General Hand

SOS Children’s Villages Association of Zimbabwe is a member of SOS International, a worldwide children’s social welfare organisation providing vulnerable children without homes with a family home and educational opportunities as well as strengthening families to reduce poverty. Established in 1949, SOS Children’s Villages International is a dynamic, international social development organization working globally to meet the needs and protect the rights of children without parental care and those at risk of losing it.

The person holding the position of General Hand is responsible for the upkeep of grounds and gardens of the school premises, thereby creating an environmentally clean and pleasing environment for the children and staff, and maintaining a good image to the public.

Duties

• Keep the surroundings clean and the garden always looking good

• Dig and add fertilizer and manure to the grass and plants in the garden

• Regularly water the garden and remove weeds

• Cut, water and maintain lawns in good condition, trimming and edging around pavements, flower beds and walls

• Plant, tend and water trees, shrubs, flowerbeds and rockeries

• Clean grounds and remove litter, leaves and plants, replacing dead plants and discarding waste matter in a neat and orderly manner

• Clean the drainage line and burn waste

• Dispose of waste matter and litter timeously

• Perform any other duties as instructed by the supervisor

Qualifications

• Five Ordinary Level passes including English is a prerequisite

• One to two years’ groundsman experience in a similar and child-friendly environment

• Team player

• Ability to work with minimum supervision

• Good communication skills

Duties

• Work under the supervision of the Field Officer(s) to engage with communities and other community-based groups or committees

• Support communities such as WADCOs, SDCs, Health Centre Committees, CBOs and FBOs to identify opportunities and mobilise local resources to meet household and community needs

• Lead communities in developing emergency preparedness plans

• Liaise with Field Officers to procure project inputs and ensure timely provision to participating households

• Support the mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues such as HIV/AIDS, Child Protection, Gender and Environment in all programme processes

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records and documentation of work undertaken

• Establish and maintain good working relationships with stakeholders, partners and beneficiary families

Qualifications

• Demonstrable commitment to working with children and youth, with knowledge of child rights

• Strong communication, documentation and networking skills

• Experience in psychosocial support, education, sport or income generation projects is an added advantage

• Experience in running HIV/AIDS-related community development projects is desirable

• At least one year of experience in community engagement and outreach

Assistant House Parent

Duties

• Assist and support the House Parent in managing the family house on a day-to-day basis

• Support House Parent in nurturing and grooming children

• Assist House Parent in teaching children household chores and ensuring that the house is maintained in a clean, friendly and healthy environment

• Provide psychosocial support to the children in the homes

• Participate in the care and general wellbeing of the children in the home

• Assist with children’s homework and extra tuition programmes

• Assist in managing household incomes and expenses

• Engage the children in extra-mural activities to support their growth and development

• Support the House Parent in updating and maintaining Children’s Development Plans and Diaries

• If selected, the successful applicant is given an employment contract and begins their career as an SOS mother trainee

Qualifications

• Five ‘O’ Levels including English Language

• Certificate in Systemic Counselling or Social Work

• Diploma in Child Safeguarding, Protection and Care is an advantage

• Fluent in English and at least one local language

• Mature candidates not less than 35 years of age

• Experience in working with children from various backgrounds and difficult circumstances

• Good communication skills, able to effectively communicate with children and young adults

• Understanding of residential community life in a caring environment and willingness to stay in residence

• Willingness to commit long-term to raising at least one generation of children and youth in an SOS Children’s Village

• Candidates with young and dependent children of their own may find it difficult to adjust to in-residence stay

Reintegration Mentor

Duties

• Conduct case reviews and produce outcomes of the reviews

• Facilitate the compilation of case files for reintegrated children, ensuring updates are made for children in foster care or kinship arrangements

• Maintain and update key documents in case files and the programme database

• Facilitate the case closure process when applicable

• Prepare and submit monthly case management update reports for children in both foster care and reintegrated families

• Follow up with families of origin or foster care settings, especially when the reintegration process is in flux or additional assessment is needed

• Conduct regular home visits with relevant authorities to ensure reintegrated children are settled in their family environments and assess any emerging needs or risks

• Perform bi-annual child rights risk assessment for reintegrated children in collaboration with local stakeholders

• Initiate appropriate support services based on the findings of monitoring and risk assessments

• Produce quarterly learning documents that include success stories, impact reports, and highlight both positive reintegration outcomes and challenges, especially complex cases requiring further intervention

• Collaborate with different external offices on matters of common concern for the provision of better services for children

• Attend workshops and meetings

Qualifications

• Degree in Social Work, social sciences, development studies, sociology, or related fields (for Social Worker, registration with the Council of Social Workers is a must)

• Minimum of 2 years’ progressive experience in a local development agency, particularly focusing on child welfare and reintegration processes

• Demonstrable commitment to working with children and youth and knowledge of child rights

• Strong knowledge of social work theories, practices, and procedures, and understanding of relevant legislation and policies

• Strong knowledge in needs assessment, family dynamics, trauma impact, psycho-social functioning theories and practices, and child protection theories, models, and practices

• Extensive experience in case management, case conferencing, investigation, and intervention theories and practices

• Good interpersonal, mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills

• Organizational, verbal, and written communication skills, analytical skills, and good computer skills

• Flexible, adaptable, and able to work effectively in a variety of settings and in a cross-cultural environment

• Strong planning and organizing skills

Application Procedure
If you believe you are the right candidate for this position, send your detailed curriculum vitae (CV) and photocopies of certified academic certificates. Applications should be submitted electronically, indicating the position you are applying for and vacancy reference number in the subject line, to the address below no later than 15 August 2025. Applications will be reviewed as they come in. Late applications or those without a CV or certified certificates will be disqualified. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

E-mail: Applications, including at least three traceable referees, should be sent electronically to Resourcing.SOS@sos-zimbabwe.org

SOS Children’s Villages Zimbabwe upholds strict child safeguarding principles and a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse in the workplace or other areas where the organization’s activities are conducted. SOS Children’s Villages Zimbabwe is an equal opportunities employer and encourages all eligible applicants to apply without regard to sex, cultural considerations, disability, or creed.

“Every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security”