VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Title:   COMMUNITY ADVOCACY OFFICER
Department Name:   RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Reports to Title:  ADVOCACY AND POLICY SPECIALIST
Cross Functional Reports to Title: PROJECT MANAGER

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Advocacy and Policy Specialist, the Community Advocacy Officer is responsible for leading in the design, implementation and monitoring of HFHZ community interventions, ensuring the desired programming impacts on the target audience and being the focal point person in community engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop individualized, strength-based service plans in housing, land rights and other support services.
• Maintain regular contact with community members in order to keep in touch with their issues.
• Educate members about different services available to them offered by the government.
• Maintain and cultivate community partnerships in support of policies and goals.
• Create and implement systems to disseminate information and engage target communities.
• Assist individual community members in achieving ownership of land and house documents and encouraging self-worth.
• Gather community data in order to assess program effectiveness and community resources.
• Prepare reports on community services impact and outcome.
• Participate and represent HFHZ in community meetings.
• Participate in HFH relevant communities of practice and collaborate with counterparts within HFH network as required.
• Establish a network of district and community level partnerships.
• Support the development of strategic planning and organizational analysis.
• Responsible for reporting and communication of progress and achievement of the specific assigned task.
• Perform other duties as required by the supervisor for achieving program effectiveness

Success Criteria:

• A high level of diplomacy and networking skills is required.
• Ability to work under minimum or no supervision.
• Must be a team player and ready to work in and contribute to team building environment.
• Strong project management background with the ability to implement projects within budget and time frame.
• Team builder appreciates cultural diversity and inclusion.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Computer literate with good presentation skills.
• Adult training and facilitation skills required.
• Good organizational skills including accuracy, consistency, and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle community and internal safeguarding issues as and when they arise following the laid down procedure.
• Good organizational skills including accuracy, consistency, and attention to detail.

Typical Training &   Experience:

Minimum:

Education:  Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies, Social Work, Public Administration with demography or any other related Social Science.

Years of Related Experience: Over 3 years’ experience in community mobilization and engagement.

Qualifications:

Preferred – in addition to minimum:

Community Engagement/Management

Active support of HFHI Values:

Humility – We are part of something bigger than ourselves
Courage – We do what’s right, even when it is difficult or unpopular
Accountability – We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission

Safeguarding: HFHZ requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work.  Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s code of conduct.

Organizational Scope & Impact:

Various levels of the organization are potentially impacted, depending on the nature and focus of the model or process that is being implemented.

Problem Complexity, Planning and Policy level impact:

Indirect but strong impact on long-term planning, as new models and processes are piloted and shared, and new ways of implementation are recommended.

Influencing/People Leadership:

Internal – National Organization Staff

External – Other NGOs, Government (Local), Beneficiaries and other community members.

Nature of leadership provided to others – To influence processes and coordination among various stakeholders.

Working Conditions, Requirements:

• 40 hours of work per week, with one hour lunch break and 2 health breaks of 20 minutes each in a day.

Location:

This position is based in Kabwe
Travel Expectations:  Expected to travel locally as and when need arises.

Will the individual in this role typically work with children or HFHZ beneficiaries (Yes)