Apply for Programs Jobs in Youth Development: iKapture Centre for Development Hiring in Calabar (Full-Time Programs Lead, Part-Time Admin Assistant)

If you care about youth skills, digital inclusion, and mentoring the next generation of problem solvers in Calabar, this is one of those on-the-ground opportunities where your work actually meets people. iKapture Centre for Development, a youth-focused social enterprise based in Calabar, is looking for two people: a Programs & Partnerships Lead (full-time or 30 hours/week flexible) and an Admin & Office Assistant (part-time, 10–15 hours/week). Both roles are local to Calabar and center on running programs that teach digital skills, leadership, and connect young people to global opportunities.

These are not internships wearing grown-up job titles. The Programs & Partnerships Lead will shape program strategy and steward relationships with schools, mentors, and funders. The Admin & Office Assistant keeps the engine running — managing logistics, documents, and participant support so programs actually happen on time. If you like seeing immediate results from your work — kids showing up with new skills, partners signing on, a workshop that finishes on schedule — read on. This guide explains who should apply, how to prepare a stand-out submission, and the practical steps to submit before the December 27, 2025 deadline.

At a Glance

Why This Opportunity Matters

Work that actually touches young lives is rare. Many organizations design grand plans on paper; iKapture runs training programs, bootcamps, and mentorship initiatives where measurable skills are transferred in classrooms and community centers. That means your success is visible: more learners completing modules, stronger mentor networks, and concrete partnerships with schools.

For someone who likes variety, the Programs & Partnerships Lead is a Swiss Army knife role. You’ll write program plans, manage volunteers, liaise with schools, and help with grant reports and storytelling. It’s the sort of position where every week looks different — one day you’re drafting a monitoring plan, the next you’re presenting at a donor meeting.

The Admin & Office Assistant role is the quiet backbone. If logistics, neat records, and smooth participant check-ins make you happy, you’ll keep the programs moving forward. Both roles are essential: good strategy without reliable implementation is just a plan that never materializes.

What This Opportunity Offers

iKapture brings structure, real beneficiaries, and a chance to work at the intersection of education and technology. For a Programs Lead, the role offers practical leadership experience running recognizable programs such as Technovation Girls and the Digital & Leadership Academy. You’ll shape curricula adaptations, develop monitoring tools, and interface with funders — experience that accelerates careers in NGOs, foundations, or educational startups.

For the Admin & Office Assistant, this is an excellent entry or stepping-stone role. You’ll manage logistics for workshops and events, handle records, support reimbursements, and learn the operational side of program delivery. That kind of experience is highly marketable and often leads to program coordinator positions.

Both roles offer networking: exposure to mentors, schools, and potential donors. You’ll gather stories and data that can support future grant proposals or impact reports. You’ll also gain familiarity with commonly used digital tools like Google Drive, Canva, and basic spreadsheets — practical skills many employers value. Although the posting doesn’t list salaries, the positions tend to come with the kind of on-the-ground learning that formal training programs rarely match.

Who Should Apply

This is for people who want to be where things happen — not just advising from afar. The Programs & Partnerships Lead role suits someone with at least two years of program management or youth development experience, ideally with hands-on coordination of training programs, school outreach, or mentorship schemes. Think project managers, educators who shifted into program roles, or development officers who have led short-term projects and want to scale up.

You should apply if you:

• Have experience designing or running education or youth programs.
• Can plan and monitor activities, supervise staff and volunteers, and manage stakeholder relationships.
• Are comfortable writing short grant narratives and compiling impact reports.
• Are based in Calabar or can reliably work there.
• Are female (iKapture explicitly encourages female applicants for this role; that’s their priority to correct gender imbalances).

Real-world examples: a woman who ran a university coding club and coordinated community bootcamps, or a former NGO field officer who set up school-based digital literacy sessions — both would be good fits.

The Admin & Office Assistant is ideal for someone detail-oriented and reliable. You might be a recent graduate, a part-time worker wanting meaningful responsibilities, or an experienced administrative worker seeking experience in the nonprofit sector. The role requires familiarity with basic digital tools (Google Docs, WhatsApp), solid organizational skills, and local presence in Calabar.

Examples include someone who managed the admin for a small tutoring program, a volunteer coordinator for a community center, or an early-career person wanting to transition into program operations.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

1. Tailor your story. Generic CVs fail. For the Programs Lead, highlight specific programs you managed: how many participants, completion rates, partnerships you secured, and one or two measurable outcomes. Use numbers: “Led a three-month coding workshop for 80 girls, 65% completed capstone projects” is far more persuasive than “ran workshops.”

2. Show impact, not tasks. Donors and program managers favor outcomes. If you handled logistics, describe how that improved participation or reduced costs. Instead of “managed reimbursements,” write “restructured travel reimbursements to reduce processing time by 50% and improve participant retention.”

3. Include a short program snapshot. For the Programs Lead, prepare a one-page outline of a hypothetical three-month training: objectives, participant profile, monitoring indicators, a sample budget, and a simple sustainability idea (e.g., school partnerships for co-funding). That demonstrates planning chops.

4. Provide clear evidence of partnership work. Name the schools, NGOs, or mentors you’ve worked with, and describe the nature of the relationship. Letters of support are powerful — if a school head can confirm your past work, include that as an attachment or note.

5. Keep a neat, readable format. Submit a PDF unless the application form specifies otherwise. Use consistent headings, include dates for every role, and keep the CV to 2 pages for early-career applicants and 3 pages for more experienced candidates.

6. For the Admin role, show reliability. Examples beat buzzwords: “Managed attendance records for a weekly program of 50 participants for 12 months; the database remained 98% accurate.” Point to systems you used — Google Sheets templates, simple inventory trackers, or scheduling approaches.

7. Be local. Because both roles require presence in Calabar, explicitly state your location and availability. If you recently moved or plan to relocate, say when. That’s a small detail that often weeds out otherwise strong candidates.

8. Proofread and get a second pair of eyes. Errors suggest inattention to detail, especially fatal in admin roles. Ask a friend to test the clarity of your program snapshot or plan.

These practical actions make your application feel less hypothetical and more like something that will work in the messy reality of program delivery.

Application Timeline (Work Backwards from December 27, 2025)

Start now. Even if you think the roles are straightforward, a polished application separates serious candidates from the rest.

• 4–6 weeks before deadline: Draft your CV and cover letter. Write the one-page program snapshot if applying for the Programs Lead. Contact two referees and let them know to expect a verification call or email.
• 2–3 weeks before deadline: Finalize documents, convert them to PDFs, and check file sizes and naming conventions (e.g., “Doe_Jane_CV.pdf”). Fill the online application form and paste concise answers first in a text editor to avoid losing your work if the form times out.
• 1 week before deadline: Submit early. Many organizations stop reviewing forms after the deadline, and technical issues happen. Submitting early also gives you time to correct any errors.
• After submission: Wait two weeks before following up. If you haven’t heard anything after three weeks, send a polite email inquiring about the timeline for interviews and selection.

If you’re shortlisted, expect a mix of interviews and practical tasks: a short scenario about managing a workshop, or a request to draft a one-week program schedule. Be prepared to show references who can confirm your role in previous projects.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them

The application link hosts the official form, but you should prepare the following documents ready to upload:

• CV (2–3 pages) with dates, clear role descriptions, and contact details.
• Cover letter (1 page) tailored to the specific role: how you meet the qualifications, your availability in Calabar, and one specific contribution you’d make in the first three months.
• Program snapshot (Programs Lead applicants): one page showing objectives, participant numbers, one monitoring indicator, and a rough budget line.
• Administrative samples (Admin applicants): a short sample of a spreadsheet or template you used for attendance, inventory, or reimbursements — screenshots are okay if you redact private details.
• References: names, roles, and contact info for at least two referees. Notify them in advance.
• Supporting documents (optional): letters of recommendation, proof of prior training, or media links showing past program events.

File tips: use PDF where possible, keep each file under 5 MB, and name files clearly (e.g., “Amina_Okoro_ProgramsLead_CV.pdf”). If the application only allows links, host documents on Google Drive with view-only permissions and tidy the folder structure.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Concrete results. Reviewers don’t want a wish list — they want proof that you can deliver. For the Programs Lead, a compelling application includes participant numbers, success stories, improvements you made, and at least one measurable indicator (e.g., course completion, post-training digital literacy test scores, mentor retention rates).

Local relationships matter. Demonstrating existing ties with schools, mentors, or community groups signals you can mobilize resources quickly. Testimonials or short notes from school administrators add credibility.

Clarity on monitoring and evaluation. Even a simple M&E framework raises you above applicants who only talk about activities. Include a few indicators you would track (attendance, completion rate, skills assessment, mentor satisfaction) and how often you’d report them.

Communication skills count. The Programs Lead will write donor updates and impact stories. Attach a short writing sample (500 words) that could be used as an impact snippet for a donor newsletter.

Practicality and humility. Strong candidates show realistic timelines and backup plans. If a technical trainer falls ill, who can step in? If internet access is flaky, do sessions pivot to offline materials? These details show you’ve done this in the real world, not just on paper.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Sending generic materials. Don’t recycle the same cover letter for every role. Tailor it to iKapture’s programs and show why you care about youth development in Calabar specifically.

2. Forgetting to show outcomes. Listing duties without impact is a missed chance. State the numbers and the change you produced.

3. Ignoring location requirements. If you’re not in Calabar and can’t be there reliably, your application will likely be filtered out. Be upfront about your location and availability.

4. Poor formatting and broken links. If your portfolio link is dead or your CV is an image, you’ll frustrate reviewers. Use PDFs and test links before submitting.

5. Underestimating the role of referees. Give your referees context so they can speak specifically about your skills. A vague “contact this person” yields vague feedback.

6. Late submission. Technical issues happen; submit early. Waiting until the last day is a common regret.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply for both positions? A: You can, but be realistic. If you apply for both, submit materials that clearly indicate which role you prefer and why. Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience for each role.

Q: Is remote work allowed? A: Both roles are based in Calabar and require local presence. If you plan to relocate, state your move-in date clearly in the application.

Q: What is the salary or stipend? A: The job announcement does not list compensation details. Applicants should consult the official application link for potential updates or ask about remuneration during follow-up or interviews.

Q: Are internships or volunteer experience acceptable? A: Yes. Volunteer experience that shows program delivery or administrative responsibility is relevant. Emphasize measurable outcomes from volunteer roles.

Q: When will shortlisted candidates be contacted? A: The posting states only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you don’t hear back within three weeks after the deadline, a polite inquiry is reasonable.

Q: Do I need formal education credentials? A: The posting emphasizes experience and skills over specific degrees. List relevant training and highlight practical experience. For many community roles, demonstrable impact and reliability matter more than formal degrees.

Q: Are international applicants eligible? A: The roles require location in Calabar. If you are an international applicant planning to relocate and have the legal right to work in Nigeria, clarify your status and relocation timeline.

Q: What should I expect in an interview? A: Expect questions on program design, partnership management, logistical scenarios, and possibly a practical task (e.g., draft a one-week workshop schedule). Prepare specific examples from past work.

Next Steps How to Apply

Ready to move forward? Here’s a simple plan:

1. Finalize your CV and write a one-page cover letter that directly addresses the role.
2. Prepare any supporting samples (program snapshot for Programs Lead; admin templates for Admin Assistant).
3. Complete the online application by December 27, 2025. Apply early to avoid last-minute problems.
4. Notify your referees so they can expect a possible call or email.
5. After submission, wait two weeks, then follow up politely if you haven’t heard anything.

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page and submit your application: https://bit.ly/4jbPi6P

Good luck. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys turning plans into programs that work, this could be exactly the place to plant your energy and watch something grow.