Project Officer - TVET Capacity Strengthening (NPSA 9)

The goal of this job function is to support the country-level implementation of Expected Result 1 to strengthen selected TVET providers' capacity to deliver inclusive, quality-assured, employer-linked, and labour-market-relevant training pathways.

Baghdad, Iraq

One year, with possibility of extension

BACKGROUND: MASAR — Market-Aligned Skills and Reform: Strengthening Iraq’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system for labour-market relevant pathways — is an EU-funded project implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Iraq until December 2029. The project supports improved employment opportunities for young Iraqis, women and vulnerable groups by making technical and vocational education more closely connected to private sector demand. Focusing on green construction, hospitality and tourism, MASAR works with TVET institutions, employers, SMEs, sector associations and government partners to ensure that technical and vocational training reflects real job opportunities and business needs. The project strengthens selected training providers, expands structured work-based learning with employers, supports career and transition-to-employment services, and helps develop practical, employer-validated training pathways that are recognised by the TVET system. By linking skills development more directly to jobs, enterprise needs and sector growth, MASAR aims to contribute to a more demand-driven, inclusive and sustainable TVET system in Iraq. RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the direct supervision of the National Project Coordinator and the overall guidance of the Project Manager, the Project Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Support planning, coordination and day-to-day implementation of ER1 activities in Iraq, ensuring alignment with the overall MASAR workplan, project objectives and guidance from the National Project Coordinator. • Support engagement and maintain effective working relationships with selected TVET institutions, including leadership teams, technical departments, quality assurance focal points, inclusion focal points and operational staff, to ensure ownership, responsiveness and timely implementation of agreed activities. • Support coordination of implementation partners, local consultants, service providers and technical experts supporting ER1 delivery, ensuring clear deliverables, timely follow-up, quality outputs and alignment with MASAR procedures. • Support institutional capacity assessments of selected TVET providers using agreed diagnostic tools, including assessments of governance, quality assurance, management systems, delivery capacity, inclusion, employer engagement and operational readiness. • Support the development and updating of provider institutional strengthening plans, ensuring that each plan is realistic, sequenced, results-oriented and linked to the delivery of revised curricula, modular pathways and work-based learning arrangements. • Support selected TVET providers to establish or strengthen internal quality assurance systems, provider management procedures, staff roles, planning tools, timetabling, workshop management, consumables planning and other operational systems required for effective training delivery. • Support provider-level measures to improve inclusive access, participation, safeguarding, disability accessibility, learner retention and progression, with particular attention to women, youth, displaced persons, returnees, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. • Support the establishment or strengthening of trainee and graduate tracking systems, provider performance dashboards and improvement monitoring tools covering enrolment, attendance, completion, certification, WBL participation, employer feedback and graduate outcomes. • Support the identification, planning and implementation of targeted upgrades to training environments, workshops, equipment and operational systems, ensuring that investments are functional, cost-effective, inclusive and sustainable. • Monitor provider performance, implementation risks, partner follow-up and progress against ER1 targets; proactively identify bottlenecks and propose practical solutions to the National Project Coordinator to keep delivery on track, while documenting lessons learned, sustainability requirements and operational good practices for institutional embedding and future replication. • Perform other duties as required. The position requires frequent travel to field locations in Karbala, Najaf, Ninewa, Basra, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Copyright : The personnel has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required.

EDUCATION: An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international development, economics, education or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in the above subjects in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, coordination, implementation, administration or a related area is required. EXPERIENCE: Experience supporting institutional capacity assessments and improvement planning desirable. Experience with institutional self-assessment tools, such as ETF ISATCOVE or SELFIE, or comparable approaches desirable. Experience working with providers in construction, hospitality or tourism desirable COMPETENCIES • Professionalism: Knowledge of TVET provider governance, internal quality assurance, training delivery systems and employer engagement. Ability to use enrolment, attendance, completion, employer feedback and graduate outcome data to identify provider performance gaps. Knowledge of inclusive access, learner retention, disability accessibility and safeguarding, and ability to incorporate these into provider improvement measures. Ability to facilitate institutional consultations and staff capacity-building, and assess the functionality, sustainability and value of proposed training environment upgrades. Knowledge of Iraq’s TVET provider systems and experience supporting institutional change within public training institutions. Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector, functional area or other specialized field. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to assist with data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. • Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Fluency in both Arabic and English is required. Knowledge of Kurdish is an asset.

This vacancy is open for nationals of Iraq. This contract will be administered on behalf of ITC by UNDP. Applicants must be authorized to work in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station.