Policy Manager

Who is VSO Ethiopia

VSO is the world’s leading international organisation working through volunteers to create a fair world for everyone. We focus on people who are marginalised or excluded, including those living in poverty, people with disabilities or illness, and those facing discrimination, violence, disasters, disease, and conflict.

VSO places these individuals at the centre of its work as primary actors and agents of change. We work with communities to identify their priorities, opportunities, and solutions, supporting locally led and sustainable change.

Our Approach

VSO’s Volunteering for Development (VfD) approach supports vulnerable and marginalised people to claim their rights and drive lasting change. It addresses the root causes of vulnerability and marginalisation through three core approaches: social inclusion and gender, social accountability, and resilience. These approaches underpin our work in inclusive education, health, resilient livelihoods and peace building.

About the Job

VSO is a lead implementer of the Internship Opportunities for Young Women program (iWork), financed by the Mastercard Foundation. The program will be implemented in Ethiopia across Amhara, Oromia, and Harari regional states, as well as the Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa city administrations. iWork aims to create internship opportunities for 24,000 financially disadvantaged young people, with a primary focus on young women. The program also promotes inclusion by reaching persons with disabilities, refugees, internally displaced people, and returnees. Through internships, iWork aims to help young women build the skills and experience they need to access dignified and fulfilling work, contributing to poverty reduction and an improved quality of life.

VSO Ethiopia is recruiting Policy Manager for iWork program.

Role Purpose:

Provide policy and advocacy technical leadership for Work opportunities for Young women through Internship (i-Work) program, creating an enabling environment for inclusive, gender-responsive youth internships in the Ethiopian civil service. The role coordinates consortium and government policy dialogue to address barriers to youth employment, especially for young women, and support sustainable systems change.

Tasks Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of inclusive, gender-responsive internship policies, SOPs and quality standards aligned with civil service priorities and I-Work program objectives under Young Africa Works Strategy.
• Advise on labour, public service and safeguarding requirements to support inclusive internship placement, stipend and transition pathways.
• Coordinate federal and regional policy implementation to decentralise internship opportunities and improve access for underserved communities.
• Convene policy review forums with government, consortium and donor stakeholders to resolve bottlenecks, strengthen institutional buy-in and sustain political commitment.
• Translate policy evidence and learning into accessible briefs, stories and materials for diverse stakeholders.
• Lead advocacy and sensitisation to address social norms and barriers affecting young women’s participation in civil service internships.
• Develop policy and advocacy strategies that amplify voice of young women, youth participation in policy and decision-making process and youth-led actions.
• Work with SOS CVE and VSO to strengthen community feedback mechanisms, safety reporting and positive workplace perceptions.
• Use monitoring, evaluation and youth outcome evidence to inform policy recommendations and Consortium Steering Committee decisions.
• Identify, escalate and mitigate political, administrative and regulatory risks affecting delivery, sustainability and equitable participation.

Work Location: Addis Ababa

• Master's degree or equivalent knowledge and skills in Public Policy, Public Administration, Law, Development Studies, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field. A bachelor’s degree with exceptional relevant experience may be considered.
• Professional Certification: Additional certification in policy analysis, project management (e.g., PMP), or gender mainstreaming is an advantage

• Substantial progressive professional experience in policy development, public sector reform, or program management,.
• Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Development Studies, Political Science, Law, International Relations or a related field qualification and or equivalent experience.
• Excellent policy and advocacy skills, with proven track record of policy engagement at national and regional levels and experience in youth-led advocacy, digital advocacy and campaign.
• Experience designing and operationalising inclusive youth employment, internship or work-based learning policies, strategies or programmes, with strong understanding of Ethiopian labour, public service, civil service reform and youth employment frameworks.
• Proven ability to influence senior government, donor, civil society and consortium stakeholders, while coordinating partnerships and strengthening institutional systems for sustainable delivery.
• Ability to apply gender equality, social inclusion, safeguarding analysis and youth centred approach to policy research and implementation.
• Ability to use monitoring, evaluation and learning evidence to inform policy recommendations and donor reporting.
• Demonstrated feminist leadership, people management, coaching, mentoring and facilitation skills with intercultural competence.
• Good understanding of SDGs locally led development, systems strengthening, rights-based programming, participatory approaches, Do No Harm principles and relevant humanitarian standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills both in English and Amharic with ability to translate complex policy issues for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated VSO Behavioural Competencies.
• Commitment to VSO’s vision, mission, values, code of conduct, and Volunteering for development approach.

• Travel including work away from the home base for up to 40% of time, including remote areas within the country and occasionally internationally.