The posting
Work Base: Thai-Myanmar Border (Mae Sot and Umphang Districts, Tak Province, or Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son Province).
This career professional is Compassion's primary liaison to the local church and is responsible for strengthening local ownership, capacity and resources of local church partners to minister to children and youth in their own context. As the primary liaison, this facilitator is responsible for developing relationships with church partners and denominational leaders that are characterized by mutual respect, trust, and service that builds up church ministry. He or she is accountable for managing 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, including mobilizing staff and other resources to support the church. At this career level, the incumbent generally conducts projects independently or participates as a team member for major, complex, or international initiatives. He or she may coach and oversee the work of other facilitators.
Responsibilities
- Acts as an advocate to raise the awareness of the needs of children. Understands Christ’s mandate to protect 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 - Strengthens church ownership and capacity through a developmental mindset and the Partnership Management core process.
- Facilitates partnerships with church leaders to collaboratively reflect on youth and church outcomes and plan for how to best grow in capacity and maturity.
- Facilitates the development and 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. Supports churches as they actively identify and engage the change makers who influence change in children and youth, such as parents, schools, peers, etc. Actively facilitates and engages church leadership involvement in the broader community as an agent of social transformation that promotes child development and child protection
- Works with pastors, other church leaders and church staff to identify capacity development needs. Serves as Compassion’s key liaison with church partners by mobilizing and coaching other Church Facing Team (CFT) members and financial resources in ways that are consistent with a developmental mindset and the Partnership Principles
- Builds church and cluster capacity for local resource mobilization and sharing of resources among nearby churches. Partners with churches to equip them to identify and mobilize local resources, services and relationships, as well as develop plans to help maximize their own resources to support the ministry to children and youth. Supports the formation and strengthening of strategic relationships and alliances at the cluster or community level to further the ministry impact of partner churches.
- Program Cycle – Provides support and guidance to the church partner throughout all phases of the Program Cycle
- Needs Assessment – Mobilizes CFT members to compile and organize information to inform the church partners about the needs of children and youth they serve. Facilitates the church partner in gathering local information about child and youth needs, and synthesizing local data with external data.
- Planning - Facilitates church partner led planning of their Child and Youth (CY) ministry.
- Supports the church partner to develop an effective multi-year strategic plan by assisting the church partner to identify and prioritize CY needs as well as select interventions that will address the prioritized needs and challenges.
- Builds the capacity of the local church leadership to invite greater participation of other church ministry leaders, parents/caregivers, youth, community leaders, and other key stakeholders in identifying needs, planning and implementing CY interventions.
- Supports the church to develop an annual plan and budget to implement customized program interventions.
- Implementation – Builds the capacity of church partners, with support from other CFT members, to carry out their chosen interventions and monitor progress toward successful implementation.
- Evaluation – Facilitates the church partner, with support from other CFT members, through the facilitation of a learning and reflection process on effectiveness of the interventions to inform planning in the next cycle. Builds church capacity for learning and reflection.
- Coordination of CFT - Coordinates Church Facing Team (CFT) support to each church partner.
- Through the Facilitation Workplan, sets goals and priorities for how the CFT will support each church partner based on the church’s level of ownership, capacity and resources (maturity), the local context, needs identified by CFT members, local church and denominational priorities and National Office priorities.
- Creates Facilitation Workplans that are highly strategic and lead to greater effectiveness by targeting each church's individual needs.
- Facilitates a shared understanding among CFT members of the church’s needs. Reviews reports and support documentation from CFT members, as well as perspectives from the church partner to gain understanding of the church’s unique needs and challenges and mobilize appropriate support for the church partner.
- Documents, alongside all other CFT members, the support they provide to the church partners and follows up on issues identified.
- Cluster operations - Oversees a more complex cluster of churches while demonstrating responsiveness to the local context and needs of each individual church within the cluster.
- Encourages, facilitates and leverages cluster level activities and resources.
- Proactively seeks to foster relationships and connection within the cluster.
- Provides opportunities for development of 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.
- Ensures the timely renewal of the partnership agreement between Compassion and the Church partner.
- Child Protection - Deepens church partner ownership of child protection standards. Facilitates development of church owned and contextualized child protection practices. Connects churches to relevant evidence-based resources and internal and external supports to develop 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. Implements local process improvements and self-development improvements based on metrics and feedback from the church.
- Has accountability for Compassion commitments to the church, and for programmatic and sponsor engagement deliverables. Partners with local subject matter experts, and those in Program Support or Business Support who have responsibility for Compassion’s role in those deliverables to ensure quality and completion.
- Utilizes advanced knowledge and capabilities in mobilization and facilitation practices to identify moderately complex needs at church partners and consults with the appropriate technical experts to develop and apply cause analysis and solutions.
- May coach and provide expertise to other professionals and support staff in the partnership discipline.
Culture
- Accountable for supporting, upholding, and engaging in Compassion's core "Cultural Behaviors" in all internal and external communication and relationships.
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in a related field or an equivalent qualification
Experience
- Seven years Relevant experience working in this or a related field.
Language
- Fluent in spoken and written Karen and Thai, with English language proficiency considered an advantage.
Licenses and Certifications
- Certification from a nationally or internationally recognized organization in a related field.
*Equivalent education, training and/or certification may be substituted for experience and education shown above
Travel Requirements
May be required to travel up to 70% of normal schedule
