Job: Skills Development Specialist - Bangladesh Skills for Employment and Productivity

Location: Dhaka
Deadline: Thursday, 14 November 2013

Human Resources Development Department

International Labour Office

Vacancy No: DHAKA/2013/04

Title: Skills Development Specialist, Bangladesh Skills for Employment and ProductivityGrade: P.4Contract type: Fixed-Term AppointmentDuration of contract: One year (with possibility of renewal)

Date: 31 October 2013

Application Deadline (midnight Geneva time) 14 November 2013Organization unit: CO-DHAKADuty Station: Dhaka, Bangladesh

For any questions related to this post, please contact Mr Srinivasa Reddy Baki, reddy@ilo.org.

This is a Technical Cooperation position therefore the recruitment process falls outside Annex 1 of the ILO Staff Regulations. Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.The following are eligible to apply:- Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 15 and 16 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations.- External candidates.***The ILO values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities.Conditions of employment are described in Appendix II.The Office is a non-smoking environment.

INTRODUCTION

The ILO has supported the Government of Bangladesh in reforming its technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system for the past five years through partnership with the European Union. This work has resulted in the adoption of a National Skills Development Policy and the revitalisation of the National Skills Development Council (NSDC) with the Prime Minister serving as the Chair of the Council. The overall objective of the ILO's partnership in improving the education and training sector is to better link education and training to national employment and development objectives.

Additional development partners are linking their support for TVET to the ILO's cooperation programme in a shared commitment to assist the Government implement the National Skills Development Policy and build up the institutional capacity of the NSDC. This reflects a common commitment to the Government's objectives to improve the productivity of the private sector and boost job growth and has included support for labour market information, sectoral industry skills councils, TVET teacher training and curriculum development, gender equality, disability inclusion, and extending the availability of better training opportunities in the informal economy.

This has resulted in

(a) a new substantial ILO partnership with Government of Canada,

(b) targeted collaboration with Sida and H&M in the RMG sector and

(c) an extension of the existing ILO- EU technical cooperation programme.In addition, there have been increasing efforts to improve coordination with the other international agencies that provide support to TVET. Bangladesh is a pilot country in the G20 DWG's pillar on Human Resources Development, which has provided a vehicle for inter-agency coordination (especially with the ADB and WB) and has provided opportunities to share information on national policies and industry skills councils and inclusion through many international knowledge-sharing events.

Skills development is high on the development agenda of the country reflected in its Sixth Five Year Plan (SFYP, 2011 -15) as well as in its recent country submission to the UN on the post-2015 development agenda. 'Mainstreaming TVET and skills education' is articulated as a target in the Post 2015 Development Agenda besides proposing a new goal on 'Increasing employment opportunities and ensuring workers' rights.' In addition, skills development has been identified by ILO constituents as one of the main country outcomes in the ILO Decent Work Country Programme (2012-2015).

Thus, ILO's ongoing and future TVET programme will contribute to the achievement of country outcome 'BGD 101 - skills development reforms for employability and livelihoods implemented.'The three projects noted above make up the strategic programme of technical cooperation for the TVET sector to be implemented by the ILO. More information on these projects is available from the ILO Dhaka website.This multi-project programme of support will be led by a single Chief Technical Advisor (CTA).The programme will be staffed by several international specialists/senior specialists and national programme officers leading work in specific project areas, as well as support staff. In addition, the programme includes provision for hiring both national and international short-term consultants.

The component-1 specialist will supervise component staff including programme officer, programme assistant and consultants or national professionals assigned to the component.

The international specialist on skills funding, planning and support services will manage the activities supporting improved financial planning, management and sustainability of the skills system; enhanced coordination and monitoring of inter-agency work in the skills system including application of supply and demand data; enhanced employment services and provide guidance to other projects as needed.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Country Director, ILO Bangladesh the specialist will work under the direct supervision of the CTA of Bangladesh Skills Programme. Technical monitoring and backstopping for this project will be primarily the responsibility of the ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia, located in New Delhi, India. Technical advice and support will be provided by the Skills and Employability Branch, ILO, Geneva. Technical inputs will also be provided by other departments and offices of the ILO in Geneva and Bangkok.

Description of Duties

• Provide supervision to national staff, local consultants and on occasion one or two international consultants on short term external collaboration contracts, to ensure well-coordinated delivery of component activities through effective scheduling and integration with business and other groups engaged in similar activities.
• Support improvements to financial planning, management and sustainability of the skills system through activities which strengthen financial planning and management of the skill system; increase administrative and financial efficiency & effectiveness; and identify, develop and implement viable funding models and mechanisms. This includes continuity of current TVET finance consultative group work and research and analysis of different alternate financing options for Bangladesh that exist internationally and in the region including voucher systems and training funds and in the region (eg: Malaysia, India) with the goal of establishing a more diverse skills financing system in Bangladesh.
• Promote improvements to coordination, planning, monitoring and evaluation of skills policies, strategies and programs through activities which strengthen coordination and governance of skills system for local and overseas employment through the G20 initiative; strengthen skills planning, monitoring and evaluation systems including a sector wide results framework with a corresponding performance measurement framework; and build capacity to undertake research and analysis on key labour and skills issues included those gender related. The specialist will work with a variety of stakeholders including the National Skills Development Council,(NSDC) and the Executive Committee (ECNSDC) and Secretariat of the NSDC and on the G-20 initiative with WB and ADB funded projects.
• Support enhancements to employment services through pilots in target sectors through activities which support school-to-work transition and career guidance & job placement services so that Bangladeshis are more aware of career options, are better able to find training institutions that offer those skills and are assisted in finding a job commensurate with their qualifications. ILO experience in these areas will be tapped with technical inputs from other ILO offices and projects along with short-term consultants from other countries which have considerable experience in these areas of student support.
• Develop and implement social marketing activities to improve the status of skills training and the outreach of the skills system so that many more students and parents recognize career trade training as a viable first not second or third choice. The specialist will build on earlier efforts such as TVET week organized by the DTE as well as the EC-ILO TVET Reform Project media campaigns and collaborate with other actors engaged with the same activity. Both traditional and new media will be assessed for best application in achieving the goal of rebranding and promoting skills training.
• Monitor component activities, outputs and indicators on a regular basis by referencing the project annual workplan and ensure necessary records of events, activities, resources and contracts are maintained so that component and project activities are delivered smoothly and as scheduled.
• Participate in ILO surveys/reviews including contributions to the ILO country office decent work programme through timely provision of inputs and participation in meetings as agreed with the project team.
• Organize and manage regularly scheduled intra-component meetings to discuss component plans and activities and ensure strong commitment and teamwork leading to achievement of project objectives.
• Ensure ILO procedures and financial rules are followed in preparation of Ex-Col contracts, service contracts, fellowships, and workshop expenditures by ensuring component staff understand requirements and produce clear and accurate documentation.
• Contribute to development of project workplans and budgets by estimating required inputs for component activities and assist in monitoring expenditure by component staff in conjunction with the CTA and finance assistant.

Required Qualifications

Education

• The specialist should have at least a University Degree with the possession of advanced degrees in TVET and / or education and training considered an advantage.

Experience

• At least ten years of work experience in senior management or technical positions in major national or international education and training agencies or ministerial departments.
• Jobs or international project work in TVET planning, financing and employment services.
• Previous experience working in Bangladesh and other South Asian countries in the TVET sector would be a distinct advantage.

Languages

• Fluent in speaking and writing in English. Knowledge of the local language - Bengali is an additional advantage.

Competencies

• Orientation to change
• Ability to live and work in a developing country; ability to appreciate and support a TVET system in transition
• Collaboration
• work effectively with a large team of the international and national professionals, various government agencies and NGOs, important international institutions such as the EU
• Communication - write and edit reports and publications; lead workshops, conferences and working teams
• Sensitivity to diversity - work effectively with multi-national, multi-ethnic project team members
• Client orientation - understand and respond to needs of various government agencies and NGOs, important international institutions such as the EU Orientation to learning and knowledg
• teach national staff, assess progress and recommend them or training and other professional development activities
• Takes responsibility for performance - manage the staff, funds, time and other resources efficiently in order to achieve results

More Info and Application