JUNIOR PROJECT OFFICER (Interim)

JUNIOR PROJECT OFFICER (Interim)

Summer position, May/June-August, 2010 (10 weeks)

ABOUT TFO CANADA

TFO Canada’s mandate is to confront the challenge of global poverty by promoting sustainable economic development through export information, advice and contact; TFO does this by facilitating access to the Canadian marketplace and sharing Canadian trade expertise for the benefit of smaller exporters in developing countries.

For three decades, TFO Canada, a non-profit organization, has been the primary Canadian provider of trade development services for exporters in developing and transition countries. Our trade experts help to strengthen the capacity of:

-  Small and medium-sized businesses, so that they can effectively participate in the Canadian and other global markets;

-  Trade support institutions so that they can offer enhanced services to their exporters; and

-  Governments so that they can promote trade and attract foreign investment.

TFO executes its projects through a network associates and a team of Project Managers and one Project Officer, whose work is overseen by our Director of Programs. For more information about TFO, visit www.tfocanada.ca.

ABOUT THE POSITION

In this new summer position of interest to Fourth Year and post-graduate students, the Junior Project Officer will work with the Project Managers and the Director of Programs on the execution of projects within TFO’s current trade capacity building program funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and other similar programs or projects that TFO may be implementing at the time of the placement. Responsibilities in that regard will include:

-  Assist the Director of Programs and Project Managers in documenting results in the form of tables for semi-annual reporting as well as supporting the production of the annual progress report;

-  Support the Project Officer and Project Managers to follow-up (gather information on results achieved) through contact and online surveys with exporters (using Survey Monkey), trade support organizations and buyers;

-  Update TFO website content and improve presentation of publications (e.g. Free Trade Agreement guide for exporters)

-  Data input into the new TFO results based management data base;

-  Improve and develop PowerPoint presentations with updated information (including updated charts and tables);

-  Organize and centralize photo bank for improved access and use by TFO staff;

-  Assist with logistical aspects of trade events taking place during the contract period (e.g. a trade mission from Burkina Faso taking place in May)

-  Researching and writing “success stories” emanating from TFO’s recent projects

-  Assist the TFO team, as required, with project implementation and office management including coverage during summer vacation or business-related travel.

REQUIREMENTS

-  Business related under-graduate degree (in progress or completed) and/or equivalent work experience

-  Excellent communications skills including report writing (especially in English)

-  Very good research skills including previous experience with conducting and summarizing surveys, as well as Internet-based research

-  Good computer applications skills, particularly Microsoft Word and Excel as well as Outlook; experience using Microsoft Publisher and data base programs preferred

-  Some experience working with or in developing countries preferred

-  Bilingual, and ideally trilingual (English, French, Spanish) particularly for reading and brief written communications (i.e. e-mails)

-  No travel is anticipated for this position, but flexibility to travel internationally would be an asset should the need arise

This position may be partially funded by the Government of Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs Program, therefore all applicants must:

-  be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;

-  have been registered as a full time university student in the 2009-10 academic year;

-  intend to return to school on a full-time basis during the 2009-10 academic year;

-  be under the age of 31

APPLICATIONS

Interested candidates should send a CV and a covering letter explaining their interest and suitability for the position to no later than April 15th, 2010.

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