Traineeship Programme Announcement and Job Description

Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Concern regularly has difficulty filling certain vacancies, often due to the lack of necessary technical skills available, or the lack of interest in travelling to certain countries, particularly those with difficult working and living conditions. This often results in gaps, delays and reduced quality in programmes.

In order to address this challenge we have established our traineeship programme to develop the skills and experience we need to deliver quality programmes with impact. This year the programme will take the form of a two year entry level traineeship scheme aimed at two graduates in the fields of maternal, newborn and child health and/or nutrition and/ or environmental health.

The format of the traineeship is outlined below, this may be subject to some changes.

  • The relevant headquarters-based technical advisors will mentor the trainee for the duration of the traineeship – more intensively during the first 3 months and reducing somewhat in year 2 as the trainee gains experience.
  • The trainee will work directly with their mentor for three months in headquarters at the beginning of the traineeship. For this, a work plan will be jointly developed.
  • The trainee and mentor will do one joint country support visit in the first three months.
  • At the end of the first three months, the trainee will be evaluated by their mentor via a performance and development review based on the agreed work plan.
  • Contingent on a successful evaluation, the trainee will be assigned to a Concern country programme for 9 months under the supervision of the health, nutrition or environmental health programme manager in country.
  • The trainee will receive one visit from their mentor during this 9 month assignment.
  • The trainee will have monthly calls with their mentor to reflect on their assignment and to receive support from their mentor. Frequent e-mail/ Skype contact is also encouraged.
  • Towards the end of year one the trainee’s performance will be evaluated by their mentor and program manager.
  • Contingent on a successful evaluation the trainee will be offered an additional one year placement with Concern which may be in the same or a different country programme. Should the trainee decline this offer they will be obliged to repay all costs associated with year 1.
  • Concern will fund at least one appropriate training opportunity for the trainee during their two years.

Job Title:
(due to funding constraints 2 of these 3 will be appointed) / 1) Maternal, Infant and Child Health trainee
2) Nutrition trainee
3) Environmental Health trainee (eg. water, sanitation & hygiene promotion)
Reports to: / Health Advisor, Nutrition Advisor or Environmental Health Advisor in headquarters and health or nutrition programme manager in country
Job Location: / Months 1-3 Dublin, Ireland
Months 4-12 a Concern working country to be decided
Year 2 a Concern working country to be decided
Contract Details: / Two year contract, unaccompanied
Salary Details: / Monthly allowances as follows:
  • €20,971 per annum while located in Dublin during the 1st three months
  • €9,096 per annum while overseas during months 4-12
  • €18,950 per annum while overseas during months 13-24
Overseas assignments include pre-departure preparations, flights, insurance and accommodation.
Job Purpose: / To gain the job skills and experience required to become a competent health or nutrition advisor to Concern’s country programmes.
Main duties &
Responsibilities: / At headquarters
  • Assist the health/ nutrition/ environmental health advisors to provide technical assistance to country programme teams; document best practice, support development of guidance and strategy documents; facilitate information sharing and support relevant advocacy efforts.
In the field
  • Support the host country programme to carry out high quality health and or nutrition programming.
  • Assist country programmes in documenting and reporting programme activities including lessons learned.
  • Support the fundraising department through developing field based case studies, writing a blog and related activities.
Outputs expected
  • Prepare a report at the end of the 1st three months, end of first year and end of second year reflecting on experiences and lessons learned.

Person specification: / Essential:
  • Masters level graduate in nutrition or public health or equivalent (eg. water, sanitation and hygiene promotion).
  • Interested in developing a career in health, nutrition and/or environmental health in developing countries.
  • Knowledgeable about health, nutrition and environmental health issues in developing countries.
  • Excellent spoken and written English
  • Demonstrated ability in the following core competencies: 1) to manage oneself well in often difficult circumstances, 2) to communicate and work well with others in a team and 3) to deliver results.
Desirable:
  • Spoken and written French.
  • Some experience in working in a developing country.
  • A background in nursing or medicine an advantage for the health advisor position.

To apply: / To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter through our website at (select jobs in Ireland).
The covering letter should not exceed two pages and include:
a) What you will contribute to Concern’s programmes as a trainee and
b) Brief examples demonstrating your possession of the 3 core competencies listed above.
Closing date is midnight 31st July 2011 (Irish time)
Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Ireland at the time of application (Dublin only).
Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.
Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).
Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.
Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.