USAID has awarded Cardno a five-year project (“USAID Compete Activity”) to facilitate the private sector’s improved competitiveness in local, regional and global markets. Through USAID Compete Activity, Cardno works to empower firms, organizations and institutions to improve market systems in key focus. USAID Compete Activity focuses in three key export-oriented sectors of wood processing, foodprocessing and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), to sustainably increase their competitiveness. By working to address constraints across the market system of its focus sectors, USAID Compete seeks to enable scalable and systemic change to occur, stimulating growth and job creation, and increased private sector ability to engage in local, regional, and international markets. The expected results of USAID Compete Activity across all three focus sectors are: 1) Market systems are strengthened to increase sector competitiveness; and 2) market actors within those market systems are more productive and competitive.
USAID Compete Activity is recruiting for the following position on the project:
Name of Position
Skills Development Expert
General Responsibilities
The position is responsible for technical and operational implementation of the workforce development functional area. The Skills Development Expert will provide leadership and expertise in designing, implementing, and overseeing workforce skills development efforts and activities to increase the private sector’s access to skilled labor. The Skills Development Expert will provide technical guidance on workforce-related activities across the project’s three focus sectors. The Skills Development Expert will help to design and implement activities that seek to address skill mismatches, including by identifying and working with partner organizations Relatedly, the Skills Development Expert will facilitate networking between private companies, education/training providers, research institutions and funders.
Specific Tasks and Responsibilities
Liaise with relevant partners to identify pressing workforce needs as well as opportunities to support the private sector ecosystem to foster increased availability of skilled labor in the three focus sectors.
Provide leadership role in designing activities related to workforce development for the project’s annual work plans and other planning documents as relevant.
Provide expertise on workforce development activities to the project’s Sector Leads.
Work closely with Sector Leads to oversee implementation of all workforce development project activities, assuring that project goals, objectives, targets and indicators are attained in a timely manner in accordance with the contract terms.
Develop/identify the required outside expertise (STTAs/consultants) as required to achieve the main project milestones.
Ensure that interventions are designed and delivered in a way that generates systemic and lasting changes.
Facilitate development of sustained models for systemic improvements of Kosovo firms’ workforce by working with industry leaders in Compete key sectors to develop and expand educational programs and create an internationally competitive workforce.
Promote Collaborating Learning and Adapting (CLA) / Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MLA) practices.
Contribute to project outreach and communication efforts.
Facilitate networking and partnership between private sector companies and education providers to create educational programs to equip students with new knowledge and skills needed for jobs in Compete key sectors.
Minimum Education Requirement
Relevant undergraduate university degree
Minimum Professional Experience
5+ years experience in workforce/skills development efforts and/or related work fields in learning and development, aimed at enhancing consistent supply of qualified staff to firms.
Experience in strategic planning and delivering complex technical activities.
Prior experience is desirable in designing activities aimed at addressing skill gaps and skill mismatches through the lens of private sector.
Experience facilitating networking between private companies, education/training providers, and funders.
Extensive demonstrable experience of work with the private sector in Kosovo demonstrating understanding and know-how of the business constraints of the sectors of interest.
Proven ability to effectively engage private sector partners in Kosovo and abroad.
Prior experience in donor-funded projects implementing similar activities is an asset.
Prior experience with market systems approach is desirable.
Strong networking, communication, analytical and facilitation skills.
Proven ability to work effectively with government, USAID, other donors, private sector representative, Kosovo Government institutions and business associations.
Full computer literacy.
Fluency in Albanian and English required; fluency in Serbian preferred.
Period of Performance
August 2022 - 2025
Level of Effort
100%, full-time (260 days per year)
Supervisor
Deputy Chief of Party
Application:
To apply please submit your CV and a one-page cover letter in English.
Please send the requested documents electronically to the following email: info@kosovocompete.org
All submissions must be received on or before Wednesday, August 10, 2022. CVs submitted after this deadline will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.