Chief Technical Advisor for Malaysia, UKPFSEA (Skills for Prosperity Southeast Asia)

In 2015, the Department for International Development announced the Cross-Government Prosperity Fund to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as the 2015 UK Aid Strategy by promoting growth and prosperity in developing countries.  The Cross-Government Prosperity Fund’s focus is on Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible middle income-countries and provide expertise and technical assistance in sectors and countries where there is the highest potential for inclusive growth. 

The UK Prosperity Fund for Skills Programme in South East Asia (Skills for Prosperity Southeast Asia) falls under the Cross-Government Prosperity Fund’s Global Skills Programme where ODA is granted to support middle income countries to address their skills challenges.  The Global Skills Programme takes a partnership approach and draws on UK expertise to promote sustainable and inclusive growth by improving the affordability, quality, relevance and equity of Higher Education (HE) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the partner countries. 

The Skills for Prosperity Southeast Asia Programme is implemented by the ILO, led by the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) and the Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific (DWT-Bangkok).  The programme aims to increase national capacity to achieve sustained inclusive growth through the enhancement of skills development and technical and vocational education training (TVET) systems.  These systems will offer relevant, quality and inclusive programmes that support both industry upgrading and transformation, and improvements in employability, employment and the livelihood opportunities of beneficiaries.  The programme targets three middle-income countries in Southeast Asia: Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. 

Across all countries, the programme will support national efforts to facilitate reform at the policy and system levels for broad national impact and sustainability.  The activities/interventions are organized in the following three broad categories: TVET Governance, TVET Financing and Industry Engagement.  At the same time, it will ensure impact at the individual level by contributing to poverty reduction and address inequality.  In short, the programme combines interventions at the upstream level (e.g. policy and structure) and the downstream level (training delivery, certification and employment facilitation).  The intended impact is the increased capacity for inclusive growth in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines due to more productive and equitable skills systems and TVET systems, improving employability, employment opportunities and the livelihoods for the beneficiaries.

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the Skills for Prosperity Programme, the Chief Technical Adviser for Malaysia will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of all aspects of Malaysia’s component of the Skills for Prosperity Southeast Asia Programme, including its operational, financial, administrative and human resource management, resource mobilization, country and global operations, the content of training manuals and information materials, and public statements. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project related technical areas and other fundamental rights at work.

Reporting lines

- The CTA will report to and work under the general supervision of the Deputy Regional Director of the ROAP and will receive technical guidance and support from the Skills & Employability Specialist in DWT-Bangkok and other relevant technical specialists at HQ, sub-regional specialists in Bangkok as well as the Programme Officer for Malaysia.

- The CTA will work in close collaboration with colleagues of the Skills for Prosperity Programme based in Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand and advisers/consultants of the Global Britain Education and Skills Hub; the Prosperity Fund’s Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Learning Teams and the relevant local British High Commission staff in endeavouring to accelerate the TVET system reform by addressing data, research, knowledge and capacity under the three areas: governance, finance and industry engagement. 

- The CTA will report the overall project activities of Malaysia to the Regional Technical and Programme Coordinator of ILO based in ROAP for the consolidated reporting to the UK team and closely liaise with her/him on the communication with the sub-regional and global UK team.

- The CTA will also oversee the work of international experts, national officers and any other international and local consultant hired during the course of the project under the Malaysia component.

Project management:

• Ensure effective coordination and planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and administrative and financial procedures, in consultation with the responsible field office if applicable.

• Responsible for the effective management of funds/budget assigned to the project.

• Manage efficiently the human resources of the project including recruitment, performance and talent management aspects.

Technical leadership and advice:

• Provide technical leadership and support to the project team and when/if necessary to the stakeholders of the project including relevant government agencies and other key institutions.

Advocacy, networking and partnership:

• Foster contacts and relations with governments, ministries, the employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations, target groups and donors, and promote opportunities for collaboration towards planning and implementation of programme activities.

• Liaise with the other UN agencies counterparts to promote ILO's values, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the project's interventions. Ensure a more effective coordination with a range of relevant national policies and the strategies of various projects, including those being undertaken by other agencies or in complementary fields of activity.

• Promote ILO policies in the related technical areas of the project/program, other fundamental rights at work and the relevant International Labour Standards in collaboration with other technical/labour standards specialists.

Mobilization of resources:

• Promote relationships with multi-lateral and bilateral donor community and oversee and monitor resource mobilization proposals in coordination with the responsible country office and PARDEV for project upscaling and expansion.

Knowledge management:

• Develop and review project information materials.

• Ensure the development of information systems covering ILO technical activities covered by the project, prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation, and establish coordination with concerned ILO departments and programs.

• Identify training needs and organize training workshops and meetings for the tripartite partners, other relevant agencies, target groups and staff as appropriate to reinforce the professional capabilities.

• Scope, design and deliver pilot interventions with relevant local skills/TVET institutions to provide demonstration projects to enhance skills/TVET delivery and outcomes.

• Represent the Office at project meetings, seminars and evaluations and build and enhance strategic partnerships and sub-regional networks of government policymakers, worker’s and employer’s organizations and other relevant organizations.

• Any other duties requested by the responsible chief.

Advanced university degree in Education, Skills Development, TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training), Human Resource Development, Economics or related social science field with demonstrated expertise.

At least ten to fifteen years’ experience in the field of Education, Skills Development, Human Resource Development and Social Sciences with at least seven years at the international level carrying out project management, supervision, administration and implementation of technical assistant projects in the area of skills/TVET systems development or other relevant area.  Several years of experience in international cooperation (implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes for social and economic development) in the sub-region or in a similar developing or transition country environment. Having working experience in South East Asia would be an advantage, as well as familiarity with ILO policies and procedures.  Specific expertise in TVET governance and financing including industry engagement will be a strong advantage.

Excellent command of English.

- Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
- Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/programme’s objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development;
- Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
- Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills;
- Ability to formulate new concepts and methodologies, and to synthesise research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects by understanding both the qualitative and quantitative approaches in social science research;
- Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings;
- Ability to promote knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners;
- Proven capacity to initiate and implement technical co-operation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments, social partners and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services;
- Ability to plan and support the development of individual’s skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of current or future job/role responsibilities;
- Develop self-awareness and show empathy by demonstrating the qualities, traits, or attributes that contribute to the ability to effectively relate to and identify with others.
- Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures;
- Drive to seek or encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to organisation problems and opportunities for improvement.
- Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.