Deputy Technical Lead, SDC/Technical and Vocational Education and Training Activity

About IREX

IREX is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world by empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions, and extending access to quality education and information. Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of over $100 million, offices in 20 countries, and a global staff of 600. We work in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Summary of Position

IREX seeks qualified Deputy Technical Lead (DTL) candidates to support the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)-funded TVET focused activity. This activity aims create private sector-led Sector Workforce Councils that engage a diverse workforce ecosystem of actors including the private sector, learners, education institutions, policy makers, diaspora, and donors for each targeted high-growth sector to address the skills gap and contribute to greater market system competitiveness. The DTL will support the Chief of Party in the management of the program and provide high-quality technical inputs to achieve program objectives.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• In conjunction with the Team Lead, oversee the creation of private sector-led Sector Workforce Councils that engage a diverse workforce ecosystem of actors including the private sector, learners, education institutions, policy makers, diaspora, and donors for each targeted high-growth sector to address the skills gap and contribute to greater market system competitiveness.
• Provide technical oversight to partner training programs that close the skills gap for high growth sectors.
• Work closely with the Team Lead to coordinate technical assistance across all Components.
• Build and maintain relationships with employers, business associations, and other private sector stakeholders, and ensure their buy-in throughout the project.
• Facilitate productive and sustainable cross-sectoral collaboration between the business community, education institutions, and policymakers.
• Guide coordinated activities across components, maximizing the technical expertise of all consortium partners
• Manage and supervise one senior program officer.
• Lead or co-lead work planning process.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning; project communications; and project reporting.
• Directly supervise and manage contributions for weekly, quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc reports.
• Other duties as required.

Skills and Qualifications:

• At least five (5) years of previous relevant experience and expertise in the VET sector, with a Master’s degree; or bachelor’s degree with at least seven (7) years of relevant experience also considered.
• Good network of relevant stakeholders in Kosovo.
• Excellent communication, teamwork and networking skills.
• Strong facilitation skills and good know-how of the VET system in Kosovo.
• All team members shall be well-respected individuals with no political or other affiliations that could adversely affect the reputation of the project.
• Successful track record of supervising, designing, managing, and implementing complex donor-funded technical assistance projects (with strong preference for past international-funded education project management experience).
• Proven leadership qualities and excellent management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to track and manage budgets and plan both strategically and creatively to meet project objectives.
• Experience working with private and public sector partners to leverage additional sources of funding to meet project objectives preferred.
• Strong understanding of the education landscape in Kosovo preferred.
• Ability to provide written reporting in English for the project.
• Strong representational and organizational skills.
• Professional level proficiency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of local languages in Kosovo beneficial.

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