Young Africa is a charity, founded in 1998 and started operations at its main centre in
Chitungwiza in 2001. The organization opened a satellite centre in Epworth in 2006. The
mission of YA is empowerment of less-privileged young people (aged 15-25) through a
range of programmes aimed at imparting skills of the mind and hands to promote self-
reliance and skills of the heart to promote responsible living among young people.
YA centres are run on a franchise business model where local entrepreneurs participate in
the work of YA through leasing a fully-equipped workshop from which they produce for
profit while contributing to the vision of YA by taking part in the training of young people in
the various trades available at YA which include Motor Maintenance, Welding, Carpentry,
Machine shop Engineering, Leatherworks, Cosmetology, Catering, Dressmaking, Panel
Beating and Spray Painting, Commercial Courses including computer literacy training. The
centres also have Secondary Schools and Crèches. YA prepares young people for self-
employment and for entry into the formal job market.
As part of its strategy for 2014, YA intends to strengthen its work through
- Increased student enrolment in all departments/trades to widen its reach to increased
number of beneficiaries
- Strengthen its linkages/partnership with industry (both formal and informal sectors) for
purposes of facilitating on-the job training/attachments and job placements for its
graduates
- Secure markets for its range of products and services (produced/offered by SMEs
operating within its franchise model)
- Conducting regular market surveys to inform both its curriculum and programme
planning/review processes
To achieve this, YA seeks to recruit a Marketing and Industrial Liaison Officer. Working
with and reporting to the YA administration and franchisees/YA business partners, the
incumbent is required to perform the following duties:
- Lead/facilitate a process of designing a marketing and business development strategy
for the YA
- Executing the marketing strategy and coordinating the efforts of related functions
(training, production units, micro enterprise development, youth development) to ensure
they are aligned to marketing and business development strategy
- Preparing time bound marketing work plans with measurable deliverables and reporting
on progress regularly to the coordinating committee
- Conducting periodic market research surveys, prepare research reports and present
reports to coordinating committee
- Sourcing and negotiating for contracts for businesses operating at YA and working with
these to ensure that such relationships are maintained
- Liaising with all functionaries to ensure that all products and services are responsive to
market needs
- Looking out for, preparing a calendar of events that present opportunities for YA to
market its products and representing the school at such events
- Handle all public relations activities of YA in liaison with Director
- Designing advertising materials and distributing them accordingly
- Sourcing for places for industrial/on-the-job training for trainees from all courses/
trades taught at YA as well as job placement for graduates
- Market YA’s conference facilities and ensure adequate business and viability for this
and other SBUs
- Source for financial support for YA’s festivals (Sports and Arts), liaising closely with
Youth Development Office
- Engage other charities to ensure that the hostel facility is always fully utilized
- Any other duties as assigned by the coordinating committee
This position suits a person with the following qualifications and experience:
- At least a degree in Marketing/Business Studies with a major in marketing/public
relations
- At least 5 years of traceable marketing experience in a Small Enterprise Development
(SED) projects/Vocational Education projects/Informal sector market linkage projects or
any related projects
- Excellent communication skills (both written and oral), confident, presentable and quick
to grasp new things
- Highly creative, self-driven, results-oriented and dynamic person who is driven by a
desire to make a difference
- A person looking for an opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of less privileged
young people in an interesting, diverse, complex, busy and challenging field of work
- Highly committed and can work with minimal supervision
- Computer literate (Word, Power-Point, Database and Page Maker or Microsoft
Publisher)
- Familiarity with at least four of the following products/trades (leather, carpentry, metal,
motor, catering, clothing) and the target market will be an added advantage
- A clean class 4 driver’s license
To apply
Interested persons must email their applications to: youngafricajobs@gmail.com
Applications must include the following
- Motivation letter (not more than 2 pages) stating why you feel you are the best
candidate for this job, date of availability, previous salary and preferred salary
- Scanned copies of academic qualifications
- Detailed CV, with at least 3 contactable references (only of those that can confirm your
marketing skills, experience and achievements)
Application deadline: 1 November 2013 (4pm)