International TVET Expert and Team Leader (m/f/d): ASEAN-Swiss TVET Initiative (ASTI)

Job description

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a service enterprise for development cooperation with international operations and global experience. Owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, the organisation operates as a private-sector enterprise with a development policy mandate: to make sustainable improvements to the living conditions of people in the countries we operate in. The organisation’s business area - GIZ International Services - is the vehicle for offering GIZ’s services to international clients.

GIZ International Services is currently leading a consortium to implement the ASEAN Swiss TVET Initiative (ASTI), mandated by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The Swiss NGO Helvetas is GIZ’s consortium partner. and the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET) is their subcontractor.

The ASTI is a regional project designed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in close collaboration with ASEAN and key stakeholders in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar (CLM). Proposed under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan IV (2021-2025) and endorsed by the ASEAN Senior Official Meeting on Education (SOM-ED), ASTI is currently being implemented in its first phase.

The project aims to equip young women and men, particularly those with limited education, early school leavers, and low-skilled workers, with relevant labour market skills to enhance their employability and integration into formal TVET systems. This is achieved by supporting the conceptualization, development, and implementation of a standardized Work-Based Learning (WBL) concept and its integration into formal TVET systems. ASTI currently operates in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar (CLM).

Through partnerships with relevant ministries, ASTI assists the national governments of Cambodia and Lao PDR in their efforts to expand WBL opportunities within TVET for the target groups. ASTI maintains a strong regional dimension, including activities involving other ASEAN Member States (AMS). As a joint ASEAN-Swiss endeavour, ASTI shall also contribute to strengthening multilateral cooperation between ASEAN and Switzerland.

The project has collaborated closely with key ASEAN bodies—including the Division of Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and Narrowing Development Gap (NDG), the Education, Youth, and Sports Division (EYSD), the Senior Officials Meeting on Education (SOMED), government representatives from Cambodia and Lao PDR, the ASEAN TVET Council (ATC), and representatives from the private sector, business, and employer associations. These collaborations are facilitated through regional and national steering mechanisms, namely the Regional Project Steering Committee (RPSC) and the National Project Steering Committee (NPSC).

Additionally, ASTI provides support to industry representatives—specifically, the Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Associations (CAMFEBA) and the International Business Chamber of Cambodia (IBC) in Cambodia, as well as the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) in Lao PDR. ASTI also works with their member companies, which serve as implementing partners for Work-Based Learning (WBL), and with TVET institutions in designing, establishing, and delivering WBL programs.

The project is implemented in selected sectors such as: manufacturing, electricity, automotive, and construction for specific occupations and coordinated on a regional level (CLM).

Recently, the project completed a feasibility study to lay the groundwork for supporting the private sector in Myanmar—specifically, the Mon Entrepreneurs Association and sector-specific organizations such as the Construction Association—in assessing skill needs and facilitating skill development through Work-Based Learning (WBL) initiatives. Building on these best practices, the project aims to share successful concepts and models with other ASEAN Member States (AMS) to support regional expansion and replication.

The current project phase started on 01.09.2022 and runs until 31.08.2026, with potential a following Phase II for 4 more years from 01.09.2026 – 31.08.2030.

The assignment will be extended to the second project phase, subject to performance of the candidate and the approval of the second phase by SDC and ASEAN.

Your tasks

• Overall project management, strategic leadership and coordination, incl. vis-à-vis Helvetas staff in Vientiane/Lao PDR and Yangon/Myanmar.
• Communication with and technical/financial reporting to ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) and SDC.
• Maintain regular dialogue with relevant government, private sector and other relevant partners and both national and regional levels. Foster trustful relations with relevant ASEAN bodies such as the ASEAN TVET Council or SOMED.
• Coordination with collaboration partners, including, but is not limited to, collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat—specifically the Division of Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and Narrowing the Development Gap (NDG), as well as the Education, Youth and Sports Division (EYSD) at the regional level. At the national level, it involves engagement with SDC-funded programmes, the Skills Development Fund (SDF), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and others in Cambodia; the GIZ-supported VELA TVET programme in Lao PDR; and the Skills Development Programme implemented by Swisscontact in Myanmar.
• Organisation and management of regional coordination/steering meetings at both ASEAN and Cambodia levels; overall alignment with national coordination meetings in Lao PDR and Myanmar (managed by Helvetas).
• Advise collaboration partners regarding international and Swiss good practices and experiences in TVET in general and WBL in particular.
• Oversee the recruitment, management, and reporting of consultants and consortium partners.
• Fulfill other tasks as assigned by GIZ Eschborn and/or SDC Cambodia.

Your profile

Qualifications and skills:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent degree) or higher degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Educational Sciences, Engineering, Business Administration or any other relevant field.
• In the absence of such a degree minimum 15 years of professional working experience in TVET sectors is required.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Full computer literacy.

General professional experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in working in international development cooperation.
• At least 5-10 years of professional experience in the field of TVET.

Specific professional experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in implementation of TVET-related project(s), including at least 5 years in a team leader position, preferably in ASEAN countries.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in project / program management related to TVET with multi-stakeholders.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in implementation of capacity building projects related to TVET.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the implementation of dual-training, apprenticeship training and/or workplace-based learning.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in areas such as developing competency-based occupational standards and curricula, designing assessment and certification processes, and contributing to the drafting of regulations and/or guidelines related to TVET is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with the Swiss TVET system/approaches and related SDC policies would be a strong asset.

Location information

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with regular travels with the ASEAN region.

Notes

This job is suited to a full time position.

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About us

Your professional and personal development is important to us. At GIZ, you will be offered global work opportunities and an atmosphere that is characterised by diversity, respect and genuine equal opportunities. Gender equality promotion is a matter of course for us. Our benefits are also impressive in terms of work-life balance and family friendliness. Flexible working hours that fit your life situation, comprehensive onboarding and internal health management are an integral part of our corporate culture, along with the opportunity to use childcare facilities and parent/child offices.

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, social background, age or sexual orientation.

We support equal opportunities and welcome applications from people with disabilities.