Project Officer, Training and Education Programme
Job Description
Job Title:
Reports to:
Location:
Training and Education Project Officer
Programme Manager
12 Parliament Street, Dublin 2
Comhlámh is the Irish Association of Volunteers and Development Workers. Our mission is to foster good
practice and critical engagement in volunteering and action for development. Comhlámh is committed to
being the leading independent voice and source of information on volunteering for development in Ireland,
and the coordinator and advocate for good practice in this area. We work to promote and support
volunteers and development workers to critically engage in volunteering and action for development, and
to create societal and attitudinal change on development issues.
We are seeking to recruit a Training and Education Project Officer, who will play a key role in enabling our
staff, key stakeholders and members to achieve our aims and objectives. The ideal candidate will have a
background in international development, strong experience of working to develop and deliver non-formal
training and education programmes, and excellent communication and analytical skills. S/he will have
worked or volunteered in the global south, have an in-depth understanding of good practice in
volunteering and experience of using consultative and participative approaches to training development.
This is a 4-day a week role, which will be subject to ongoing sustained funding. It is offered on the Project
Officer scale ranging from €30,000 up to €45,000 pro-rata with an initial contract to the end of 2015 and
extension subject to funding.
Application Procedure:
Please apply with a covering letter (max one page) outlining how you meet the criteria and a CV to
recruitment@comhlamh.org, entering PO –Training and Education Project Officer in the subject line.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday April 1st at 17:00 GMT.
Interviews will take place on Tuesday, April 7th.
Given the large volume of applications expected, we regret that we will only be able to correspond with
shortlisted applicants.
Description: The Training and Education Project Officer is responsible for developing and delivering a range
of tailored training courses that aim to build the capacity of volunteer sending agencies (VSAs), volunteers
and other key stakeholders, including third level institutions. This is a 4-day a week post and will involve
evening and weekend work. The post will also involve working as part of a team and feeding into the work
of Comhlámh in the implementation of its strategic and operational plans.
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The Training and Education Project Officer will lead in the development, design, delivery and evaluation of
comprehensive, needs-based training that supports both organisations and individuals to ensure good
practice throughout all stages of the volunteer life-cycle (pre-departure, in-country and post-return).
Specifically, the responsibilities will include the following:
A. PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY
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Researching capacity development requirements of volunteers and volunteer sending agencies
(VSAs) and incorporating this into the ongoing development of needs-based courses;
Identifying and responding to emerging training needs of other key stakeholders, including through
the development of a tailored pre-departure training course for students undertaking medical
electives;
Developing an online pre-decision making course for potential volunteers; piloting, roll-out and
evaluation of the course;
Identifying opportunities for future online course development and developing proposals for their
roll-out;
Conducting evaluations of all training activities, preparing pre- and post-training tools to measure
outcomes and contributions to impact, and collating and analysing information to feed into
programme reporting;
Supporting Comhlámh’s Options and Issues in Volunteering for Development Group;
Coordinating the updating and distribution of Comhlámh’s Volunteer Charter;
Supporting the training and education function by staying abreast of international literature and
good practice in volunteer training, preparation and support;
Representing Comhlámh at agreed events, networks and partnerships.
B: TRAINING
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Working in collaboration with VSAs and other appropriate partners to design/review core training
modules and courses for volunteers which meet the needs of the sector. This includes the
maintenance and ongoing review of training manuals;
Co-ordinating and facilitating training courses and modules to support volunteers pre-decision, predeparture and upon return, using creative development education methodologies;
Strengthening relationships with emerging stakeholders, especially third level institutions and the
health and education sectors, through the development and delivering of tailored training courses;
Coordinating, training and briefing a pool of high quality and experienced facilitators to support the
delivery of our training programmes.
Developing and delivering Training of Trainer Programmes for VSA representatives on predeparture preparation of volunteers;
Working with the Volunteer Quality Project Officer to identify, develop and deliver appropriate
peer support and capacity building initiatives for VSA representatives;
Coordinating, delivering and reviewing Comhlámh’s courses for the general public (Trade Justice,
Be the Change, Skills in Development Education).
D: OTHER DUTIES
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Providing information for reporting purposes on a monthly and quarterly basis and maintaining
database records;
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Ensuring that activities are managed within budget where responsibility has been delegated for
specific activities and report on expenditure as required;
Representing Comhlámh at agreed events, networks and partnerships;
Inputting to planning, funding proposals, evaluations and reports;
Contributing towards the effective working of the organisation through consultation, support and
shared working;
Supervising interns and volunteers, as required;
Work within the stated Mission, Aims and Objectives, and Policies and Procedures of Comhlámh.
The Training and Education Project Officer will carry out such alternative duties as may be assigned by the
Line Manager, following consultation, from time to time.
Comhlámh has an Equal Opportunities policy and all employees are expected to develop an understanding
of and commitment to equal opportunities.
Personal Specification
Qualifications
Experience
Knowledge, Skills and
Disposition
 Masters degree in Development Studies or related topic
or
 Equivalent acquired learning
 An understanding of global development issues and the
role of international volunteering
 Experience of working or volunteering in the Global South
 Minimum 3 years’ experience of developing and
delivering training and facilitation programmes, including
the compilation of training manuals;
 Experience of capacity building and training of trainers;
 Experience of relationship building with a wide range of
stakeholders
 Experience of conducting needs analysis and collating
information to support monitoring and evaluation
 Experience of developing and coordinating online training
courses
 Experience of working as part of a team to achieve joint
targets
 Use of social media
Essential
 Excellent facilitation and training skills;
 Knowledge of development education and ability to
communicate development issues creatively;
 Project management and delivery skills
 Strong empathy, interpersonal and communication skills;
 Research skills
 Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
 Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure
 Flexibility in relation to working hours as some evening
and weekend work may be required around Ireland.
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