Training Engineer

The EU funded Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade project (STREIT) aims to contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic development in East Sepik and Sandaun Provinces. It will target integration with and support to the broader work of FAO and other project partners to support cocoa, vanilla and fishery value chains. The ILO has been tasked to implement the project transport infrastructure component, thereby improving access to communities and markets, in particular those linked to the value chain development. 

By applying local resource-based approaches in the infrastructure works, the ILO also seeks to (i) increase participation of local communities in the planning and implementation of works, (ii) increase the creation of jobs and income by applying employment-intensive work methods and (iii) secure the involvement of the local construction industry. The dimensions of increased employment and income opportunities and more private sector business prospects are expected to create additional synergies with the sustainable and inclusive economic development ambitions of the project.

The ILO activities will also place emphasis on strengthening the capacity of local institutions responsible for the improvement and maintenance of PNGs transport infrastructure, introducing approaches relying to the extent possible on the use of local resources such as local entrepreneurs and communities. All activities will be gender-mainstreamed targeting women, youth and disadvantaged groups.

The project will be delivered by a team based in Wewak, PNG, with support from the office in Port Moresby, the ILO Office in Suva, Fiji, and ILO expert teams in Bangkok and Geneva.

The ILO technical assistance forms an integral part of the STREIT project delivered by a host of UN agencies under the overall coordination of FAO. The Training Engineer will be part of the ILO technical team which constitutes a portion of a larger project team provided by several UN agencies tasked to deliver all the components of STREIT.

Within this framework, the Training Engineer will be in charge of the training activities envisaged for the project infrastructure component in line with work plans, project documents, ILO policies and strategies, and in accordance with country programmes and administrative and financial procedures.

Reporting to the Infrastructure Specialist, the Training Engineer will be responsible for the preparation and organisation of the overall capacity development programme – and the coordination of all capacity building activities. He/she will also be involved in the development and institutionalisation of the same activities within sub-national government agencies and support institutions.

Under the guidance and supervision of the supervisor, the Training Engineer will be assigned the following specific tasks and responsibilities:  

• Contribute to and manage an integrated capacity development framework, including enhancing gender equity and other cross-cutting outcomes. This includes an assessment of the current levels of capacity within partner agencies, contractors, and communities and the use of this information for further detailing the capacity development programme;
• Establish agreed and realistic targets for capacity development within the overall context of the ILO supported outputs;
• Liaise with key partner agencies to ensure that the objectives and outcomes appropriately reflect and take into account government policy and practices associated with institutional strengthening, skills development and private sector support;
• Work with the ILO team and stakeholders to ensure that infrastructure works are carried out by staff with the requisite knowledge and skills;
• Plan, organise and coordinate training activities;
• Organise a training management system including mobilising trainers, selection of trainees, performance evaluation, certification, registration, etc.;
• Train counterpart staff and provide instructors and trainers with guidance on training methodology for practical oriented courses for adult professionals;

• Participate in the conduct of training courses, seminars and workshops;
• Organise post-evaluations of the performance of courses and other training activities;
• Monitor and report on contents of training, duration, location, number of trainees, etc., and together with other specialists and partners assess the impact of provided capacity development support; 
• Participate in development of course material and refining these after the first courses;
• Organise study trips and participation in technical seminars and workshops;
• Ensure timely provision of inputs for training events, e.g. sub-contracts, trainers, facilities, equipment and supplies;
• Support the management of budgets and prepare revisions as required;
• Liaise and collaborate as necessary with UN partners on training activities in areas of common interest.
• Carry out other relevant tasks as assigned by the supervisor

University degree in civil engineering. Advanced university degree would be an advantage.

• Minimum two to three years of relevant experience in technical skills training;
• Sound organisational skills, in particular on training activity scheduling and implementation;
• Ability to understand and formulate new training concepts and methodologies;
• Ability to develop clear and relevant training material, course plan and course notes;

Excellent command of English (oral and written)

• Ability to independently initiate and carry out work activities with a clear focus on reaching defined outputs in a timely manner as agreed in project documents and work plans;
• Ability to interpret project information to identify and analyse challenges as a basis for finding appropriate solutions and provide technical guidance and support to staff and beneficiaries;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, organise, coordinate and monitor project activities;
• Ability to establish good interrelationships with government and international agencies working in related fields;
• Good understanding of gender and minority issues, and mainstreaming equal opportunity principles and approaches;
• Well-developed and effective communication skills (verbal and written), able to present plans, results and guidelines, conduct presentations and clearly formulating positions, articulating options, making and defending recommendations and conveying difficult subjects to trainees and project partners;
• Computer literacy.