Senior Program Officer – Complementary Pathways

Position Title:Senior Program Officer – Complementary Pathways

**Position Location:**Amman, WUSC Jordan office

Time Allocation: Full-time equivalent

Reports to: Matrix managed by Country Director, WUSC Jordan and Manager, Overseas programming, Durable Solutions for Refugees

Contract term: 1 year contract, renewable

Deadline to apply: May 26, 2023

Start date: As soon as possible

Introduction

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian international development and refugee-sponsoring non-profit organization. Present in over 25 countries, we improve education, employment, and empowerment opportunities for young people around the world. We work with a unique and powerful network of post-secondary institutions, private sectors partners, and volunteers to fulfill our mission and vision of creating a world where all young people can grow up in safe, secure, and supportive environments; where they can learn, work, and play a vital role in their country’s development.

WUSC Jordan is implementing several projects that support refugee youth to access education and employment, including several ‘complementary pathways’ programs. This includes the Student Refugee Program (SRP) which offers refugee students access to higher education and sponsorship to Canada, UNHCR-funded “Refugee-led Counselling for Complementary Pathways” project and a new initiative is being launched soon offering young refugees access to higher education and sponsorship to the United States.

Roles and responsibilities

The Senior Program Officer – Complementary Pathways is a new position that will primarily focus on the new initiative supporting refugee youth to access higher education and sponsorship to the United States (US-SRP). There will be a close collaboration with the team responsible for the Canadian Student Refugee Program and UNHCR Complementary Pathways project.

Project implementation

• Lead on coordinating the US-SRP outreach and student identification process, including launching the call for applications, conducting the shortlisting process and liaising with UNHCR and local authorities for verifications of refugee applicants;
• Support selected students with the completion of immigration forms and preparation for the academic placement process;
• Develop relevant pre-arrival training supports for refugee students, including academic bridging, English language and/or digital skills;
• Lead on communications with selected students during the pre-arrival period
• Support communications with local officials regarding immigration approval and travel arrangements;
• Coordinate with the project team at WUSC headquarters in Ottawa, Canada, and project partners based in the US;
• Provide input to budget development and ensure the tracking and reporting of project expenditures, in collaboration with the WUSC Jordan finance officer; and
• Other related tasks, as required.

External representation:

• Lead on relationship management and communication with relevant authorities in Jordan on matters related to US-SRP project implementation, (i.e. UNHCR, US Embassy, etc.),
• Support the WUSC Jordan team by representing WUSC at relevant forums related to complementary pathways programs, and providing information and updates on the WUSC’s complementary pathways programs to other stakeholders.

Experience and competencies:

• Degree completion in a related field
• Knowledge of the refugee context in Jordan, including familiarity with resettlement and complementary pathways, higher education scholarships for refugees, etc.
• 5-7 years of professional experience ideally in the NGO sector, humanitarian sector, refugee sector, including resettlement and complementary pathways
• Strong communication, administrative and organizational skills
• Excellent skills in information technology, spreadsheets and PDF programs in particular
• Complete fluency, oral, and written in English and Arabic is essential
• Willingness to travel within Jordan to various locations as needed
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and inclusion