National Skills Officer - NOA (DC)

The ILO Skills portfolio is responding to a challenging country context. The COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Beirut Port explosion has had a severe impact on Lebanon, exacerbating an already serious economic crisis and its profound, and ongoing, effects on livelihoods, employment, and the delivery of education and training. Lebanon is currently experiencing rising poverty levels, heightened job insecurity amidst widespread business closures and increased unemployment, and a highly unstable foreign exchange market. The high refugee population in Lebanon is at particular risk, though the impacts of these multiple crises are felt by both Lebanese host communities and Lebanon’s refugee population alike.

The ILO’s skills portfolio responds to these challenges by supporting the strengthening of the skills development system for entry to, and transitions within the Lebanese labour market through improving access to and capacities to deliver market relevant technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The ILO supports Lebanese formal TVET as well as non-formal vocational training providers, with a portfolio of projects implemented within the framework of the Lebanon Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) and the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP).

The Skills portfolio in Lebanon currently comprises three projects, and implementation responsibility for the skills component of a fourth project, Inclusive jobs and education for forcibly displaced persons and host communities (hereafter ‘Prospects’). The National Skills Officer (NOA) will manage the Skills component of this fourth project, Prospects. The Prospects partnership, recently launched by the Government of the Netherlands, builds on the combined strengths, experience and values of specific development and humanitarian organizations to develop, and implement, a new paradigm in responding to forced displacement crises. The partners include: the Government of the Netherlands, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the ILO, the UNHCR, UNICEF and the World Bank.

The Prospects partnership is implemented in two identified regions: MENA (Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt) and the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya). The interventions under Prospects are planned across three pillars: education and skills, employment, and protection. In Lebanon, the ILO is involved in all three pillars, necessitating a full-time  National Skills Officer to oversee the implementation of the ILO education and skills pillar in close collaboration with both project staff members working under the other two pillars, and the broader ILO skills team in Lebanon working under other projects. Close coordination is required at all stages with ILO constituents - Government, employers and workers.

Reporting lines

The Prospects National Skills Officer (NOA) will work under the direct supervision of Prospects Project Regional Chief Technical Adviser based in ROAS, Beirut. S/He will be technically backstopped by the Senior Skills Specialist at ROAS and will work and coordinate closely with the Skills Team in Lebanon working under other projects.

1. Work in close collaboration with the Skills and Prospects project teams to design and revise annual workplans for the Prospects Skills component, as well as preparation and updating of the budget considering different approaches and alternative methods, management, problem identification and problem resolution.
2. Monitor the progress of the skills component of Prospects Project activities by reviewing, verifying and analysing workplans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness. Follow-up on delayed documents, clarify information, and answer questions about clearance and processing requirements to support successful completion of agreed activities.
3. Follow-up with relevant technical officers and line ministries at national level, partner and executing agencies, government offices, constituents and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets.
4. Assist in the programming and control of resources of the skills component of Prospects, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analysing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations for remedial action. Identify problems, propose solutions and actions.
5. Provide programming and administrative support to cooperation activities in the area of skills. Actively participate in and provide inputs to skills team documents and Prospects Lebanon reporting.
6. Participate in the preparation and conduct of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, and consultative meetings. Speak on behalf of the skills team and project when attending these gatherings alone. Undertake missions to project sites independently or accompanying others.
7. Brief ILO specialists, project experts, associate experts and visiting officials and provide relevant information on project matters. Draft, edit, or translate into local language official correspondence, statements and speeches and other public information materials.
8. Lead in the preparation of briefs, background information, technical reports and periodic progress reports and statistical data on status of the overall activities of the project.
9. Perform other duties as may be assigned by Prospects Regional CTA.

First level university degree public policies, social sciences, economics, development studies or a relevant field. An advanced degree and a focus on TVET would be a strong advantage.

At least two years of professional experience at the national level in the area of project management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Proven experience (3 years) working in a skills training environment strongly preferred.

Proven experience in working effectively with government bodies and with development partners would be an asset.

Technical requirements:

Good knowledge of skills systems and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

Good knowledge of the policymaking process, labour economics as well as economic developments, poverty reduction, and social policies.

Excellent command of both English and Arabic.

• Knowledge of programme and budget, project administration and evaluation concepts and procedures and of the mandate and structure of labour market institutions in Viet Nam
• Knowledge of the office’s financial rules and regulations
• Good knowledge of the context and challenges for the project areas of expertise
• Strong management and organizational skills
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution and good drafting skills
• Good ability to interpret project information and to identify and analyse problems with implementation
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to clarify information
• Demonstrate collaborative and team work experience and ability to work effectively with a multicultural and interdisciplinary team as well as work on his/her own initiative
• Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely, and take initiative and responsibility
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet the deadline
• Proficient in Microsoft Words, Power Point, Excel, web-browsers and database applications
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.