Senior TVET Expert, USAID/Cambodia Employ 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, work in more than 100 countries worldwide with offices in 20 countries, and a global staff of 600.

‍Position Summary:

‍IREX seeks qualified Senior TVET Expert candidates to contribute their expertise to an anticipated five-year USAID-funded Workforce Development Activity in Cambodia. This initiative is designed to equip Cambodians with job skills tailored to sectors that are driving inclusive and sustainable growth and economic diversification, and that will allow them to compete for and thrive in the jobs of tomorrow. Based in Phnom Penh, the Senior TVET Expert will provide high-quality technical inputs to all aspects of the program’s approach. Only citizens of Cambodia or permanent residents with work authorization will be considered. This position is contingent on funding.‍

‍Summary of Responsibilities:

• In conjunction with the Chief of Party (COP) and Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), create and implement a strategy to enhance Cambodia’s workforce and local economic development in high growth sectors.
• Design, develop, and manage evidenced-based interventions targeted at narrowing skill supply and demand gaps in selected areas and strengthening the local economic ecosystem by, illustratively: improving legal and regulatory frameworks; expanding sustainable private sector-led reskilling, upskilling, and life-long learning models; and implementing solutions to strengthen the connections between workforce supply and demand as well as the capacity of various actors in the economy.
• Ensure the program adaptively responds to changes in the operating environment to meet the desired objectives.
• Manage and supervise a team of technical support staff.
• Ensure activities are gender sensitive/transformative, align with positive youth development, and emphasize participatory and youth-led approaches.
• Establish, cultivate, and maintain relationships with the ecosystem of program stakeholders, including private sector entities, universities and vocational training institutions, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, local governments, donors and implementers, program beneficiaries, and others.  

• Support the identification and establishment of partnerships between private sector training organizations/initiatives with the formal training systems such as technical vocational education and training (TVET) centers, professional associations, nonprofit organizations, and non-degree programs of universities to utilize the extensive training network of formal/conventional training systems nationwide.
• Oversee technical activities of local partner organizations, provide coaching to ensure a focus on relevant activities and achieving outcomes.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning; project communications; and project reporting.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Cambodian citizenship or residency with work authorization

• Master’s degree in Education, Economics, International Development, social sciences, or a related field, along with a minimum of eight (8) years of progressive experience in workforce development, youth development, and/or private sector engagement in Cambodia and/or the Southeast Asia region; or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with at least 10 years of relevant experience also considered.
• Strong understanding of the economic, educational, and youth contexts in Cambodia with a deep network of relevant contacts across the economy including the private sector and industry, government, training institutions, and civil society.
• Experience developing and implementing effective capacity strengthening models and approaches for organizations and individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem including technology organizations, training institutions, youth, government ministries and officials, NGOs, donors, the private sector, and community-based institutions.
• Experience with or strong understanding of key growth sectors such as green economy, STEM-related fields, digital technology, or manufacturing preferred. Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills including conflict resolution abilities.
• Strong representational and organizational skills.
• Commitment to inclusive programming that encourages full participation of individuals regardless of gender, disability status, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or other marginalized status.
• Must be fluent in English and Khmer.

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