Career Guidance and Internship Coach

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CAREER GUIDANCE AND INTERNSHIP COACH

1.     Key Information

Role

Career Guidance and Internship Coach

Location

Based in Lusaka, Zambia.

Set up

On-site at Pathway Centre location (exact location to be determined).

Reports to

Senior Coach

Works closely with

ICT trainer and Entrepreneurship Trainer

Contract Type

Full-time, starting with one year, with the possibility of renewal

Desired start date

ASAP

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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).

6. 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.

7. 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).

8. 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.

9. Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

• A cover letter outlining relevant experience and motivation;
• A detailed CV;
• Responses to the situational questions (attached in section 11);
• LinkedIn profile if available; and
• Two professional references with contact details (ideally past employers or clients). References will be systematically checked if a candidate proceeds to the final stage.

Please send your application to Apply Now with the subject line: “Career Guidance and Internship Coach – [Your Name]”

Deadline for applications: Monday 24th August 2026

Based on a review of the application materials received, selected candidates will be invited for interviews starting at the end of August.

10. Safeguarding, References & Background Checks

Be That Girl Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and other vulnerable groups we serve, and we expect all staff, volunteers, and partners to share this commitment. In line with this policy, all offers of employment are made conditional upon the satisfactory completion of pre-employment screening, including but not limited to:

• Verification of professional and character references;
• Confirmation of academic and professional qualifications; and
• Provision of a current Police Clearance Certificate before formal engagement with the Foundation. No employment contract will take effect until these checks have been satisfactorily completed and verified.

11. Situational Questions

We would like to ask you three questions to understand your experience, your approach to the role, and your connection to BTG’s mission.

Your application must include your responses to the situational questions below. Any application without responses will not be considered.

Please use the situational questions form (.docx) below and submit it in PDF format.

Please refrain from using any LLM, generative AI, or any AI-powered tools when writing your responses. Any application written by AI tools will not be considered for further processing.

Situational Questions Form -BTG

Question 1: A key responsibility for this role is securing meaningful internships for the Pathway Centre participants, and this requires strong relationships with employers. Describe how you would build and maintain a network of Lusaka-based employers who are willing to host our participants. Name specific employers, sectors, or organisations you would prioritise in outreach, and explain how you would open and sustain the relationships. (Word limit: 200)

Type your response

Question 2: Our participants are often aware of a narrow set of pathways and are fixed on the ones that they have known as profitable or reliable. This limits their adaptability when they fail to meet requirements or have to change their plans for other reasons. How would you widen a participant’s view of the options open to her across further education, TVET, employment, and entrepreneurship? How would you help her stay adaptable, while respecting that the final decision is hers? Draw on your professional experience. (Word limit: 150)

Type your response

Question 3: A key performance indicator for this role is that at least 80% of participants secure relevant internships or work-based learning opportunities. There may be a situation where high-quality opportunities are scarce, and participants struggle to find placements. How would you respond to this? (Word limit: 150)

Type your response