Liberia Mission Social Work Manager


SOCIAL WORK MANAGER
LIBERIA MISSION, INC. (LMI)
Location: Blacktom Town, Montserrado County, Liberia, West Africa
Reports to: LMI Director
Start Date: Spring 2012
Length of Position: Spring 2012 through July 2013

About Liberia Mission, Inc.

Liberia Mission, Inc. (LMI) is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for children and families through material and spiritual support and a Catholic education. LMI alleviates poverty and promotes societal transformation by providing quality education, a loving home, and life skills training for children and youth so that they may become capable, responsible, and compassionate citizens and future leaders of Liberia. The St. Anthony of Padua School provides a Catholic education for over 380 students in kindergarten through grade 9. The residential program provides a nurturing home for 110 students, ages 7 through 22, who would otherwise have difficulty accessing educational opportunities. The St. Michael the Archangel chapel is a gathering place of worship and spiritual formation for the children, youth, and staff of Liberia Mission, Inc. and the surrounding community. LMI is rooted in a Franciscan understanding of Catholic spirituality and is supported by Mission Honduras International, a U.S.-based non-for-profit organization.

The Role

The LMI Social Work Manager aims to address the welfare of the children and youth of LMI by assessing their developmental needs and making recommendations to address such individual, communal, and programmatic needs. S/he works with a spirit of servant leadership that promotes capacity building of local staff and development of programs with the overarching aim to help children to become compassionate citizens and leaders of a peaceful and productive Liberia of tomorrow.

The responsibilities of this position include the following:
  • Head the efforts to continue implementation of the Policies for the Protection of Beneficiaries
  • Serve as a consultant and mentor to coordinate and enhance social welfare aspects at LMI

At the residential program:
  • Work with the house parents to identify and address the overall welfare needs of the resident beneficiaries
  • Research and network with other social welfare programs and institutions in Liberia in order to provide resources and additional support for the child/family welfare aspects of the residential program
  • Collaborate with local social workers and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to assess and promote child welfare practices and goals at LMI that are aligned with national developmental research, trends, and goals
  • Head the effort to include Liberian social worker(s) on staff (either as new hires or, if appropriate, appointed by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in order to effectively and sustainably address the needs of the children and youth
  • Coordinate with the LMI staff to ensure that efforts to promote academic development are aligned and integrate with efforts to promote the overall, holistic development of the children and youth

At the school:
  • Observe and engage in dialogue with school administrators regarding the social welfare needs of the school as a whole as well as of community students
  • Formulate questions to be considered for research and analysis regarding LMI’s capacity to effectively and sustainably address the social welfare needs of the school community
  • Interface with local social work and education programs and institutions to assess how such entities can be leveraged to aid the social welfare aspects of the school

Who You Are

As LMI’s Social Work Manager, you desire to learn how general social work practices are best implemented within the Liberian context and culture. You wish to share and integrate your professional knowledge in a way that effectively enhances local capacity. Your motivation to work with the beneficiaries and staff of LMI stems from a God-centered call to serve and work alongside people of various cultures in a developing country. You believe that love, compassion, collaboration, effective communication, and community-building are central to the process of working towards LMI’s goals of developing Liberia through the education of its youth. You recognize that development work is full of rewarding experiences as well as challenges that require patience, the ability to listen, critical thinking, humility, and creativity in order to grow and move forward. Your resilience, adaptability, and desire to learn enhance your role as Social Work Manager.

Your Qualifications
  • A minimum education of undergraduate degree in Social Work or a related field
  • Minimum of two (2) years professional experience working with children and youth, especially at-risk youth and/or those who have experienced trauma or who have other special needs
  • International experience/experience working and living in the developing world
  • Ability to work independently yet collaboratively with minimal supervision and with a proactive attitude
  • Fluent in English and able to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing
  • Practicing Catholic and/or desire to work and live at a Catholic mission
  • Ability to live and work with simple living and office accommodations

Compensation
This missioner/professional position includes a monthly stipend, international health insurance, and room and board on site at Liberia Mission, Inc.

How to Apply
If you feel the call to serve at Liberia Mission, Inc. and believe that you have the required skills and competencies for the position, send your resume, cover letter and a list of a least three references to Monica Desmond at mdesmond@missionhonduras.com. Please, no phone calls. If you have questions regarding the position, please email Monica Desmond at the above address.

For more information about Mission Honduras International / Liberia Mission, Inc please visit: www.missionhonduras.com. Mission Honduras International / Liberia Mission, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer.