Background

Be That Girl (BTG) is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to helping adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) lead self-determined lives. We provide holistic support to AGYW from secondary education to post-secondary pathways, focusing on scholarships, mentoring, skills training, and community-based support systems.

BTG is opening a Pathway Centre in Lusaka to help young women who have completed secondary education with BTG support successfully transition into post-secondary pathways. The Centre will equip them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to enter one or more of the 3 Es: Entrepreneurship, higher Education and Employment.

We are looking for an experienced Career Guidance and Internship Coach who will support participants in planning career pathways, developing essential work-readiness skills, and securing meaningful internship opportunities.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to play a pivotal role in shaping a new initiative with strong growth prospects and its impact in helping women lead self-determined lives.

Job Description

The Career Guidance and Internship Coach will support participants in identifying realistic career pathways, developing essential work-readiness skills, and securing meaningful internship opportunities. This role combines group training, one-on-one coaching, and strong employer engagement to ensure girls make successful transitions into internships, formal employment, or further education.

Key Responsibilities

Work Readiness Training

• Deliver high-quality work-readiness modules as part of the Centre’s core curriculum (topics include CV writing, interview skills, professional communication, workplace etiquette, self-presentation, and career planning).
• Facilitate group sessions and workshops to prepare participants for the job market.
• Provide support and advice to encourage participants, ensuring they progress in the course.
• Ensure inclusive participation of all learners.
• Help the Senior Coach proactively to keep the contents of the work-readiness training up to date with the job market and participants’ needs.

One-on-One Career Coaching

• Provide personalised 1:1 career guidance and coaching to all participants, helping them explore career options, align their strengths with opportunities, and create individual career action plans.
• Support participants in making informed decisions about tertiary education, TVET, employment, or entrepreneurship pathways.

Internship Placement & Management

• Support the Pathway Centre Manager in developing and maintaining a strong network of local employers and organisations for internship placements.
• Conduct skills assessments and career mapping with each participant to match them with internships.
• Lead the matching process, placing participants in relevant and high-quality internships.
• Lead the preparation of interns for success through pre-internship orientation and ongoing coaching.

Employer Relations & Feedback

• Serve as the main point of contact for employer partners.
• Collect structured feedback from employers and interns to improve future placements and identify skills gaps.
• Track internship outcomes and contribute to MEL reporting on employment and internship success rates.
• Ensure learnings from such feedback are used to improve the programme.

Collaboration

• Work closely with the Entrepreneurship Coach, ICT trainer, and other coaches to ensure an integrated, holistic support package for participants.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• 100% of participants complete the work-readiness curriculum.
• 100% of participants develop a clear plan for post-secondary pathway through the coaching sessions.
• At least 80% of participants secure relevant internships or work-based learning opportunities.
• High participant and employer satisfaction with coaching and internship experience (target >85%).
• Timely collection and documentation of mid- and end-of-internship feedback.
• Positive progression outcomes (e.g, conversion from internship to employment or further education).

Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• Degree in teaching, social work or any related social sciences field - (Master’s is an advantage).
• Minimum 4–5 years of experience coaching or mentoring young people, preferably adolescent girls and young women.
• Proven experience in career guidance, work-readiness training, or employability programmes.
• Strong existing network with employers in Lusaka/Zambia (or demonstrated ability to quickly build one).

Advantageous:

• Experience placing young people into internships or entry-level jobs.
• Coaching certification or its equivalent from a recognised coaching association or agency.
• Background in education, psychology, or social work.
• Familiarity with the Zambian labour market and key growth sectors.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent facilitation and one-on-one coaching skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities, especially with employers.
• Ability to motivate and inspire young women from diverse backgrounds.
• Good organisational and follow-up skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and basic digital tools.
• Fluency in English and at least one local language (Nyanja, Bemba, or Tonga preferred).

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about girls’ and young women’s empowerment and career development.
• Patient, empathetic, and culturally sensitive.
• Professional, proactive, and results-oriented.
• Committed to the mission of the BTG Pathway Centre.

• Deliver high-quality work-readiness modules as part of the Centre’s core curriculum (topics include CV writing, interview skills, professional communication, workplace etiquette, self-presentation, and career planning).
• Facilitate group sessions and workshops to prepare participants for the job market.
• Provide support and advice to encourage participants, ensuring they progress in the course.
• Ensure inclusive participation of all learners.
• Help the Senior Coach proactively to keep the contents of the work-readiness training up to date with the job market and participants’ needs.
• Provide personalised 1:1 career guidance and coaching to all participants, helping them explore career options, align their strengths with opportunities, and create individual career action plans.
• Support participants in making informed decisions about tertiary education, TVET, employment, or entrepreneurship pathways.
• Support the Pathway Centre Manager in developing and maintaining a strong network of local employers and organisations for internship placements.
• Conduct skills assessments and career mapping with each participant to match them with internships.
• Lead the matching process, placing participants in relevant and high-quality internships.
• Lead the preparation of interns for success through pre-internship orientation and ongoing coaching.
• Serve as the main point of contact for employer partners.
• Collect structured feedback from employers and interns to improve future placements and identify skills gaps.
• Track internship outcomes and contribute to MEL reporting on employment and internship success rates.
• Ensure learnings from such feedback are used to improve the programme.
• Work closely with the Entrepreneurship Coach, ICT trainer, and other coaches to ensure an integrated, holistic support package for participants.

• Excellent facilitation and one-on-one coaching skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities, especially with employers.
• Ability to motivate and inspire young women from diverse backgrounds.
• Good organisational and follow-up skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and basic digital tools.
• Fluency in English and at least one local language (Nyanja, Bemba, or Tonga preferred).

• Degree in teaching, social work or any related social sciences field - (Master’s is an advantage).
• Minimum 4–5 years of experience coaching or mentoring young people, preferably adolescent girls and young women.
• Proven experience in career guidance, work-readiness training, or employability programmes.
• Strong existing network with employers in Lusaka/Zambia (or demonstrated ability to quickly build one).
• Experience placing young people into internships or entry-level jobs.
• Coaching certification or its equivalent from a recognised coaching association or agency.
• Background in education, psychology, or social work.
• Familiarity with the Zambian labour market and key growth sectors.