Overview
Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike. In keeping with donor requirements, Creative strives to ensure that all its projects promote inclusive development by meaningfully integrating gender and social inclusion at each level of programming. Creative also seeks to ensure that its projects engage and respond to the needs of all members of the communities they serve in accordance with USG directives and Creative's own Gender and Social Inclusion Policies.
Creative Associates seeks a Workforce Development/TVET Component?Lead?for an upcoming USAID-funded?program?in Afghanistan focusing on?women's economic development through the creation of business enabling environments?which enable women to enter?the formal economy. The project?will?focus on building systems to support services for female job seekers and business owners, improving their knowledge and skills and providing increased access to finance and job markets.
Responsibilities
The Workforce Development/TVET Component Lead supports the Technical Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), manages a team of jobs creation experts focusing on respective target groups, and carries out any other tasks assigned by the Technical DCOP to ensure proper management of the Contract.
Creative Associates employs an overarching, conflict-sensitive approach to gender sensitization and gender inclusion throughout its programming and implementation. The Workforce/TVET Component Lead is expected to ensure all component staff uphold the values demonstrated in the gender integration framework and ensure activities and team members are in line with its components.
The Workforce Development/TVET Component Lead works under the leadership of the Technical DCOP and supports the Technical DCOP in appropriate technical and coordination aspects of program.
Expected Component Outcomes:
- In line with USAID Afghanistan expectations, the project will increase the proportion of female participants with access to productive economic resources, private sector engagement and income-generating activities;
- Gender sensitivity in targeted public or private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), business education and skills training, high value skills training and higher education institutions is increased, and institutional capacity improved;
- Improved technical skills and work readiness of women; and
- Talent pipelines between private sector employers and female job seekers in demand-driven jobs created.
The Workforce Development/TVET Component Lead will oversee the Contract's Workforce Development component implementation through direct supervision of its target group experts, as directed by the Technical DCOP.
- Manages a team of workforce development specialists and oversees the Contract's Workfroce Development component implementation including finances, human resources, security, procurement, local subcontractors, grants (if required) and results in compliance with Creative and USG policies and procedures;
- Ensures the component activities reflect best practices in gender and that gender sensitive approaches are integrated into all component activities;
With assistance from the Gender & Inclusion Hub at HQ, ensures the components activities are implemented in compliance with USAID's regulations and directives including USAID ADS directives as well as its Policy on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment;
Maintains the internal integrity of component activities from proposal win to implementation by working with HQ staff during project start up;
Identify major educational/workforce development skill shortfall areas and assist TVET, business education and skills training, and higher education institutions to develop new curricula to address gaps faced by female job-seekers;
Gender sensitivity in targeted public or private TVET, business education and skills training, high value skills training and higher education institutions is increased and institutional capacity improved;
Build the capacity of career counseling centers in school and out of schools to become more gender sensitive so women are not channeled into a narrow range of jobs and have viable higher-value, and potentially non-traditional, job opportunities.
Provide recommendations on regulatory reforms to enable public and private higher educational institutions to operate effectively and efficiently;
Ensure that female graduates have equitable internship and job shadowing opportunities and are placed in jobs in equal numbers and earnings to their male counterparts; and
Respond to requests from donor and supervisors as needed.**Qualifications**
Graduate degree in Education, Human Resource Development, Organizational Behavior, Business, Economics, or other relevant field highly desired;
Excellent track record of achieving improved employment outcomes in similar workforce development activities;
Minimum five (5) years of experience in workforce and/or TVET development in a developing country, including experience working with host country training or higher education institutions;
Experience designing and delivering capacity development programs and service provisions with business associations, MSMEs, and entrepreneurs;
Experience effectively integrating gender programming into development programs;
Experience working collaboratively with host country governments and the local private sector, and coordinating activities with those of other donors;
Experience managing culturally diverse teams and working with counterparts from other cultures;
Pashto and/or Dari fluency;
Excellent oral and written English language communication skills; and
Ability to travel internationally or domestically for up to 20-25% of the time.
Position contingent upon donor funding.
Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran.
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