengthening their families and communities. 

Children International’s work to end poverty for good is made possible by approximately 3,800 dedicated volunteers and by generous sponsors, donors, corporations and partner organizations. Our mission is also carried out by 1,300 employees worldwide. To ensure that our programs continue giving children and youth the best possible chance, we are growing our people talent. That’s where you come in. 

As a locally registered organization, CIZ is supported by a committed team of more than 70 employees and over 200 volunteers. It operates offices and delivers programs serving more than 18,000 young people in the Lusaka communities of George, Kanyama, and Chibolya. In 2027, Children International Zambia will extend its program operations to the Makululu and Katondo compounds in Kabwe.

THE CAREER OPPORTUNITY

The Field Officer FO1 plays a central role in implementing the Child Path Model, CI’s strategy for helping children and youth break the cycle of poverty. Through a global skill-building curriculum, community partnerships, and targeted safety net interventions, CI ensures that participants achieve critical life-stage milestones so they can ultimately become confident young adults with the skills and tools to reach their goals, become sustainably employed, and positively influence their community.

The Field Officer FO1 engages directly with participants, their families, community volunteers and local institutions to make the Child Path Model a reality. This role is ideal for a candidate who is passionate about combatting poverty, excited to work directly in the community, who is a fast learner and can problem solve in a fast-paced environment. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Club Facilitator Coordination

• Enroll, motivate and coordinate Club Facilitators, the community members who lead Child Path clubs 

• Coach Club Facilitators to deliver high-quality curriculum sessions and build meaningful connections with participants

• Accompany Club Facilitators to support their development and ensure their satisfaction  

Service Delivery Point (SDP) Administration

• Establish and maintain partnerships with Service Delivery Points (SDPs), the community sites where Child Path clubs meet

• Coordinate logistics at assigned SDPs to ensure seamless program delivery

• Act as the primary point of contact for child safeguarding referrals at assigned SDPs, ensuring appropriate response in line with CI guidelines

Club Administration

• Create, schedule and actively coordinate Child Path clubs – age-level participant cohorts – at assigned SDPs

• Maintain attendance records and monitor club alignment to planned program delivery schedule 

• Collect and analyze feedback from participants and Club Facilitators to identify areas for program improvement

Participant Administration

• Communicate with participants and their families to ensure ongoing engagement in programs via phone calls, home visits, community meetings, and other channels

• Facilitate participant referrals to safety net services as needed

• Identify, register and onboard new participants into the program

• Collect required Sponsorship Relations (SR) products, including letters, photos, and family records, either directly or by coordinating SR volunteers 

• Execute other priority tasks with participants, including distributing annual gifts, coordinating visits from sponsors, and responding to information requests.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND KEY SKILLS:

• Background in a relevant field like social work, community development, education, etc. 

• 2 years of relevant work or volunteer experience in sponsorship-based or community development organizations; a relevant university degree may substitute for work experience 

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships with children, youth, volunteers and colleagues

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, learn quickly, and develop innovative solutions.

• Strong verbal and written communication in the main local language and relevant local languages

• Comfort using MS Office Suite (Work, Excel, PowerPoint) 

• Demonstrated vision and commitment to supporting social service and/or humanitarian causes

WORK REQUIREMENTS

• Work primarily – about 80% of the time – conducted in the different SDPs and communities where clubs are administered

• Work schedule includes regular weekend and evening hours depending on club schedules

• Occasional travel to other locations within the country for training.

ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES

• Strictly observe confidentiality and strong ethics with respect to all beneficiary information and other organizational data.

• Comply with and ensure adherence to the organization’s policies, safety and security protocols, and child safeguarding norms and guidelines by self as well as all stakeholders both internal and external. 

• Value other cultures and demonstrate respect while relating with all organizational constituents irrespective of their race, color, faiths, gender, sexual orientation, age, caste, disabilities, experiences, beliefs, and ethnicity

OVERALL DECISION MAKING & SUPERVISION

• Moderately difficult decision making requiring judgement in resolving issues.

• General supervision.

JOB INFORMATION

• Job Title: Field Officer 1

• CI Leadership Portrait: Leader of Self 

• Department: Operations

• Reports to: Service Area Coordinator

• Other Primary Working Relationships: Club Facilitators, Program Technical Leads

• Grade: 4

• Engagement (Type of Contract): Fixed term contract 2 years renewable.

Children International and all its partners firmly support the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, creed, disability or any other protected category pursuant to applicable national, state or local law. Children International Zambia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers, and associates to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subjected to appropriate screening and satisfactory references prior to appointment.