Compassion International is a Christian child development ministry aimed at releasing children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty in Jesus’ name.
We are church-based: Compassion believes the Church is God’s chosen instrument to bring hope to a hurting world.
We believe the strategic placement of local churches makes them best suited to address the holistic needs of the children in their communities. And only they can effectively deliver the Jesus-based teaching and whole-life care that children in poverty deserve. Compassion partners with 8,000+ churches in 25 countries around the world to deliver our holistic child development program.

Summary

This entry-level professional serves as a liaison to the local church and assists in strengthening local ownership, capacity, and resources of local church partners to minister to children and youth in their own context. Under the guidance of his or her supervisor or more experienced facilitators, this facilitator is responsible for nurturing relationships with church partners that are characterized by mutual respect, trust, and service that builds up church ministry. He or she is learning to facilitate partner relationships through the Partner Management core process, for improving achievement of church outcomes, and for bringing a developmental mindset to all other aspects of the partnership. At this level, the incumbent may still be learning and assisting with facilitating church partnerships for his or her assigned location and generally works under the guidance of her or his supervisor or a more experienced facilitator.

Responsibilities

• Acts as an advocate to raise the awareness of the needs of children. Commits to and prioritizes child protection considerations in all decision-making, tasks and activities across the ministry. Abides by all behavioral expectations in Compassion’s Statement of Commitment to Child Protection and Code of Conduct. Reports any concerns of abuse, neglect or exploitation of children through Compassion’s internal reporting process and appropriately supports responses to incidents if they occur.
• Demonstrates a personal commitment to serve, respect, and empower the church according to principles outlined in Compassion’s ministry philosophies.
• Church Maturation – Supports church ownership and capacity through a developmental mindset and the Partnership Management core process.
• Supports partnerships with church partners to deliver on plans for child and youth ministry and how to best grow in capacity and maturity.
• Assists with the implementation of church owned strategies that build on each church’s strengths to engage participation of parents and caregivers, children and youth in all aspects of the ministry, including program design, local resource mobilization, decision making, etc. Works with other CFT members to help churches to engage the change makers who influence change in children and youth, such as parents, schools, peers, etc.
• Serves as Compassion’s liaison with church partners by engaging the support of other Church Facing Team (CFT) members and financial resources in ways that are consistent with a developmental mindset and the Partnership Principles.
• Supports church local resource mobilization and sharing of resources among nearby churches. Points church partners to local resources, services and relationships, as well as opportunities to help maximize their own resources to support the ministry to children and youth.
• Program Cycle – Based on the guidance of a more senior facilitator, assists the church partner throughout all phases of the Program Cycle
• Needs Assessment – Mobilizes other CFT members to provide information to the church partners about the needs of children and youth they serve. Assists the church partner in gathering local information about child and youth needs and synthesizing external data
• Planning – Supports church partner planning of their Child and Youth (CY) ministry.
• Assists the church partner, alongside other CFT members, to develop a plan by helping them to identify and prioritize CY needs as well as to select interventions that will address the prioritized needs and challenges.
• Helps local church partners to partner with other church ministry leaders, parents/caregivers, youth and other key stakeholders in identifying needs, planning and implementing CY interventions.
• Supports the church, with support from other CFT members, to develop an annual plan and budget for their chosen program interventions.
• Implementation – Coordinates and mobilizes other CFT members to support church partners as they carry out their chosen interventions and monitor progress toward successful implementation.
• Evaluation – Assists other CFT members in supporting the church partner through a learning and reflection process on effectiveness of the interventions to inform planning in the next cycle.
• Coordination of CFT – Coordinates Church Facing Team (CFT) support to each church partner.
• Utilizing the Facilitation Workplan, partners with other members of the CFT to support each church partner based on the church’s level of ownership, capacity and resources (maturity), the local context, needs identified by CFT members and National office priorities
• As directed, creates Facilitation Workplans address individual church needs.
• Understands Church’s needs and provides appropriate support for the church partner based on the expressed unique needs and challenges of the church.
• Documents, alongside all other CFT members, the support they provide to the church partners. Works alongside a more senior level facilitator to follow-up on issues identified.
• Cluster operations – Coordinates a low complexity and / or small cluster of churches while demonstrating responsiveness to the local context and needs of each individual church within the cluster.
• Supports cluster level activities as directed.
• Proactively seeks to foster relationships and connection within the cluster.
• As directed, provides support to cluster-based collaboration and initiatives between local churches for the purpose of improving ministry to children, peer-to-peer learning, and addressing other needs in the families and the community.
• Monitors the renewal of partnership agreements between Compassion and the Church partner for the region. Escalates to a more senior level facilitator for follow-up on agreements nearing expiration.
• Child Protection – Supports church partner implementation of child protection standards. May assist with the implementation of church owned and contextualized child protection practices. Compiles relevant evidence-based resources and internal and external supports to aid churches in developing approaches for preventing abuse and promoting safe, healthy relationships with children and youth by the adults in their spheres of influence.
• Supports timely reporting of all child protection allegations through Compassion’s internal reporting processes, including taking direct responsibility for reporting if necessary. In collaboration with child protection specialists and other office leadership, engages in necessary support work to ensure Compassion and the church partner comprehensively and efficiently complete internal investigations in a timely manner. Mobilizes Compassion and community support for follow up actions as needed.
• Is accountable to the Partnership Management strategic process objectives in coordination with other cross-functional members. As directed, supports the implementation of local process improvements based on metrics and feedback from the church.
• Fulfills Compassion commitments to the church, including programmatic and sponsor engagement deliverables, as directed.
• Draws upon a growing knowledge in mobilization and facilitation practices to identify felt needs at church partners and consults with more senior specialists and facilitators to select and apply creative solutions as directed.

Culture : Accountable for supporting, upholding, and engaging in Compassion’s core “Cultural Behaviors” in all internal and external communication and relationships.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in child ministry, psychology, sociology, economics, social sciences or a related field.

Experience

• More than two years related work experience

Required competencies

• Conceptual knowledge of theories, practices and procedures within a job discipline
• Good Communication skill
• Developmental mindset;
• Accountability
• Leadership
• Problem solving

Working Environment : Office – Standard Office Environment

Job location: Nekempte/Ambo.

Physical Demands : Sitting, standing, and/or walking for up to 8 hours per day

Travel Requirements : May be required to travel up to 50% of normal schedule

Language : Fluency in Afan oromo is highly desirable.