Education Development Center (EDC), Regional Technical Advisor, Deadline January 10, 2010.

REGIONAL TECHNICAL ADVISOR for Youth Programs – TIMOR LESTE

(THIS IS A TWELVE MONTH REGIONAL POSTING: Candidates currently residing in the Asia Pacific region are invited to apply)

Education Development Center (EDC) is one of the world’s leading non-profit research and development firms. Established in 1958, EDC’s work spans the globe, joining research with practice to meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges in education, health promotion, technology, human rights, and the environment. While the issues we confront are complex, all that we do is united by one simple conviction: Learning is the liberating force in human development. EDC is Committed to Diversity in the Workplace.  EDC’s Global Learning Group has an opening for an International Technical Advisor (I) for Youth Programs, reporting to the Chief of Party of the Prepara Ami Ba Servisu Project,  based in Dili Timor Leste.

In operation since 2007, the PAS program aims to provide 2,500 minimally-educated rural men and women, ages 16-30, with a workforce preparation program that combines off-the-job instruction with on-the-job training. Elements of this program include literacy/language learning, employability and life-skills training, entrepreneurship training, and vocational skill building.  Because youth level services are provided through local NGOs and in collaboration with local and national government offices, an additional and equally important aim of the program is to build local institutional capacity to support youth livelihood development programming.

Position:  International Technical Advisor for Youth Programs, immediate opening

Organizational Relationships

Supervisor:  COP or designate

Coordinates with: program development/implementation team and program management/admin team

Primary objectives of the position

1. Build and support the capacity of the PAS technical team to ensure that PAS Program curriculum, training, resources and work experience opportunities are of the highest possible quality and relevance for Timorese youth.
2. Build and support the capacity of the PAS program monitoring and evaluation team to ensure that high quality data regarding youth and institutional progress and outcomes are collected, shared and actively used for management, reporting and advocacy purposes.
3. Support Chief of Party in assuring that all technical aspects of the PAS program are well managed and fully integrated with program operations.

Specific Responsibilities and Duties

1. The International Technical Advisor for Youth Programs (ITAYP) will build and support the capacity of local PAS technical staff to ensure that youth livelihood development activities are fully functioning and of the highest quality. In particular, the ITAYP will work with PAS technical team to:

• Continue to adapt PAS approach, materials and delivery methods so that they optimize the development of youth livelihood strategies and systems in Timor Leste
• Develop capacity of NGO partner management staff to implement and oversee high quality youth livelihood programming
• Develop capacity of NGO partner technical staff (trainers, team leaders) in the areas of : youth development; livelihood development; work readiness; nonformal training methodology; nonformal methods of student assessment and progress monitoring; and, nonformal basic education content, as relevant, for literacy, numeracy and life skills.
• Develop, in partnerships with NGO partners, relevant and sustainable work experience opportunities in phases one and two of the youth program cycle;
• Craft and implement district level youth livelihood development strategies and partnerships;
• Assess NGO partner training staff and youth to document progress and outcomes.

2. The ITAYP will build and support the capacity of the local PAS m&e staff to document, analyze and report youth and institutional level progress and outcomes according to the PAS project monitoring and evaluation strategy.

3.      The ITAYP will assist the COP in managing all technical aspects of the PAS program including but not limited to:

§         Mentoring and managing PAS technical staff

§         Developing technical team workplans and assuring these stay on track

§         Assuring that PAS m&e activities are used to inform ongoing technical work and NGO partner capacity development

General Responsibilities and Duties

All staff are expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. All jobs require adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

Managing technical assistance and providing technical leadership to project, the International Technical Advisor (I):

• Strategizes, sets technical priorities; in conjunction with Chief of Party, leads implementation, and reviews technical progress

• Develops and monitors technical deliverables

• Determines resource needs and oversees resource use in assigned areas of oversight

• Works with staff to meet contractual reporting and delivery obligations

• Recommends prospective business development opportunities; may conduct comparative or competitive analysis

• Participates in decisions concerning materials, training, delivery, staff development and NGO development content and format

• Conveys organizational philosophy and values

• Is responsible for partnering successfully with Chief of Party and home office project director and with Center, Business Services, expatriate and local staff

• Helps represent EDC and the project in the host country, interfacing with the ministry, or other government leaders, the funder, and others in a technical capacity

• Demonstrates diplomacy and leadership to foster an atmosphere of teamwork, productivity, creativity, fairness, equity, and innovation, in support of EDC’s commitment to diversity

• Negotiates and mediates effectively

• Interacts with large numbers of program participants or team members, guiding feedback exchanges, facilitating problem-solving, and providing expertise

• Troubleshoots problems and proposes solutions

• Oversees technical coordination; secures consensus about priorities and competing workload demands

• Fosters excellent communications among all parties, including with EDC home offices

• Travels

• Manages and coordinates activities of subcontractors and all partners to create synergy

• As directed by COP, may oversee training programs, workshops, conferences, or other collaborations

• As directed by COP, may supervise technical staff; directs and coordinates work of technical staff

• Organizes and coaches teams, as directed by COP

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:

• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of training & education in the area of youth development, sustainable livelihood development, community development, workforce development, nonformal education or similar

• With Master’s degree, 5–8 years related experience, including a minimum of 5 years technical project management or program development experience and demonstrated experience coaching and building capacity of local staff

• Outstanding leadership skills

• Excellent analytical skills and aptitude for details

• Capacity to work in difficult conditions and function well under pressure

• Excellent English writing and speaking skills

• Experience living and working in South Asia required

• Ability to converse in Bahasa Indonesia essential; familiarity with Tetun desired.

CONTACT:  Please send CVs to

WWoodrum-Gaucher@edc.org

CLOSING DATE: 10 January 2010