Program Management Advisor
Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC)
Closing date: 10 Feb 2010
Location: Timor-Leste
Introduction
EDC’s International Development Division, has an opening for a Program Management Advisor, reporting to the Chief of Party of the Prepara Ami ba Servisu (Preparing Us for Work) Project (PAS), based in Dili, Timor-Leste.
Education Development Center
About the PAS Program in Timor-Leste
Over a period of three years, the PAS pilot project will: a) Build the capacity of local institutions, including local NGOs, CBOs and faith-based organizations, to develop and deliver high-impact Workforce Development and Livelihoods in rural districts to young women and men ages 16-30. b) Provide 2,500 minimally-educated rural youth with a workforce preparation program that combines off-the-job instruction with on-the-job training. Implemented in partnership with local institutions and organizations, this program focuses on “Work Readiness” and aims to provide participants with work positive attitudes and the basic, foundational skills and knowledge to enable them to successfully pursue formal employment and/or self-employment in the overall context of a transitional economy. Technical components of the PAS program include basic literacy, employability and life-skills training, entrepreneurship training, and vocational skill building. The program combines formal instruction with practical on-the-job training.
Position: Program Management Advisor
As a counterpart working closely and collaboratively with the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP), the purpose of this position is provide and ensure effective program leadership and management. Critical emphasis is placed on leadership, participatory team-building, coaching and mentoring to build individual and collective capacities of the program management team with focus on developing internal senior and mid-level program management capacity.
Together with the DCoP, assess and address gaps and build on existing strengths in; a) all phases of program cycle management, with key emphasis on achieving evidence-based programming and management through development and implementation of fully integrated Monitoring and Evaluation; b) Core functional elements of management (planning, organizing, communicating and checks/confirmation); c) assimilation of better practices in development, with emphasis on sustainability and working in partnership with key external stakeholders. Provide leadership by example, serve as role model and enable program team members to take on fuller ownership and coach on day-to-day, decision making, staff development and interaction, initiative, delegating responsibilities, communication and building a team environment.
The Program Management Advisor and DCoP will work closely in a highly productive relationship that plays to respective strengths to achieve a shared vision. This senior-management level position provides leadership, guidance and effective overall management through the following activities:
Closing date: 10 Feb 2010
Location: Timor-Leste
Introduction
EDC’s International Development Division, has an opening for a Program Management Advisor, reporting to the Chief of Party of the Prepara Ami ba Servisu (Preparing Us for Work) Project (PAS), based in Dili, Timor-Leste.
About the PAS Program in Timor-Leste
Over a period of three years, the PAS pilot project will: a) Build the capacity of local institutions, including local NGOs, CBOs and faith-based organizations, to develop and deliver high-impact Workforce Development and Livelihoods in rural districts to young women and men ages 16-30. b) Provide 2,500 minimally-educated rural youth with a workforce preparation program that combines off-the-job instruction with on-the-job training. Implemented in partnership with local institutions and organizations, this program focuses on “Work Readiness” and aims to provide participants with work positive attitudes and the basic, foundational skills and knowledge to enable them to successfully pursue formal employment and/or self-employment in the overall context of a transitional economy. Technical components of the PAS program include basic literacy, employability and life-skills training, entrepreneurship training, and vocational skill building. The program combines formal instruction with practical on-the-job training.
Position: Program Management Advisor
As a counterpart working closely and collaboratively with the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP), the purpose of this position is provide and ensure effective program leadership and management. Critical emphasis is placed on leadership, participatory team-building, coaching and mentoring to build individual and collective capacities of the program management team with focus on developing internal senior and mid-level program management capacity.
Together with the DCoP, assess and address gaps and build on existing strengths in; a) all phases of program cycle management, with key emphasis on achieving evidence-based programming and management through development and implementation of fully integrated Monitoring and Evaluation; b) Core functional elements of management (planning, organizing, communicating and checks/confirmation); c) assimilation of better practices in development, with emphasis on sustainability and working in partnership with key external stakeholders. Provide leadership by example, serve as role model and enable program team members to take on fuller ownership and coach on day-to-day, decision making, staff development and interaction, initiative, delegating responsibilities, communication and building a team environment.
The Program Management Advisor and DCoP will work closely in a highly productive relationship that plays to respective strengths to achieve a shared vision. This senior-management level position provides leadership, guidance and effective overall management through the following activities:
- Partner successfully with Chief of Party and members of the senior management team
- Ensure effective human resource management and provide supervision and training to field staff; directs and coordinates work of technical staff
- Represent the project in the host country; builds positive client, vendor, and funder relations; particular emphasis with sub-grantees and working in partnership with local institutions
- Coordinates and supports reporting and communications functions that is based on robust and effective Monitoring and Evaluation and evidence-based programming
- Demonstrates diplomacy and leadership to foster an enabling environment; consistently promote a “ONE team” culture, cultivate the spirit and realization of effective teamwork in which accountability, productivity, fairness, creativity, diversity and innovation are tangible elements of a shared organizational culture and embedded in ways of working
- Advanced negotiation and mediation skills with the ability to represent the program and engage and connect with a wide range of stakeholders
- Interact with large numbers of program participants or team members, guiding feedback exchanges, facilitating problem-solving, and providing expertise
- Troubleshoot problems and identify viable solutions
- Oversee technical coordination; secure consensus about priorities and competing workload demands
- Foster excellent communications among all parties, including with home offices
- Manage and coordinate activities of subcontractors and all partners to create synergy
- Oversee training programs, workshops, conferences, or other collaborations
- Ensure that the field operations pertaining to education training and work experience are fully functioning and operational
- Work closely with the District Coordinators and Team Leaders in the field, and relevant programming and implementation staff
QUALIFICATIONS – All jobs require educational achievement; excellent writing skills; demonstrable initiative, creativity, and flexibility; ability to work independently and effectively in groups; strong interpersonal & organizational skills. This position requires:
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Master’s degree preferred
- With Bachelor’s degree, minimum 7 years international development experience in all phases of post-conflict recovery, transitional and development contexts – experience in south-east
- With Master’s degree, minimum 5 years related experience (as above)
- Systems thinker with very strong strategic, organizational, management & analytical skills. Background in organizational development, change management and/or organizational behavior desirable.
- Experience with USAID and strong knowledge of USAID and/or EC regulatory and compliance requirements in the context of sub-grants programming and working in partnership with local institutions, including local NGOS
- Experience in conducting assessments, program evaluation with understand of user-oriented design of effective Monitoring and Evaluations systems and processes that are fully integrated into overall Program Management
- Ability to read, write and speak Tetum and/or Bahasa Indonesia (both are preferred). Portuguese is also desirable. Language skills at a professional working level to effectively facilitate and train.
- Fluent English with excellent writing and communications skills. Experience working with media high desirable.
- Computer competence (MS Office, Internet, Excel)
- Well honed field skills, including excellent cross-cultural, interpersonal and communications skills
- Understanding of community development and dynamics in post-conflict and transitional contexts, with emphasis on education, economic development and capacity building
- Ability to lead, inspire and self-manage in demanding, high-volume work environment
- Thrives on challenge and problem-solving, driven by a deep commitment to working with and enabling others to realize peaceful and positive change in their own lives, institutions and communities
- Ability and desire to travel to lesser developed parts of the country on a regular basis for visits of days to weeks. Flexibility, patience, adaptability, resourcefulness and experience of working with rural communities in developing post-conflict contexts.
- Sense of purpose, sense of humor are an advantage
How to apply
Interested qualified candidates are requested to submit their resumes to Wendy Woodrum-Gaucher at wwoodrum-gaucher@edc.org by January 5, 2010. To ensure the timely review of your credentials, please insert “Program Management Advisor, Timor-Leste” in the subject line of the email. Only candidates who are being invited for an interview will be contacted.
Reference Code: RW_7YLK6P-87
Interested qualified candidates are requested to submit their resumes to Wendy Woodrum-Gaucher at wwoodrum-gaucher@edc.org by January 5, 2010. To ensure the timely review of your credentials, please insert “Program Management Advisor, Timor-Leste” in the subject line of the email. Only candidates who are being invited for an interview will be contacted.
Reference Code: RW_7YLK6P-87
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